Veterinary Innovations Transforming Animal Health and Livelihoods (VITAL 2) Project
Through the Veterinary Innovations Transforming Animal Health and Livelihoods (VITAL 2) Project, we are working to strengthen livestock health systems and improve the livelihoods of small-scale livestock producers across Nigeria. Implemented in partnership with the Global Alliance for Livestock Vaccines and Medicines (GALVmed), VITAL 2 (2025–2030) builds on the success of the VITAL 1 programme, which advanced the development and commercialisation of quality livestock vaccines. Our work focuses on increasing access to safe and effective vaccines while strengthening vaccine market systems and promoting vaccination as a critical investment in livestock health and productivity. The project targets five priority livestock diseases: Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Sheep and Goat Pox (SGP), Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
Our goal is to increase small ruminant vaccination coverage in Nigeria by at least 20% through an integrated approach that strengthens both the demand for and supply of livestock vaccines.
The intervention is organised around five strategic pillars:
- Awareness and demand creation for ruminant vaccines
- Capacity building for veterinary service providers (Veterinarians, Para-veterinarians and CAHWs)
- Improved availability and affordability of vaccines
- Enhanced cold chain and logistics infrastructure
- Strengthened surveillance and reporting mechanisms
Collaboration is central to our approach. We work closely with federal and state veterinary authorities, the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), commercial vaccine manufacturers and distributors, professional associations, agro-veterinary outlets, farmer organisations, and community structures to strengthen Nigeria's livestock health ecosystem. Our interventions include training and certification of frontline animal health providers, support for cold chain infrastructure through solar-powered refrigerators and ambulatory kits, digitisation of disease surveillance and reporting systems, and facilitation of public-private partnerships and policy dialogue. By combining evidence-based interventions, strategic partnerships, and continuous learning, we are building more resilient livestock systems, reducing the burden of animal diseases, and creating lasting economic opportunities for livestock-keeping communities across Nigeria.