Empower Women as Poultry Health Champions

Our team in Ethiopia held a three-day training to tackle one of the biggest threats to rural poultry farming Newcastle disease. With your support, 29 smallholder farmers from Aleta Chuko and Aleta Wondo districts are now trained and certified as Community-Based Vaccinators. Even more impressive 26 of them are women.

Newcastle disease can wipe out entire flocks in a matter of days, putting both foodsecurity and household income at risk. But by equipping local farmers with the skills to vaccinate their own and their neighbours’ chickens, we’re building a sustainable, community-led solution that protects livelihoods from the ground up. Many of these women were already involved in local vaccination campaigns. Now, they’re stepping up as trained leaders in poultry health offering critical services while earning an income. The training was hands-on and practical.

With guidance from an experienced veterinarian, livestock officers, and a certified Vet Vendor, trainees learned safe chicken handling, vaccination techniques, disease prevention, and basic poultry management. By the end of the training, each participant had not just new knowledge but the confidence to use it. These 29 new vaccinators are now ready to get to work reducing disease outbreaks, improving poultry production, and strengthening food systems in their communities. Thank you for helping us deliver meaningful, lasting change. Your support is making it possible for rural women to lead the charge in building healthier, more resilient communities across Ethiopia.

Links:

• Kyeema Ethiopia Community Vaccination program