On June 30th, 2018, the successful EU/DCA project ‘Support to the Development of Agriculture Private Sector: Animal Health’ came to an end. The implementation period lasted four and a half years, including six months no-cost extension. This EU project was substantial in target area as well as in main goals.
Target area The target area comprised sixteen, and later on eighteen provinces in all regions of Afghanistan (West, Central, North, East, and South). The project therefore played a key role in the DCA program, as it allowed the organisation to fill some of the gaps in the existing VFU animal health network in Afghanistan. Because the action took place over such a vast area, one of the main tasks at the start of the project was to establish an effective and efficient organization structure. Regional and provincial offices were established and staffed. New staff were recruited for this purpose. The project was coordinated from three regional offices, Kabul, Herat and Mazar, and six provincial offices. A total of 65 staff was involved in managing, implementing, and supporting the project.
Objectives The main objectives of this EU project were:
1. To improve the overall animal health status nation-wide through strengthening of service provision and linking public and private sectors
2. To increase quality and quantity of animal products through improved animal husbandry and animal health
3. To establish and maintain a consistent Monitoring & Evaluation system endorsed by all stakeholders
4. To provide relevant recommendations for future development of publicprivate partnerships.
Results Project activities focussing on all of the four objectives were effectively and efficiently implemented, and considerable progress was made towards all of the targets set. Some examples of achievements that contributed to the overall objective of the project are:
• DCA supported 391 VFUs (target was 338), among which were 53 newly established VFUs. 75% of these VFUs were self-sustainable at the end of the project.
• During the life of the project over 45 million animals (target 22 million) were treated and vaccinated.
• 811,00 families (target 701,000) had access to veterinary services
• In consultation with all actors, DCA established standardized monitoring, evaluation and documentation systems for private veterinary service delivery in Afghanistan.
• Together with the Afghan government and FAO, DCA organized the first Conference on Livestock Sector Development in February 2016.
• All 391 VFUs are engaged in disease surveillance and outbreak reporting. 35 VFUs are contracted under the Sanitary Mandate Scheme and are directly supporting the local government in the public surveillance and control of contagious diseases.
• DCA developed three new extension packages, on Meat Inspection, Food Safety and Food Hygiene, and on Kuchi Livestock issues. These were disseminated to VFUs, butchers, community health workers, etc.
• DCA participated in campaigns for control of CCHF (Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever), Brucellosis and Rabies.
• DCA trained 32 public extension workers (target 32) to monitor extension services by VFU staff.
• The VFU staff supported by DCA offered extension to 36,900 farmers during the life of the project.
• 6400 poor families (target 2800) benefited from subsidized vaccination and deworming campaigns.
• 50 Self-help groups were established, running businesses like lamb fattening, raising silk worms, and cocoon processing, and dairy cattle rearing. The project also offered DCA the opportunity to take the lead in the communication and coordination between all stakeholders in the livestock sector. Through organising workshops, conferences and meetings, DCA Livestock Programs has built a platform to share knowledge on livestock issues.