Strategic Plan 2017-2022 Q3 2017
About VSF Germany Who we are VSF Germany was founded in 1991 at the Veterinary School of Hannover, Germany. After some years of project implementation using only private contributions, VSF Germany got involved in donorfunded Rinderpest eradication in South Sudan (PARC: Pan African Rinderpest Campaign) in 1998. We have always strongly involved livestock keepers, who facilitated an active participatory disease surveillance system. Where we work From the early projects in South Sudan in 1998, VSF Germany expanded its activities to Kenya (2001), Somalia (2006), Sudan (2006), Ethiopia (2009) and Uganda (2016). What we do In its core function, VSF Germany is a livestock organization. We have always focused on development rather than emergency interventions, simply because livestock keeping means growing animals and caring for them. They in turn feed their owners with milk, eggs, meat, provide draft power and manure, create income from sales, are used for dowry and function as a bank. VSF Germany favors a holistic approach to serve the people in their needs and development. Hence, our involvement includes livestock health, humanitarian aid, natural resource management, gender equality, breeding, disease surveillance, food quality, animal traction, agri- and horticulture and marketing of products. Funding Our donors are international institutions such as the USAID Office for Disaster Assistance (USAid / OFDA), the European Commission, Humanitarian Office (ECHO), the European Union with its different funding lines, World Bank, African Development Bank, African Union / AU IBAR, UN agencies such as FAO, UNICEF, UNDP, UN OCHA, FAD and others, IOM, BMZ (Bundesminsterium für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Ministry of International Cooperation, Germany), Auswärtiges Amt (German Foreign Office, responsible for humanitarian assistance ), GIZ (Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit, Society for International Cooperation), DFID (Department for
International Development, GB), Global Affairs Canada (formerly DFATD), GALVmed and the Welcome Trust Fund. The VSF network VSF Germany is a member of VSF International, which aims to raise awareness about the positive role of livestock, sustainable agriculture and small-scale integrated farming systems as a key factor for sustainable livelihood development. Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland are our partners in the VSF international consortium. VSF international members are active in more than 30 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia to improve the living conditions of the most disadvantaged rural populations through veterinary and agricultural services, sustainable animal production, knowledge, and infrastructure in the broadest sense. Introduction To increase and rationalize VSF Germany s activities for resource-poor, livestock-depending communities, a strategy was developed by the Board of Directors, the Managing Director and the Senior Management Team. This strategy will serve as a guideline for all VSF Germany activities at all levels from top to bottom. Thus, this document provides a vision and ideas; however, detailed operational steps are not provided. The latter will remain the task of the different departments and their teams in the upcoming years until 2020 and beyond. The next strategy review will be conducted in 2020, when we will refine our strategy, if necessary. The latest strategy workshop took place in Q3 2016 in Berlin with participants from the Board and SMT. Participants were divided into 3 working groups: 1) Organizational Structure, 2) Programs, and
3) External Communication. Conclusions of the intense discussions are presented in the section below. Results Working Group 1: Organizational Structure In regard to organizational structure, VSF G will focus on (international) networking, on making the financial system more efficient, and emphasizing fund raising. VSF G will aim at becoming a leading agency inside a strengthened VSF international, contributing to the success of the organization. Furthermore, VSF G should join other reputable networks with similar beneficiaries and where synergies are obvious. In terms of the financial system and fund raising, VSF G will allocate 15% of the budget to fund raising. Furthermore, VSF G will be open to investments in human and technological resources in order to ensure professional work. VSF G will seek a steady flow of funds for more predictable income, minimizing cash flow risks. The annual audit will be simplified as much as possible. Therefore, extensive preparation and optimized communication between the head quarter in Berlin, the country offices and the regional office in Nairobi will ensure a smoothly running process. These efforts will decrease audit costs significantly. Information flow between country offices, the regional office and the head quarter ought to be shared in a structured and concise way. For this reason, communication guidelines will be established. In general, a culture of regular feedback needs to be established between and across countries and organization units. The steps mentioned above will support the efforts of VSF G for further decentralization. Working Group 2: Programs VSF G will consolidate its presence in the current East African countries of operation. Furthermore, VSF G will expand to other countries of the region and beyond, where our expertise is sought after. To that end, VSF G will explore funding opportunities in those regions. This implies the need to
remain open towards broadening our scope with regard to current agricultural, educational, infrastructural and political issues. This will generate new opportunities for projects in previously unexplored areas, geographically and professionally. Yet VSF G will consolidate and strengthen its core competency, which is Interaction of animals, humans and their environment for improved livelihoods by applying the principles of One Health in projects dealing with food security, public health, environmental conservation, disaster management, and disease management and prevention. VSF G sees itself as an ambassador protecting the rights and dignity of pastoralists and other livestock-keeping communities and individuals. Working Group 3: External Presentation VSF G will enhance its visibility, mainly among its target groups: veterinarians, veterinary and agriculture students, pet owners, policy makers and institutional donors, influential individuals, and influential individuals or institutions in Germany and internationally. VSF G will grow to become an internationally recognized organization, known for global humanitarian development and aid, based on the interaction between animals, humans and the environment. The focus is set on public health, livestock and agriculture in Eastern Africa and beyond. External communication will be optimized through consistent, efficient and up-to-date news for both internal and external audiences. To that end, VSF G will be open to investments in human and technological resources in order to ensure professional work. This will create the basis for new and creative approaches in the field of public relations. VSF G will strengthen its political influence by increasing the number of members (institutional and private) and external supporters. VSF G will become an organization that is well-known in Germany
and, as part of the VSF international network, also at the global level, by presenting strong expertise in appreciation, transparency, participation and professional member liaison. Berlin, 11 September 2017 Dr. Daniel Zaspel Board Chair Christian Griebenow Managing Director