UoN Joins Feed the Future Innovation Lab to Transform Veterinary Vaccine Delivery in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nepal

University of Nairobi is thrilled to announce its participation in the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Veterinary Vaccines Delivery (VVDIL), a ground-breaking initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future initiative. This consortium aims to tackle critical challenges in the development, delivery, and adoption of veterinary vaccines, addressing global hunger and poverty while building local capacities for sustainable vaccine innovation and deployment.
The five-year Leader Award, led by Washington State University (USA), unites a diverse group of research and development organizations from Kenya, Tanzania, and Nepal, including:

• University of Nairobi (UoN)
• International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
• Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
• Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI)
• Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST)
• Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA)
• Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)
• Nepal Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development

Our Role in the Partnership
As part of this transformative initiative, University of Nairobi will receive funding to focus on training programs. These efforts will be crucial in addressing the barriers to effective veterinary vaccine deployment in target regions.
We are confident that this collaborative effort will create meaningful, lasting change for livestock farmers and communities in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nepal, driving economic growth and enhancing food security.
Project Goals and Focus
The VVDIL will focus on multidisciplinary research to address key barriers to veterinary vaccine delivery at three levels: product, provider, and end-user. By improving the quality, delivery, and adoption of vaccines, the initiative aims to:
• Enhance household food security and nutritional health for women and children.
• Strengthen resilience to losses from preventable livestock diseases.
• Increase livestock productivity and farmer incomes.
• Reduce antibiotic use while improving carbon efficiency in animal production.
Priority Diseases
The lab will target vaccines for key livestock diseases affecting cattle, small ruminants, and poultry in the target regions:
• Cattle: Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia (CBPP) in Kenya and Tanzania, and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
• Small Ruminants: Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Contagious Caprine Pleuro-Pneumonia (CCPP), Sheep and Goat pox.
• Chicken: Newcastle Disease (NCD) and Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD).
A Vision for Change
Through this collaboration, we aim to empower livestock farmers with the tools they need to protect their herds, improve productivity, and secure better livelihoods. Together, we will advance the science of veterinary vaccinology and create resilient agricultural systems that benefit communities across Kenya, Tanzania, and Nepal.
For more information, please contact:

Prof. George Karuoya Gitau, Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi; Email: gkgitau@uonbi.ac.ke
About Feed the Future

Feed the Future is America's initiative to combat global hunger and poverty. It brings partners together to help some of the world’s poorest countries harness the power of agriculture and entrepreneurship to jumpstart their economies and create new opportunities. For more information, visit feedthefuture.gov.