Dierenartsen Zonder Grenzen

Timeline

1994

  • 18 Belgian veterinarians led by Pascal Leroy, the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Liege, create VSF Belgium.

1995

  • The first project begins in Southern Sudan under the umbrella of a UNICEF programme. Opening of the first regional office in Nairobi and the first logistic base in Lokichokio, Kenya.

1996

  • Start of the second project in Southern Sudan, during which the Southern Sudan Animal Health Training Institute (SSAHTI) is established. VSF Belgium is awarded the first prize from the Belgian Prince Laurent Foundation.

1997

  • Our first 5-year programme (1998-2002) is prepared by the ATIFA consortium (VFS, AQUADEV and ABR), and endorsed by the Belgian Development Cooperation (DGCD). Two new projects are started in Mali and in the Comoros Islands

1998

  • VSF Belgium is registered by USAID (US Agency for International Development). The yearly budget passes the €1m threshold.

1999

  • VSF Belgium starts the Turkana Livestock Development Project in Kenya.

2000

  • HRH Prince Laurent visits the PADEC project in the Comoros Islands.
    Start of a 10 year collaboration agreement with the Belgian Survival Fund.

2001

  • VSF Belgium is selected by the African Union and Sudanese Government to head the rinderpest eradication project in Southern Sudan. Two new projects begin in Rwanda and Niger. The famous actress Marie Gillain visits the Turkana project in Kenya. This visit attracts a lot of media attention and exposure for the project.

2002

  • VSF is set up in the Prince Laurent Foundation headquarters on Avenue Paul Deschanel in Brussels. VSF Belgium develops its own 5-year plan (2003-2007) VSF Belgium receives the Armand Férron Award, delivered by the Department of Animal Health of the Tropical Institute in Antwerp, Belgium.

2003

  • Start of PROXEL, a project in Niger, in collaboration with the Belgian Survival Fund. Signing of a new collaboration agreement with the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). Singer-songwriter Jan Leyers, sponsor of the TLDF programme, visits the site of the Turkana project in Kenya and raises the profile of VSF in Flanders.

2004

  • Start of the cooperation with the Association Belgique-Rwanda (ABR) for the drafting of a 5-year programme, co-financed by the Belgian Development Cooperation (DGCD). In Mauritania a project looking to improve the local milk collecting centres begins.

2005

  • VSF Belgium celebrates its 10th anniversary with an international symposium, and a visit from Lokorio, the Head of Turkana in Kenya. VSF Belgium publishes the strategic work plan “Horizon 2015”, which provides guiding principles for the next 10 years. VSF Belgium is nominated for the Walloon Quality Award.

2006

  • VSF Belgium is leading activities in 10 African countries (Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritiana, Rwanda, Congo, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and the Comoros Islands) VSF Belgium is founding member of the Belgian platform Be-troplive.

2007

  • VSF Belgium wins de Walloon Quality Award. VSF Belgium wins the Alphabetisation Award, delivered by the King Baldwin Foundation. Two new projects start in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. VSF Belgium starts a development education programme in Belgium, financed by the European Commission. In Southern Sudan the Livestock Epidemio-Surveillance Program (LESP) starts in association with the Sudanese ministry for agriculture.

2008

  • VSF Belgium becomes leader of a consortium, which implements a regional emergency aid programme in Ethiopia, Uganda and Somalia, financed by the European Commission. The projects in Mauritania and in the Comoros Islands are completed and are transferred to the local population.

2009

  • Belgian Lottery chooses to sponsor VSF Belgium’s project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, because of its approach to achieve the Millennium Goals.