Project summary

Zoonotic diseases—those transmitted between animals and humans—account for a significant proportion of emerging and existing infectious diseases globally. According to the World Health Organization, over 60% of known infectious diseases and up to 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin (WHO, 2023). In low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, the risk is heightened due to close human–animal interactions, weak biosecurity systems, and limited awareness among high-risk groups such as livestock marketers.

In 2024, Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Initiative (VAWI) conducted a cross-sectional study among 297 livestock marketers and live-bird traders across ten major livestock markets in Bauchi State. The findings revealed critical gaps in both knowledge and preventive practices. Only 22.9% (n=68) of respondents demonstrated good knowledge of zoonotic diseases, while a substantial 77.1% (n=229) had poor knowledge. Similarly, preventive practices were inadequate, with only 17.2% (n=51) exhibiting good practices compared to 82.8% (n=246) with poor practices. Furthermore, 86.2% of respondents had never received any formal training on zoonotic disease prevention (VAWI, 2024).

These findings align with broader regional evidence showing that livestock handlers in Sub-Saharan Africa often lack adequate knowledge of zoonoses and rarely adopt protective behaviors (FAO, 2020). Risky practices observed in Bauchi markets—including handling sick animals without protective equipment, poor hand hygiene, improper disposal of animal waste, and low vaccination uptake—create a conducive environment for zoonotic disease transmission. Such conditions pose serious threats not only to livestock-dependent livelihoods but also to public health, food safety, and economic stability.

The proposed project, “Strengthening Zoonotic Disease Prevention in Bauchi Livestock Markets, Nigeria,” aims to address these gaps through a targeted One Health intervention. The project will focus on improving awareness, strengthening preventive practices, and promoting biosecurity measures among livestock marketers and other key actors in the livestock value chain.

Key interventions will include:

• Community-based zoonotic disease awareness campaigns

• Training of livestock marketers on safe animal handling and hygiene practices

• Distribution of basic personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Strengthening collaboration between veterinary services, market authorities, and public health stakeholders

• Promotion of vaccination and disease reporting systems

  By directly targeting high-risk populations in livestock markets, the project seeks to significantly improve knowledge and practices, reduce zoonotic disease risks, and contribute to healthier communities. Ultimately, this initiative supports the broader One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
  

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

This project has one overarching goal: to reduce zoonotic disease risks in Bauchi livestock markets by improving knowledge and preventive practices among livestock marketers. To achieve this, we will build on the existing baseline research and implement a structured intervention across four phases over 12 months:

• Phase 1 (Months 1–2): Stakeholder engagement, validation of baseline findings, and development of training materials and behavior change tools

• Phase 2 (Months 3–6): Conducting targeted trainings, awareness campaigns, and community sensitization across selected livestock markets

• Phase 3 (Months 7–9): Distribution of protective equipment, reinforcement of hygiene and biosecurity practices, and supportive supervision visits

• Phase 4 (Months 10–12): Endline assessment, monitoring and evaluation, and dissemination of findings with recommendations for scale-up

How will this funding be used?

The total funding request for this project is USD 25,000, covering a 12-month implementation of targeted zoonotic disease prevention interventions across selected livestock markets in Bauchi State. The breakdown is as follows:

• Personnel and technical support: USD 9,000 — covering project coordination, field officers, and veterinary/public health facilitators responsible for training delivery, supervision, and monitoring activities across all project phases

• Training and awareness activities: USD 6,000 — including development of training materials, community sensitization campaigns, stakeholder meetings, and capacity-building workshops for livestock marketers

• Protective materials and biosecurity support: USD 4,500 — procurement and distribution of basic personal protective equipment (gloves, boots, handwashing facilities) and hygiene supplies to promote safer practices

• Transport and logistics: USD 3,000 — field travel to markets, stakeholder engagement visits, and coordination across implementation sites

• Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting: USD 2,500 — endline assessment, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings

This budget reflects a cost-effective, high-impact intervention focused on behavior change among high-risk populations. The project builds on existing baseline research, ensuring that resources are directed toward practical, evidence-based solutions. If full funding is not secured, a scaled-down version of the project can be implemented in fewer markets while maintaining core activities such as training and awareness campaigns.

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

This project is led by Dr. Sadiq Surajo (DVM, MPH, MBA), a veterinarian and public health professional with a strong multidisciplinary background in animal health, public health, and organizational leadership. Dr. Surajo has extensive experience in the One Health approach, animal welfare advocacy, and zoonotic disease prevention. He has undergone several professional trainings in animal welfare and One Health and has led multiple initiatives focused on improving animal health, public safety, and community awareness(LinkedIn).

Through his leadership of Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Initiative (VAWI), Dr. Surajo has successfully implemented impactful field programs, including the vaccination of over 500 dogs, treatment of more than 3,000 animals, and sustained community sensitization on zoonotic diseases and animal welfare through radio and direct engagement. He has also led advocacy efforts that contributed to increased vaccination uptake and improved awareness of safe animal handling practices in Bauchi State www.vawinitiative.org.

The project is supported by a dedicated multidisciplinary team:

• Dr. Jamilu Muhammad – Program Manager

• Dr. Christopher Danladi – Media & Communications Officer

• Dr. Yunusa Musa – Community Engagement Officer

• Dr. Luqman Ibrahim Amaya – Field Coordinator

• Dr. Goodness George A. – Program Assistant

• Abdullahi Musa – Volunteer Coordinator

• Hauwa’u Muhammad – Admin & Finance Officer

The team brings combined expertise in veterinary services, community engagement, program implementation, communication, and project management. Together, they have experience working directly with livestock communities, coordinating field interventions, and delivering behavior change campaigns www.vawinitiative.org.

VAWI has a proven track record of implementing grassroots, high-impact interventions in Bauchi State, particularly in underserved and high-risk communities. This experience positions the team well to successfully deliver this project and achieve measurable improvements in zoonotic disease awareness and preventive practices among livestock marketers

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

The most likely causes of project failure include low participation of livestock marketers due to time constraints or mistrust, limited stakeholder buy-in from market leaders, and resource constraints affecting consistent implementation. Inadequate follow-up or weak behavior change adoption may also reduce impact.

If the project fails, poor knowledge (77.1% baseline) and unsafe practices (82.8% baseline) are likely to persist, increasing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. This could lead to continued public health threats, economic losses for livestock actors, and missed opportunities to strengthen One Health systems in Bauchi State.

To mitigate these risks, the project will prioritize early and continuous engagement with market leaders and associations to build trust and ownership. Training sessions will be designed to be practical, culturally appropriate, and scheduled at convenient times to encourage participation. Continuous supportive supervision and follow-up visits will reinforce behavior change, while incentives such as provision of basic protective materials will encourage adoption of safer practices. In addition, strong monitoring and adaptive management will allow the project team to quickly identify challenges and adjust strategies to ensure successful implementation.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

In the past 12 months, we have not raised any external funding (USD 0). Our activities during this period have been sustained through in-kind contributions, volunteer efforts, and the commitment of our team. This funding gap highlights the need for external support to scale our interventions and implement structured, high-impact projects such as this initiative.