
AFSCAN scientific research grant applications 2026
AFSCAN Scientific Research Grant Applications 2026 AFSCAN is a ProSalus Foundation initiative that facilitates capacity building in the African community to enhance quality in small companion animal medicine, promoting a One-Health perspective. The AFSCAN Research Award This opportunity is available to individuals working at an

AFSCAN undergraduate veterinary studentship 2025
APPLICATION FOR AN AFSCAN undergraduate veterinary STUDENTSHIP Please note: New Application Forms for 2025! Download here New for 2025: Studentship Final Report Form 2025 Download here
Initiatives
At the 2011 inaugural meeting of the not-for-profit WSAVA Foundation, a range of potential projects were identified:
- Initiatives to educate veterinarians and the public globally about disease prevention and improving health in companion animals
- Standardization projects in key areas of companion animal health
- Welfare supporting the development of innovative clinical approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of clinical diseases in companion animals
The ultimate goal of these projects is to raise the level of patient care for companion animals and improve public health around the world.
Mission Rabies Goa
Total number of dogs vaccinated in Goa during 2018 = Over 97,000!!
Mission Rabies Goa (Figure 1) have done it again! For the second consecutive year, the vaccination teams have covered the whole state of Goa – an area of 3,702 km2 (1,429 square miles). The teams have worked tirelessly and walked systematically, day after day, across the state vaccinating as many dogs as possible. The map in Figure 2 highlights the total vaccination coverage achieved during 2018.
The African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN)
In 2014, we pinpointed a growing need in Africa for more advanced veterinary care. In response, AFSCAN was created. AFSCAN aims to facilitate the creation of a sustainable network of companion animal veterinarians, associations, and specialist groups in Sub-Saharan Africa. Together, these groups form new small animal veterinary associations (SAVAs) across the continent. Each SAVA is the driving force behind collaborations, training, and best practice sharing, which have proved pivotal in enhancing overall standards of veterinary care in other regions of the world, notably Eastern Europe.
WSAVA Fun(d) Run
Our Fun(d) Run tradition began in Auckland, New Zealand in 2013 as a way to raise funds and support the AFSCAN project and Mission Rabies in the fight against rabies. Since 2013, we have traveled around the world to places like Cape Town, South Africa; Bangkok, Thailand; and Cartegena, Colombia as an integral part of the WSAVA Congress. Over 1,000 participants have joined to help raise awareness and donate to a wonderful cause, and we look forward to continuing our tradition globally.
AFSCAN Associations
Supporting key individuals (AFSCAN Ambassadors) to form new small animal veterinary associations in each participating country. Setting up of veterinary associations in Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.
AFSCAN Education
Distance learning and point of care information will enable the continuing development of practitioners in Consortium countries and “fill the gaps” between the events and conferences so that the benefits of the program will be longer lasting than the inevitably sporadic conferences and events.
Mission Rabies
Mission Rabies, a project launched in 2013 by charity Worldwide Veterinary Service, aims to make a difference in the lives of people and the dogs in the world’s rabies hot spots. Beginning in India, Mission Rabies aims to prevent the spread of rabies to people by vaccinating dogs. In India, the project’s goal is to vaccinate 2 million dogs over the first 3 years.
To achieve this, veterinary volunteers are being enlisted from around the world. These volunteers travel across the country in an all-terrain mobile veterinary hospital truck to provide free vaccines. In addition, Mission Rabies distributes educational material among locals to educate them about the dangers of rabies and how to reduce the risk of contracting it.
AFSCAN Grants
The African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN) works to raise standards of veterinary care in Sub-Saharan Africa through enhancing the education offered to veterinarians. It is also capacity building through facilitating the creation of a sustainable network of companion animal veterinary associations and specialist groups.
These Grants will support the training and development of both veterinary students and academics working in Africa today and, we hope, inspire a new generation of African veterinary researchers. Importantly, we hope that they will also increase the current knowledge base of diseases and welfare issues affecting companion animals in African and build links between African veterinary researchers and laboratories around the world.
Our projects
We deliver our work through a series of projects, until recently focusing primarily on supporting veterinarians in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Given the positive impact of our projects in Africa, we are now extending our support to Latin America and, in
due course, other areas in need.
We also operate in regions hit by conflict or natural disasters. For example, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we’ve been working with the Ukrainian Small Animal Veterinary Association to support veterinarians who are struggling to cope with the impact of the war.
The African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN).
Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing nations. Unfortunately, it is also plagued by many of the world’s most dangerous diseases. Veterinarians are still few in number, often geographically isolated with limited access to training and resources.
Since 2011, we’ve worked to strengthen veterinary care across Sub-Saharan Africa through our flagship project, the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN).
AFSCAN works in four key areas:
1. Veterinary associations
Strong country veterinary associations have been proven in parts of the world such as Eastern Europe to accelerate veterinary development and raise standards of care. For this reason, AFSCAN supports the formation of new veterinary associations in Africa.
To date, it has facilitated the creation of ten veterinary associations.
Each association appoints an AFSCAN Ambassador, with the Ambassadors meeting regularly online to provide mutual support and share best practice. Please click each country to view these:
The associations are now working together to build a collaborative framework for the delivery of continuing education and other support and are providing a sense of community that is empowering veterinarians across Africa.
2. Scientific advances
AFSCAN offers annual grants to support veterinary research projects in Africa. Our grants are increasing knowledge of diseases and welfare issues in Africa while helping to establish valuable links between African veterinary researchers and research institutions in American and European countries.
- AFSCAN Studentship Award Information 2026
- AFSCAN Studentship Application Form 2026
- AFSCAN Studentship Final Report Form 2026
3. Veterinary education
We provide distance learning and point-of-care resources to support the development of veterinarians across Africa. Much of this learning is directed through the veterinary associations.
We run a twinning programme for AFSCAN member practices in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Association and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association. The programme offers mentorship to the member practices through regular online meetings with their twinned practices to discuss cases and exchange knowledge.
When sponsorship permits, we also offer the opportunity for AFSCAN Ambassadors or other association members to attend face-to-face continuing education meetings or major global congresses.
a) AFSCAN Twinning Project:
Report of AVMA twinning meeting in Washington 2025
b) Scholarships:
4. Rabies management
Rabies is 100% preventable yet still kills tens of thousands of people each year, many of them children. Dogs are the main source of human rabies, so canine vaccination programmes are the most effective and humane control method.
We help African associations to support their communities with rabies elimination projects, dog vaccination campaigns and community education. We have recently formed an AFSCAN Rabies Committee to co-ordinate rabies initiatives in Africa.
We also collaborate with Mission Rabies, a project led by the charity Worldwide Veterinary Services, which runs regular rabies vaccination campaigns in Africa and other regions of the world.
Ukraine
The Russian invasion has had devastating effects on Ukraine’s animals and, of course, the veterinarians and veterinary teams striving to care for them. Many veterinarians have been killed, while millions of animals – livestock, companion animals and wildlife – have been abandoned or killed.
Animal rescues are overwhelmed and disruption to public health is causing suffering and major health issues for both humans and animals. The most serious is a concerning rise in the incidence of rabies. In 2023, reported animal rabies cases were 2.3 times higher than in 2022.
We’ve launched an appeal for life-saving medicines, equipment and funds to support veterinarians in Ukraine in partnership with the Ukrainian Veterinary Medical Foundation (UVMF).
You can support the campaign in three ways:
1. Donate veterinary medicines, equipment and supplies (an option for UK-based vets only)
There is a severe shortage of veterinary equipment in Ukraine as much of it has been diverted for human use. Below are just some examples of the types of equipment that is in most demand. Veterinary medicines and supplies would also be gratefully received.
UK veterinary equipment manufacturer and distributor Burton’s Medical Equipment is supporting our appeal by acting as a collection point for donations.
Surgical, auxiliary and reception tables
Surgical instruments
Anaesthetic machines
Portable ultrasound machines
Pulse oximeters
X-ray machines (including dental)
Plastic ventilated storage bins
Capnograph devices
Surgical and examination lights
Multi-parameter monitors (for pulse, blood pressure and temperature)
Surgical instruments
You can also donate funds towards the purchase of new equipment and transport. Please contact Dr Mark Johnston at vice-president@prosalusfoundation.org to discuss a donation of funds or equipment/supplies.
2. Make a cash donation online
3. Bid in a silent auction of Ukrainian art
Renowned Ukrainian artist Ann Khomchyk has generously donated her Different Together series of paintings to be auctioned in aid of Ukrainian veterinarians. Successful bidders will receive their artwork together with a certificate of authenticity. You can view the paintings and find out how to bid here: Different Together Series by Anna Khomchyk.
Latin America
Please contact Martin Soberano via martin.soberano@prosalusfoundation.org for more information.
