Stories
October 23, 2025 • 2 min read
With over three decades of veterinary experience, Arafat Hassen has become a vital part of his community’s efforts to improve animal health and livelihoods. Through support from GOAL’s UKAID-funded THRIVE Project, he expanded his veterinary practice, reduced treatment costs, and increased access to quality animal care. By reinvesting his project grant into purchasing more veterinary drugs and applying new knowledge from GOAL’s training, Arafat has made lifesaving services affordable for hundreds of livestock owners.
The Transforming Household Resilience through Inclusive Economic Empowerment (THRIVE) Project, funded by UKAID, applies a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach to strengthen local markets and improve household resilience in South Sudan. One of its key components focuses on supporting livestock actors, including Private Veterinary Practitioners (PVPs) and Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs), to enhance animal health services, strengthen veterinary supply chains, and promote sustainable income generation.
Building Skills and Expanding Services
For more than 30 years, Arafat Hassen, a veterinary technician in Renk County, has dedicated his career to treating animal diseases, conducting vaccinations, and ensuring food safety through meat inspections. Through GOAL’s THRIVE Project, Arafat was recognised as a Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP) and received technical and financial support under the project’s Market Systems Development component.
As part of the program, he participated in Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) training, CAHW refresher courses, and received a cash grant to strengthen his business. “I did not just spend the money given to me,” Arafat explained. “I used the cash support to buy more drugs to treat more animals. Eventually, the more drugs available due to support from GOAL, the lower the price of each drug sold for treatment.”
Reducing Costs and Improving Access
Before the project’s support, veterinary drugs were often sold in large vials that were unaffordable for most livestock owners, with prices starting at around 50,000 SSP (€330.00) per vial for a single treatment. With GOAL’s assistance, Arafat was able to reduce drug prices by 20–30% and expand access to essential veterinary services.
Today, livestock owners can seek treatment at Arafat’s community drug shop, his clinic in the local market, or they can call him directly for assistance. In a single quarter, Arafat treated 7,846 animals, including goats, sheep, cows, donkeys, and chickens, benefiting 168 livestock owners (157 men and 11 women). This achievement demonstrates how targeted support can enhance service delivery and improve community resilience.
Knowledge that Lasts
Beyond the financial assistance, Arafat believes the training and technical knowledge gained through the THRIVE Project are equally transformative. “Many people focus only on monetary support,” he said. “But the knowledge I obtained is just as valuable, because it continues to help me cure animal diseases and serve my community.”
Through GOAL’s ongoing engagement, Arafat and other local veterinary practitioners are better equipped to meet the needs of livestock keepers, contributing to healthier herds, stronger livelihoods, and more resilient communities across South Sudan.
