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Published on 12 July 2024

Peace, governance and equality

The SDC strengthens human rights, public institutions and civil society to help resolve conflicts or prevent them from arising in the first place. This work encompasses the areas of peace, governance and gender equality.

A healthcare worker, wearing a white coat over a shirt with thin red stripes, looking towards a shelf containing boxes of medicines.

10 October 2024

Mental health: a cornerstone of lasting peace

Mental health: treating conflict-related trauma is essential to promote social cohesion and peacebuilding in Burundi.

A man poses with a cow in a meadow.

23 July 2024

A Plus For Humanity: the SDC podcast

Every month, the SDC podcast A Plus For Humanity reports on international cooperation and humanitarian aid projects.

Cars and motorcycles are driving on a road in Benin. Informal housing settlements have been built next to the road.

10 July 2024

Africa in crisis, emerging Africa

Africa is often seen as an emerging continent whose young population is stimulating booming economic growth. Simultaneously, the continent is haunted by crises.

Father and daughter laugh into the camera

4 July 2024

60 years of successful cooperation

By the end of 2024, the SDC will progressively phase out bilateral development cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean. A look back.

Group picture of the Lithuanian delegation with the organisers of the exchange visit.

25 June 2024

The backbone of democracy: Civic engagement in Switzerland and in Lithuania

The second Swiss contribution promotes civic engagement in selected EU-countries like Lithuania.

A Syrian refugee takes his missing daughter in his arms and kisses her on the forehead.

22 May 2024

Finding and identifying missing persons is essential to rebuilding countries

Increasing conflicts and wars make peacebuilding all the more relevant. Find out how Switzerland actively promotes peace.

A woman in an orange sari harvesting fresh, green vegetables in an otherwise dry area. Solar panels can be seen in the background.

22 May 2024

International cooperation: combating global poverty and crises

With the accountability report on international cooperation, the Federal Council takes stock and gives an account to parliament.

Tetiana Bohuslavska, psychologist for the Act for Health project, holds the hand of a child.

17 May 2024

Mental Health: A Neglected Component of Peace

Mental health issues are widespread in conflicts and addressing them is critical for lasting peace. The SDC supports systemic and locally-led efforts in Ukraine and other countries.

In a training workshop, a young woman with a head covering works on a mechanical component, observed by two male apprentices.

10 May 2024

Millions deprived of education – FDFA creates opportunities

To combat poverty and inequality, Switzerland is committed to good quality education and equal opportunities for all.

A young journalist stands in front of a giant screen and presents the news.

7 May 2024

An inclusive culture of debate

The Debating Our Destiny project, which is being supported by the SDC in the Arabic-speaking world, gives young people and marginalised groups a voice.

Bolivian farmer holds potatoes in her hands.

19 April 2024

Bolivia

In Bolivia, the SDC's approach to poverty alleviation has been multi-faceted, innovative and sustainable.

A Cuban LGBT activist stands on the street.

19 April 2024

Cuba

In Cuba, the SDC has successfully addressed previously taboo issues such as decentralised governance, gender equality and racism.

A woman wearing a helmet and protective vest defuses an explosive device.

11 April 2024

"Mine clearance creates spaces for reconciliation"

Humanicemos is an organisation for action against anti-personnel mines. It was founded as part of the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC.

A man wearing a leather jacket standing in a green and lush jungle.

11 April 2024

Harvesting Peace: producing chocolate with former FARC combatants

An Article about the Peace Dividend Initiative and it’s chocolate project in Colombia.

Solar systems operate the water pumping station in Fekha, which was rehabilitated by the SDC.

11 April 2024

Lebanon: more water, less tensions

In the Bekaa Valley, the SDC is running a project to improve water management. The project also aims to ease tensions surrounding water access.

Two women are sitting across from each other, looking at each other and holding hands

11 April 2024

Women in Mali: peacebuilders

To promote women’s engagement in peace processes, Switzerland is supporting the circles of peace in Mali. Interview with Bintou Founé Samaké, WILDAF/Mali.

15 June 2023

International cooperation under the sign of the war against Ukraine

Faces, stories, facts and figures: The SDC and SECO interactive annual report reviews the year 2022.

Four women in colourful dress. The first is holding some sheets of paper and a man is handing her a microphone.

21 February 2023

Standing up for Beninese women

After the elections, the Assembly has welcomed 109 new members of parliament, including – for the first time in Benin’s democratic history – 28 women.

Portrait of a woman in the foreground wearing a red scarf in the background. In the foreground, she points a spoonful of yellow, brown, black cereal with her right hand towards the camera lens.

5 December 2022

Global food crises have multiple causes

828 million suffer from hunger worldwide. Climate change, conflicts, COVID-19, and economic crises: the global food crisis has multiple causes.

Photo of a woman in the background wearing a yellow dress. A rice crop is in the foreground of the photo.

5 December 2022

Global food crisis: acting collaboratively

The global food crisis is one of the main challenges that the world faces today. SDC is working collaboratively and across sectors to mitigate its impact.

Girls' school in Syria: SDC Director General Patricia Danzi, Ambassador Maya Tissafi and others talking in front of a blackboard to a classroom of schoolgirls.

15 November 2022

Syria: humanitarian aid regardless of conflict lines

Together with Ambassador Maya Tissafi, SDC Director General Patricia Danzi has visited Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The focus was on humanitarian work.

A farmer in Aswan Governorate sits cross-legged in his field near the Aswan High Dam.

7 November 2022

The SDC is actively engaged in improving drinking water management in Egypt

The SDC has been working in Egypt since 2017 to make the distribution of drinking water more equitable.

Women and children carry water canisters through a village of simple huts in Somalia.

12 October 2022

«People are dying because aid can't reach them»

SDC Director General Patricia Danzi explains why climate and security cannot be viewed in isolation.

Three smiling women cross a bridge in Nepal.

10 October 2022

Switzerland–Nepal: building bridges on the path to federalism

Ahead of SDC Director General Patrizia Danzi's trip to Nepal, we look back on more than 60 years of cooperation between the two countries.

Peter Maurer, accompanied by ICRC and Red Crescent staff, makes his way through the ruins of a Mosul neighbourhood.

30 September 2022

10 years on the humanitarian frontline

Diplomat and former Swiss State Secretary Peter Maurer is stepping down as ICRC President. His 10 years in office have shaped humanitarian aid worldwide.

An employee of the Wasserverbands Region Bern shares his work with the Mongolian delegation on his computer screens.

22 August 2022

Democracy and decentralisation – when Mongolia draws inspiration from Switzerland

A Mongolian government delegation paid a field visit to Switzerland. We interviewed Zolzaya Lkhagvasuren on the topic.

Patricia Danzi gives some advice to two young women working on a computer.

22 April 2022

Young generations in the Near East – between challenges and new perspectives

Impressions from the Near East: Patricia Danzi and Ambassador Simon Geissbühler in interview.

 Rice fields in the Niger River in Mali.

22 March 2022

Blue Peace Days: Switzerland at the World Water Forum in Dakar

From Expo Dubai to the World Water Forum in Dakar on the news platform: Blue Peace – the Swiss initiative for transboundary cooperation concerning water.

Timeline showing cooperation with Eastern Europe in post-Soviet states.

15 December 2021

«We saw the East as much too homogeneous»

In 1991, Switzerland recognised the independence of the former Soviet republics and started its development cooperation through the SDC and SECO.

How can business and human rights be combined? The FDFA and SECO are committed to finding solutions not only for multinational companies but also for SMEs.

21 June 2021

Integrating human rights in business is a matter of global concern

Ten years ago, a framework to limit the impact of economic activity on human rights was established under the auspices of the UN.

 Three men, surrounded by a sea of rubble, pick through the debris of a building destroyed in an air strike.

30 March 2021

10 years of the conflict in Syria: Switzerland commits to peace and helps with 60 million of francs

The Fifth Brussels Conference on Syria took place on 30 March. At the meeting, which was co-chaired by the EU and the UN, Switzerland pledged CHF 60 million in aid for people in Syria.

Portrait of Ruth Huber, Vice-Director of SDC and Head of Department Cooperation with Eastern Europe.

25 March 2021

«Sustainable change requires a systemic effort»

Ruth Huber discusses the SDC's nomination for the Catalyst 2030 Award and Switzerland's pioneering role in cooperation with social enterprises.

A group of journalists gathered around an instructor.

22 March 2021

Water stories for peace

The Blue Peace Media Lab in the Middle East is a Swiss initiative to promote media reporting on the water sector.

A man walks across scrubland followed by a truffle hog.

5 March 2021

Community-based psychiatry – outpatient therapy instead of in-patient care

How the SDC is supporting the set-up of high-quality psychiatric care services based on outpatient therapy at community care centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Christian Frutiger, Head of the SDC's Global Cooperation Department

4 March 2021

"It's about developing solutions with local people, not for them"

Christian Frutiger, Head of the SDC's Global Cooperation Department, explains why engineers are so important for sustainable development.

In the picture we see SDC Director General Patricia Danzi sitting at a table and looking into the camera. In the background we see her office with a map of the world on the wall.

2 February 2021

«Sustainable development would not be possible without business»

SDC Director General Patricia Danzi talks about the role of the private sector in international cooperation, about ending poverty and about human dignity.

Contact

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Eichenweg 5
3003 Bern