Stories and News

For decades, Usha Bhandari has campaigned for vocational education and training – in Nepal and beyond. Although she's about to retire, she's not thinking about quitting.

On 15 April 2023, Sudan was plunged into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has led to massive displacement of the population and claimed thousands of lives.

Bangladesh is one of the countries most affected by climate change worldwide. Now, nine Swiss NGOs, the Embassy and local partners are joining forces to meet the challenges

Due to the precarious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, as of March 2025 Switzerland is once again present on the ground with a humanitarian office in Kabul.

Two SDC female staff share insights into the current situation in Damascus and the ongoing and future activities of the SDC in Syria.

Satellite early warning system for natural hazards (as for homepage teaser or variation of this) SLF researchers are training Indian specialists to use satellite data and computer models to identify impending natural hazards and areas that could be affected. The aim is to better model natural hazard processes in the Himalayas and prevent disasters.

South Sudan, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of the Congo: three accounts of Switzerland's work in fragile contexts.

Since January 2025, the conflict in the DRC has resulted in more than 3,000 deaths and a similar number of wounded. In response, Switzerland is allocating CHF 3 million for humanitarian aid. This support package will go mainly to the ICRC and other partners on the ground who are already active in the areas of health, protection of the civilian population and emergency aid for displaced persons.

The SDC podcast WHY CARE? is released every month. In the podcast, guests discuss questions related to Switzerland's international cooperation.

Lucas Riegger works for the SDC in Myanmar. He describes his everyday life.

The head of the SDC, Patricia Danzi, visited South Sudan at the beginning of January together with a Swiss delegation. All you need to know in this interview.

In 2024, Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan mark 30 years of cooperation. Switzerland has made a successful contribution to sustainable development in Kyrgyzstan over the past three decades.

The crisis in Mali has deprived thousands of children of their right to education. The SDC supports a project on education and child protection.

Swiss humanitarian and development initiatives support people displaced by conflict or insecurity.

The SDC programme officer travelled to eastern Ukraine to find out more about local needs and the use of Swiss equipment.

Switzerland has a comprehensive approach to security. International co-operation helps to address global issues and reduce security risks.

Since 2004, REPIC has supported sustainable projects, saving 288,277 tons of CO2 and promoting innovative solutions in 60 countries.

Creative workshops run by the Dialogues on Humanity exhibition invite schools to reflect on nature, hope, dignity and the boundaries between reality and fiction.

"The integration of the Kantha Bopha hospitals into the Cambodian healthcare system is a big step for development," says SDC Director-General Patricia Danzi.

Cambodia is one of the countries most heavily contaminated with landmines in the world. Thanks in part to Swiss support, the country can be cleared of mines and returned to the population.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) promotes drought-tolerant agricultural practices to bolster the resilience of Zimbabwe’s farming communities.

Through its project SET the SDC contributes to skills development for vulnerable youth in Tanzania so that they can find gainful employment.

Switzerland has supported media in Tanzania for ten years. Among the supported media is Niambie, a youth-focused radio show produced by BBC Media Action.

Despite its growing economy many Tanzanians remain in extreme poverty. Women and the youth are particularly vulnerable. The social insurance programme TASAF aims to bring people – particularly women – together for their economic empowerment. In Dar es Salaam two groups of women have bundled their energy and created sustainable small businesses. As a result, they have escaped extreme poverty and are able to stand on their own two feet.

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

Millions of hectares of forest have been destroyed in Bolivia due to major fires. The SDC has dispatched a team to provide aid to the affected populations.

Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam: The SDC deployed an emergency team of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit and supported relief efforts.

The Exhibition Dialogues on Humanity deals with our feelings about images of humanitarian crises, violence, armed conflict and natural disasters.

In addition to the violence faced by those in the capital Port-au-Prince, the population is exposed to natural hazards. Climate change is exacerbating the situation. The SDC is helping to minimise the risks of disaster.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) works to promote the realisation of the human rights related to water and sustainable water management at all levels. To do this, it is working closely with young people.

Melting snow, glaciers, and permafrost retreat increase the risks of disasters. The SDC strengthens climate resilience in mountainous regions through scientific data.

Development cooperation protects habitats threatened by climate change. The SDC supports projects worldwide.

The objective of CALAC+ is to reduce harmful air pollutants in Latin American capitals through the deployment of soot-free engines in urban public transport

The "Nature Conservation Programme" in North Macedonia demonstrates how nature conservation and local development mutually reinforce each other.

PROECCO supports sustainable urban development in the Great Lakes region. The project centres on a technology for manufacturing modern bricks.

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

Web article on the Shelter Sustainability Assessment Tool developed by the Geneva Technical Hub with support of the SDC.

A guest article by the WFP on its Anticipatory Action programme, which focuses on managing the risks of climate extremes and the food insecurity they cause.

Achieving SDG 2 has fallen behind schedule. This was the conclusion reached at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York.

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

Thanks to Swiss support, the cocoa sector in Honduras has developed considerably over the past decade and the income of the producers has improved.

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

In Haiti, the SDC rapidly and effectively integrated emergency relief with reconstruction and development projects, thereby creating synergies.

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

Switzerland supports millions of people in Southern Africa, in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, with CHF 4.7 million in the fight against drought and hunger.

The conference is one of the stops on the way to the Ukraine Mine Action Conference, which will take place in Lausanne in October.

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

For decades, an antidote to the deadly sleeping sickness lay dormant in the Sanofi archives. Until it was rediscovered with the support of the SDC.