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Stories and News

The following stories and news on development cooperation and humanitarian aid illustrate how the SDC fulfils Switzerland's mandate to alleviate need and poverty, improve respect for human rights, promote democracy and protect the environment worldwide.

The image shows a man wearing a Swiss Humanitarian Aid vest, with a net in front of him containing relief supplies (white packages and containers). The Nepalese mountains can be seen in the background and an airborne Swiss helicopter in the foreground.

23 April 2025

Remembering the 2015 earthquake and Nepal's road to recovery

The 2015 Nepal earthquake and the importance of short- and long-term aid in response to the latest earthquake in Myanmar

Portrait image of Usha Bhandari

17 April 2025

Usha Bhandari – building bridges for vocational training in Nepal

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.

Several dozen people – men, women and children – are standing up or sitting down directly on the dirt floor.

15 April 2025

Two years after the Sudan crisis started, Swiss support is more crucial than ever

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.

A woman farmer in Bangladesh crouches in a field and examines a pumpkin.

31 March 2025

A strong alliance: Swiss NGOs join forces to tackle the climate crisis in Bangladesh

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

View of the Swiss humanitarian office building in Kabul, with a lawn and two trees in the foreground.

31 March 2025

Switzerland re-establishes presence in Kabul with humanitarian office

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.

A man walks beside a war-damaged building.

21 March 2025

Syria: The SDC remains fully committed

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

A mudslide destroyed a hydroelectric power plant in the Indian Himalayas on 7 February 2021.

19 March 2025

Satellite early warning system for natural hazards

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.

A landscape featuring some animals, a hut, and two men.

11 March 2025

Fragility: between challenges and perspectives. A closer look at three countries

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

A packaged generator can be seen on an ICRC truck, ICRC and REGIDESCO employees are watching.

4 March 2025

Switzerland is allocating CHF 3 million to the humanitarian crisis in the DRC

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.

A young woman and a young man look at each other questioningly. In a pink speech bubble, it says: WHY CARE?

26 February 2025

WHY CARE? The podcast of the SDC

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

SDC employee Lucas Riegger with colleagues in Myanmar.

21 February 2025

Staying alert, being innovative and finding solutions in post-coup Myanmar

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

Three photos showing Patricia Danzi's work in South Sudan.

27 January 2025

«The situation in South Sudan is still fragile»

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.

20 December 2024

Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan: 30 years of successful cooperation

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.

Children hold an orange school bag distributed by the NGO Norwegian Refugee Council.

16 December 2024

Mali: child protection and education in emergency

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

A young girl dressed in a pastel dress is standing on a beach, looking out to sea. Her head is covered with a black scarf.

13 December 2024

Millions displaced by conflict and insecurity

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

Urs Bächtold in discussion with Ukrainian civil protection personnel.

10 December 2024

Swiss relief goods in action in Ukraine

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

A map of the world with Switzerland highlighted, surrounded by pictograms illustrating the six topics covered in the article.

4 December 2024

International co-operation as integral part of Swiss security policy

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

Photograph showing solar panels installed on the roof of a company in South Africa.

28 November 2024

REPIC: 20 Years of innovation for sustainable and global solutions

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

An AI-generated image showing a woman inserting a red rose into a rifle magazine.

26 November 2024

Creative workshops: Reflecting on crises, humanity and the digital world

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

SDC Director-General Patricia Danzi on a visit to the Kantha Bopha hospital in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

26 November 2024

«A big step for development»

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

Deminer Leav Path of the HALO Trust.

25 November 2024

Once the mines are gone, there is an explosion in development

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.

A person in a red dress walks across a dry, reddish-brown field with a trench for water harvesting. Trees and hills are visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

22 November 2024

Surviving a drought thanks to sustainable agricultural practices

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

Two women are pouring water from a bucket over plants that are placed in containers on a wooden plank.

13 November 2024

Skills development for Tanzania’s vulnerable youth

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

Two people are sitting on a sofa, another person is sitting on a chair laughing. They are in a recording studio with “Niambie” written on a large TV in the background.

11 November 2024

Celebrating 10 years of Niambie, Tanzania’s youth-focused radio show

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.

A group of women are sitting in light green chairs listening to a woman who is standing. In the foreground garments, lettuce and a bag of stones are laid out on a table.

23 October 2024

Tanzanian women’s small businesses are lifting them out of poverty

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.

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.

One woman from the Swiss Team walks with a man and a woman in the burned forest.

7 October 2024

Forest fires in Bolivia – Switzerland’s Humanitarian Assistance

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.

Three members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit speak with local people in an area affected by a landslide.

4 October 2024

Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam: Switzerland supports humanitarian response

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

A small clearing in the dense forest, Mafate, 2021, from the series Vivants 2018-2022

2 October 2024

Humanity in a Frame

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

Photo of a 3D model of a hill, with color variations to reflect the risk of hazards.

11 September 2024

Haiti: preventive measures to better adapt to climate change

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.

From a high vantage point, one can see a sandy beach being lapped by ocean waves. On the sand, a colorful and imposing message, 'We Are Water,' appears. It is colorful and vibrant.

6 September 2024

Water for a sustainable future – young people playing their part

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.

5 September 2024

Observing snow and ice to strengthen climate resilience in Central Asia's mountain regions

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

Victims of the floods of 2010 in Pakistan walk through water-filled streets in the northwestern city of Nowshera.

21 August 2024

Where livelihoods are destroyed, people have to flee

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

Worker kneeling next to electric bus.

19 August 2024

Breathing Hope

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

A woman, member of the Honey East Association, is sitting in the grass in front of beehives.

19 August 2024

Nature Conservation and Local Development: It’s a Match!

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

A woman wearing blue overalls and an orange hard hat moves a pile of bricks onto a trolley.

15 August 2024

The modern, eco-friendly brick

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

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.

Aerial view of a shelter construction site in Africa.

22 July 2024

Reducing the environmental footprint of the humanitarian shelter sector

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

At the bank of a river in Bangladesh, a woman, with her son at her side, counts the cash assistance she received through an anticipatory action programme.

18 July 2024

Ready for anything: how Anticipatory Action is saving lives

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.

Two women in red and yellow veils stand in front of their fruit stall. Shelves full of fruit and vegetables surround them.

10 July 2024

Promoting dietary diversity to achieve the ‹zero hunger› goal

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

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.

Cocoa beans

5 July 2024

The rebirth of Honduran cocoa

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

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.

A local woman builds a wall.

4 July 2024

Haiti

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

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 local man stands in a withered maize field.

21 June 2024

Drought and hunger in Southern Africa – Switzerland provides emergency relief

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.

Valerii poses in front of his farm in Kharkiv oblast.

10 June 2024

Promoting humanitarian demining and ensuring self-sufficiency for farmers in Ukraine

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

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.

Contact

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