Skip to main content

Published on 12 July 2024

Water

As water scarcity increasingly impacts people worldwide, the SDC prioritises equitable distribution and sustainable use of water resources, recognising that access to clean water and sanitation is essential for human development.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A Nicaraguan farmer in front of her water reservoir.

19 April 2024

Nicaragua

In Nicaragua, the SDC has improved living conditions, particularly through its work in the water and sanitation sector.

A Honduran policeman studies a brochure.

19 April 2024

Honduras

The SDC's cooperation with Honduras in the field of governance has been internationally recognised.

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.

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.

A man and a woman talking outside by a climate monitoring station.

30 October 2023

«Switzerland's lasting legacy in the field of disaster risk reduction»

In the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, the SDC established a sustainable DRR system for Central America.

Seven men on a glacier in the mountains making scientific measurements in the snow.

7 September 2023

Countering Climate Change

Switzerland’s international cooperation strategy 2021–2024 identifies addressing climate change as a thematic priority.

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.

Birdview of a river and its different branches.

17 March 2023

«Blue Peace prevents conflicts and contributes to greater stability»

Interview with Christian Frutiger, SDC Deputy Director-General and Head of the Thematic Cooperation Division.

A group of women and children walk past the animal carcasses on the ground. The dust caused by the drought covers the landscape.

6 December 2022

Drought and famine in the Horn of Africa – a vicious circle of multiple crises

Millions of people are affected by the consequences of the drought in East Africa. The situation is dire.

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.

Two pilot projects have already been implemented in Colombia and Ecuador: a water contractor explains to interested people how the water filter works.

30 September 2022

«We want to bring sustainable clean drinking water to poorer countries»

Openversum developed a water filter to improve access to clean drinking water for which it has been awarded a prize by the SDC and SECO.

Aerial view of the South East Asian delegations standing near a dam.

16 September 2022

«The challenges facing Switzerland are also our daily reality»

Interview with Phonepaseuth Phouliphanh, secretary general of the Lao National Mekong Committee, during a visit to Switzerland to learn from Swiss water management practices.

The two Asian delegations posing in front of a dam in Martigny.

9 September 2022

Sharing know-how between the water towers of Switzerland and Mekong

From 6 to 9 September, Switzerland shared its experience in sustainable transboundary water management with delegations from South East Asia.

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.

A Ukrainian farmer shows the crater left by a Russian shell in his field.

24 June 2022

«There's enough food in the world for everyone, but not everyone can access it»

Alessandra Roversi, programme officer at the GPFS, talks about the global food situation after the latest shocks caused by the war in Ukraine.

A field of red flowers with snow-capped mountains in the background.

8 June 2022

Switzerland and Central Asian states: 30 years of cooperation

The Dushanbe Water Decade Conference: Switzerland is celebrating 30 years of cooperation with the Central Asian states.

With its commitment to the rule of law, protection, food security and basic education, Switzerland is creating prospects for the people of Afghanistan.

2 July 2021

Drought, COVID-19 and conflict in Afghanistan – Switzerland helps to create prospects

Development cooperation can provide people with long-term support. The SDC Director General visited Afghanistan to see the situation on the ground.

Dr Michelle Nay standing in a bean field in Colombia.

20 April 2021

Magic beans to mark an anniversary

Michelle Nay of Switzerland has conducted extensive work in support of agricultural research for development.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis gives a speech in front of a camera during a virtual conference. Behind him, the Swiss flag.

1 March 2021

The silent emergency – the famine in Yemen raises serious concerns

The United Nations held a virtual high-level pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, co-hosted by the governments of Sweden and Switzerland.

Contact

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