African Risk Capacity Programmes in Zambia and Zimbabwe
01.11.2021
- 31.10.2026
This programme will contribute towards strengthening national systems for disaster preparedness through support to drought insurance premiums and capacity building. Switzerland is thus consolidating its engagement in climate change mitigation and disasters risk reduction with the aim to sustainably minimize risk to loss of lives and assets for vulnerable men and women. The Africa Risk Capacity, a specialized agency of the Africa Union, will implement this programme.
Rural Resilience in Southern Africa / R4 Initiative
01.07.2021
- 30.06.2025
The R4 Rural Resilience Initiative for Southern Africa enables smallholder farmers’ adaptation to climate risk through improved resource management, insurance, livelihoods diversification, microcredit and savings. Through R4, Switzerland has become a credible and trusted partner in resilience building and its learnings have fed into policy dialogue. The emphasis of this final phase is on strengthening government and private sector, as well as the gender approach.
O3+ Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future
01.10.2020
- 14.09.2025
This project uses targeted interventions in post-secondary educational institutions in Zambia and Zimbabwe to improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) among 18-24 year-olds. Working with UNESCO and Ministries of Higher and Tertiary Education, the project brings Switzerland’s lengthy experience in the HIV/SRHR field to bear by targeting an often neglected cohort of young people with tailored interventions to reduce HIV infections, unintended pregnancies, and gender-based violence.
Strengthening Agro-biodiversity in Southern Africa (SASA)
01.09.2019
- 31.12.2023
While governments have regional and national seed policies favourable to commercial certified seed production, these are restrictive on farmers’ seed systems that are diverse and resilient. The project capitalises on Swiss regional experiences on supporting seed systems in Southern Africa. This will include the empowerment of civil society, farmers’ organisations and governments in developing inclusive agricultural policies that ultimately contribute to sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity and improved well-being of smallholder farming communities.
Accountability in Health & Agriculture
01.07.2019
- 31.12.2024
While governments have translated regional policies on Food Security and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) into national policies, these are poorly implemented and the public lacks capacities to act effectively upon them. The project will improve the accountability and gender responsiveness of public resource management and complement the ongoing Swiss funded projects in ensuring that policy/advocacy work developed at national, regional and global levels is disseminated and implemented by relevant SADC and governmental institutions.
Scaling Up Youth Employment in Agriculture Initiative
01.08.2018
- 31.10.2023
Education systems in Southern Africa do not prepare youth for work; they cannot access or create economic opportunities and ignore the available options. The project will scale up in Southern Africa a model already tested by Switzerland in Tanzania. It will improve (self)-employment of 20’000 young women and men in Zimbabwe and Zambia by strengthening their skills and matching them with existing job opportunities, thereby contributing to the implementation of youth policies in-country and regionally.
Nature Finance 2.0
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2026
The Nature Finance 2.0 project aims to enhance commercial banks and regulators' capacity to manage natural capital risks and opportunities. These institutions in turn set the market conditions for the ‘real economy’ sectors that they finance or regulate, shifting incentives toward sustainability.
City Resilience Program, Phase II
01.12.2022
- 31.12.2027
The City Resilience Program scales up the resilience of cities against adverse impacts of disasters and climate change. It does so by supporting risk-informed und multisector planning efforts, identify suitable interventions and investments that enhance the resilience of cities, and supports their bankability and access multiple financing sources.
Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP), Phase II
01.11.2022
- 31.10.2027
The Global Quality and Standard Programme (GQSP) Phase II facilitates market access by improving capacities of SMEs to comply with quality and compliance requirements in destination markets.
Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) Phase II
01.11.2022
- 31.12.2026
The UMDF is a key instrument of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support integrated urban development in African countries. It has introduced a Cities Program and established itself in the fields of urban infrastructure project preparation, municipal finance and capacity building. Phase II is expected to scale-up UMDF operations to 35 cities.
Low Carbon, Climate Resilient Water and Waste Water Management in South Africa
15.08.2022
- 31.12.2025
The Project aims to make South Africa’s water and wastewater sector more resilient to climate change. Dwindling water sources and a high incidence of drought are major factors of vulnerability. The project introduces adaptation and energy efficiency measures that respond to vulnerable groups’ development needs.
Global Financial Infrastructure Programme, Phase II
01.07.2022
- 30.06.2027
The Global Financial Infrastructure Programme fosters financial inclusion of individuals and responsible access to finance for SMEs through financial infrastructure reforms in SECO and SDC partner countries. It focuses on strengthening credit information systems, secured transaction reforms, as well as insolvency and debt resolution.
