All news (849)
30 years of artlink: Support for artists from the South and East
16.02.2015
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Article
DEZA
Artlink is the Swiss office for cultural cooperation, encompassing art and culture from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. This year it is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Artlink also administers the SDC's Südkulturfonds, which comes under the SDC's cultural activities.
Young Romanian researching pain in Lausanne
29.01.2015
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Article
EB
Thanks to a Sciex scholarship Alexandru Deftu from Romania has been researching aspects of pain signals in the central nervous system for one year at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV). On 17 November 2014 he presented his complex field of research at the University of Bern to other research fellows and an interested public as part of the "Sciex Science Slammer 2014" competition. In an interview he talks about his work and the difficulty of making a complex subject accessible to the general public.
SDC Director-General Manuel Sager presents priorities of development cooperation
27.01.2015
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Press release
EDA
Sustainable development goals, the UN climate summit in Paris, and the extension of the Eastern Europe Cooperation Act are among this year’s priorities for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Director-General Manuel Sager outlined these priorities at the SDC’s annual press conference, which also provided an in-depth look into Switzerland’s efforts to promote vocational education and training in various countries. Integration into the labour market is one of the most important instruments to prevent poverty and a lack of prospects. Maya Tissafi, deputy director-general of the SDC and head of South Cooperation Department, introduced the SDC’s efforts and several projects in the area of vocational education and training.
2015 World Economic Forum – the SDC takes part in the Private Water Session
21.01.2015
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Article
DEZA
The SDC has been promoting the equitable distribution of water, a vital resource, for more than three decades. As one of the few development agencies in this field, the SDC works with the private sector and took part in the development of the 2030 Water Resources Group. It will be taking part in this year's World Economic Forum in events relating to the topic of water.
Conference on social services in Slovakia
16.01.2015
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Article
EB
In mid-November 2014 a conference on "social services for people with disabilities" took place in eastern Slovakia. Switzerland, as part of its enlargement contribution, provides funding to Slovakia of more than CHF 3 million to support three large and 13 small projects for children, young people and adults with disabilities. The projects presented were a basis for discussions during the conference.
"Nobody immediately grasped what had happened"
23.12.2014
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Article
DEZA
26 December 2004 is a date that remains etched into the minds of tens of thousands of victims of the tsunami that devastated South Asia. It also evokes particular memories among the humanitarian aid workers who provided emergency assistance. Now deputy head of the Swiss Cooperation office in Sri Lanka, Lars Büchler has worked in the country since 2005. Ten years on, he tells his story with an insider's view of the aid provided by Switzerland at the time.
Switzerland to take part in the memorial ceremony for the victims of the 2004 tsunami
19.12.2014
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Press release
EDA
Ten years after the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed more than 225,000 people, rendered millions homeless and caused massive destruction in 13 countries, various events will take place to remember the disaster of 26 December 2004. Switzerland will take part in memorial ceremonies in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India. The 2004 tsunami claimed the lives of 113 Swiss nationals. Switzerland supported the emergency aid and reconstruction efforts within the framework of the Swiss Confederation's Humanitarian Aid.
Better protection for migrant workers in the Middle East
18.12.2014
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Article
DEZA
The rights of migrants are often insufficiently protected. For this reason, the SDC has been running projects in the migrants' countries of origin and destination for a number of years. On the occasion of International Migrants Day on 18 December, Pascal Raess, SDC programme officer in Jordan, explains the SDC's commitment to migrant workers in the Middle East.
"Jeder Rappen zählt" (every penny counts)
17.12.2014
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Press release
DEZA
This year's fundraising campaign organised by SRF radio and Swiss Solidarity is collecting donations for refugee families. On the opening day of the fund-raiser, President Didier Burkhalter spoke about Switzerland's commitment and cooperation with aid agencies from the glass box in Lucerne.
Mountains – a central theme at the UN Climate Conference in Lima 2014
11.12.2014
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Article
DEZA
The UN Climate Change Conference takes places from 1 to 12 December 2014 in Lima this year. International Mountain Day, which was launched by the UN 12 years ago, will be celebrated during the conference on 11 December 2014. Mountains are an important topic at the climate conference. With the support of the SDC, this year’s host country, Peru, built the Mountains and Water Pavilion, where visitors learn about the importance of mountains for sustainable development and the effects of climate change on mountains.
Syria crisis: Switzerland to make a further CHF 4 million available to the UN World Food Programme
10.12.2014
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland continues its commitment to the victims of the crisis in Syria. The Confederation’s Humanitarian Aid is to support the UN World Food Programme with a further CHF 4 million. This amount is part of an additional credit line of CHF 20 million pledged by the Federal Council, bringing Switzerland’s humanitarian aid to the victims of the crisis in Syria to a total of CHF 122 million.
For responsible land governance
08.12.2014
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Article
DEZA
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the right to a standard for well-being. By supporting the cause of smallholder farmers and the principle of responsible land governance, the SDC contributes to ensuring food security for the biggest number. It is involved both at the local and at the global level.