Two children on a cotton transport truck
Cotton production is an important sector of Kyrgyzstan’s economy and one of its key value chains. © SDC

Conflict, violence and human rights violations: these are among the main challenges to combating poverty and fragility in the wider sense. The fragility of a state is characterised by the government’s inability to ensure the security of the population and provide basic public services, alongside its failure to establish mutually constructive relations with the country’s citizens.

More than 40 countries around the globe, home to some 1.5 billion people, are affected by fragile situations or exposed to violence or conflict. By 2030, more than 80% of the world’s poorest could be living in fragile contexts unless more concerted action is taken now.

Fragility poses a major threat to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Addressing fragility will require greater acceptance of all its nuances by tailoring differentiated approaches to specific contexts and working across the full spectrum of issues, some of which are inherently difficult and sensitive.

Engagement in fragile contexts

Switzerland is stepping up its efforts to prevent and manage the consequences of crises, disasters and fragility. It intends to allocate 50% of its bilateral aid to conflict-affected or fragile contexts.

The SDC’s action in fragile contexts

Switzerland is committed to promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies. It works directly to ensure that no one is left behind.

Characteristics of fragile contexts

Fragile states and regions are characterised by weak institutions, high rates of poverty, violence, corruption and general arbitrariness. Fragility manifests itself in both development and transition contexts as well as humanitarian crises.

Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies

Focus on SDG 16+ to promote peaceful, equitable and inclusive societies for a sustainable development and to combat conflict.

Preventing conflict and all forms of violence

In preventing violent conflict, the aim is to stop previous conflicts from flaring up again and new conflicts from forming. The task is not simply to prevent crises but also to address the root causes.

Documents

Current projects

Object 121 – 132 of 302

Project completed

TUR IRC Protection Center for Women and Girls in Osmaniye

01.01.2016 - 30.06.2017

There are 2,2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. Women and girls - who constitute half of this population - are particularly vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and the denial of rights. As a systematic response to their protection needs is today still lacking, they often have difficulties in accessing general refugee assistance schemes for their specific needs. This project in Osmaniye province (southern Turkey) will therefore create a center especially dedicated to providing services and support to female refugees.


Project completed

oPt: Community empowerment in the Gaza Strip

01.01.2016 - 31.12.2018

SDC partnership with the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA) enables the provision of quality services in vulnerable and marginalized areas of the Gaza Strip. CFTA’s work aims at strengthening the capacities of the Palestinian civil society in the Gaza Strip through integrated programs for children, youth, and women – in particular non formal education, psychosocial support, artistic skills development, rights awareness and fighting against domestic violence -  and support to CBOs organizations and networks. CFTA is also a platform for youth and women to become active members of their communities.


PREST 5, Pistes rurales et désenclavement à l’Est

01.01.2016 - 30.06.2022

Les routes constituent un soutien à la croissance économique par la mobilité des personnes et des marchandises. Au Burkina Faso, elles demeurent en deçà des besoins et des référentiels de l’espace UEMOA. Partant de ce constat et sur l’expérience de la DDC, le gouvernement a souhaité que la Suisse finance conjointement un projet d’infrastructures et de mobilité avec la Banque Mondiale avec la méthode haute intensité de main d’œuvre (HIMO). Un inventaire des initiatives basées sur la méthode HIMO dans les 13 régions a été lancé en vue d’élaborer une politique nationale HIMO. La DDC s’engage à contribuer à ce projet et valorise la méthode HIMO à l’échelle nationale.


Project completed

Integrated Protection, Education and WASH Assistance to Vulnerable Children and their Families Affected by the IDP Crisis in Iraq

15.12.2015 - 31.08.2017

The Iraq crisis is causing severe impact on the well-being of children who are increasingly exposed to conflict, displacement, and death. A growing number of school aged children affected by the conflict do not have access to basic standard education. This project, implemented by SDC’s partner Save the Children, contributes to creating safer environments for conflict-affected children to help them learn, receive psychosocial treatment and improve their health and wellbeing in the underserved region of Khanaqin.


Project completed

LEB- UN-Habitat: Addressing the impacts of the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Tripoli and Tyr

01.12.2015 - 31.05.2018

With over 1 million Syrian refugees against a population of around 4.2 million, Lebanon now has the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Around 35 % of those refugees are hosted in the four largest cities: Tripoli, Beirut, Saida and Tyr which accommodate 50% of the total population in Lebanon. Priority needs are shelter, food and livelihoods. UN-Habitat in Lebanon addresses the urban challenges and needs in these cities.


Project completed

Support to more effective Mine Action and Strengthening of National Mine Action Capacities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

01.12.2015 - 31.08.2018

The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has left behind a grim legacy of mines and other explosive remnants. This leftover has a negative impact on the quality of life of the affected population and hampers the development. With this project, Switzerland will contribute to improving the quality of life of the population in areas affected by mines and other explosive remnants of war by speeding up and supporting more effective mine action activities in BiH and thus creating preconditions for socio-economic development in the country.


Multidonor Fund of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB): Improvement of Citizen Security in Latin America and the Caribbean

01.12.2015 - 31.12.2021

The support provided by SDC (single- phase project) focusses on improving the effectiveness of public policies on citizen security in the Latin American and Caribbean countries, as a response to high levels of violence in the region. SDC will contribute to the IDB Multidonor Fund of the Citizen Security Initiative (CSI), aiming to strengthen the capacity of states to implement public policies on citizen security and promote exchange of lessons learnt through regional dialogue and bi- and multilateral cooperation in earmarked projects.


Project completed

DRC: Renforcement de la cohesion sociale, de la protection et amelioration des moyens d'existence des populations de Mopti

14.11.2015 - 14.03.2017

La crise au nord du Mali a fragilisé la cohésion sociale et aggravé ainsi les tensions inter et intracommunautaires préexistantes. Les Möcanismes traditionnels de résolution des conflits peinent à atténuer ces tensions. La signature de l'Accord de Paix a donné  un espoir de retour d'une paix durable. Ce projet contribuera, à travers une approche communautraire inclusive, impliquant les autorités locales (Collectivités, autorités traditionnelles et administratives), à renforcer la cohésion social et la résilience des populations vulnérables de la région de Mopti. 


Project completed

UN-Habitat: Gaza Participatory Spatial Planning Support Program

01.11.2015 - 30.06.2019

Participatory spatial planning will be tested in 5 municipalities and 10 neighbourhoods of the Gaza Strip by acknowledging that a human rights based approach to planning legitimizes the interests of marginalized groups. This intervention aims at fostering a more sustainable urban environment in the context of continuous demographic growth, while contributing to the overall reconstruction efforts after recurrent armed conflicts, and several years of full blockade of the Gaza Strip.


Project completed

Emergency Response to Gaza Municipalities (“Window 5” of MDP-II)

01.11.2015 - 31.12.2016

The infrastructure of the 25 Municipalities in the Gaza Strip was severely hit in July-August 2014. On the basis of a dedicated needs assessment, a specific funding window was designed in the World Bank-led and SDC co-funded Municipal Development Programme (MDP-II). Through an additional contribution to this funding window, SDC will facilitate the restoration of key municipal services and the rehabilitation of damaged municipal infrastructure in line with the objectives of the Swiss Cooperation Strategy for the oPt 2015-2018.


Project completed

Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF)

01.11.2015 - 30.06.2018

Millions of Afghan women, men and children gained access to services and improved their income since the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund’s initiation (ARTF) in 2002. It also significantly contributed to the Afghan state’s capacity. ARTF is a coordinated financing mechanism for the state budget and its priority national investment projects focusing on agriculture, rural development, infrastructure, education, health and governance.


Project completed

Contribution to Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA)

01.11.2015 - 30.06.2018

For the benefit of Afghan women, men and children as well as of the rule of law in Afghanistan, the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA) contributes to a more human rights compliant, institutionally strengthened and more gender balanced Afghan National Police. Amongst other, it supports community policing as well as the recruitment, retention and training of policewomen and the improvement of their working conditions.

Object 121 – 132 of 302