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 241 – 252 of 302

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Project completed
Project completed
Project completed

Regional Art and Culture Programme in Central Asia

The "Laboratory of Young Directors of Central Asia" at the "Ilkhom" theatre.

01.03.2012 - 30.06.2016

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) considers Art and Culture as an important component and tool of good governance. Moreover, for SDC supporting cultural activities is an integral and indispensable part of development as “Culture is not one of life’s luxuries – it is life itself”. The Regional Art and Culture Programme, which covers both regional and national projects is implemented by the Swiss Cooperation Offices in Dushanbe, Bishkek and Tashkent.


Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development - Research Module on Social Conflicts and Fragility

01.03.2012 - 31.12.2023

SDC and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) are offering a new long-term funding scheme for development-relevant research on global issues (www.r4d.ch). The main focus lies on the generation of new insights and solutions as well as on the application of research results into policy and practice through partnership projects between researchers from Switzerland and from developing countries. The overall r4d.ch program consists of five thematic modules and a module for thematically open research. The first thematic module focuses on the causes and solutions to social conflicts in the context of weak public institutions.


Project completed
Project completed
Project completed

Diakonia, Support to International Humanitarian Law Program in the oPt

01.01.2012 - 31.12.2015

The promotion of International humanitarian law (IHL) is at the core of Switzerland’s engagement in the occupied Palestinian territory. With its support to the Diakonia IHL resource Centre, Switzerland, together with other donors, will strengthen the capacities to monitor IHL violations and to utilize the various mechanisms of accountability and compliance, including the third-state responsibility.


Project completed

Professional Training for Youth at Risk (Projoven - Honduras)

Center for Popular Culture in Amarateca

01.01.2012 - 31.12.2017

The project aims at social prevention of crime and violence by promoting better job and life perspectives for youth living in marginal urban areas in conditions with high exposure to crime and violence and at the same time with limited access to education, professional training and jobs. Improved quality and expanded coverage of professional training is expected to improve employment perspectives of young men and woman at risk of social exclusion.
 


Project completed
Project completed

Promoting Gender Responsive Policies in Southeast Europe- Contribution to UN Women

01.12.2011 - 30.11.2013

The project will support the ongoing efforts of the countries in Southeast Europe to address the gender inequality and women’s empowerment issues. It aims to contribute to an increased implementation of national and international gender equality commitments. Within the UN Women regional project, co-financed by the Austrian Development Cooperation, SDC will support the implementation of local level activities in Macedonia for the full integration of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) in policy planning and budgeting.


Project completed

Object 241 – 252 of 302