Gender inequality is one of the greatest obstacles to sustainable development, economic growth, and poverty reduction. The SDC is helping to ensure that women and men have the same right to develop their potential and can use their resources in a meaningful way.
Poverty continues to have a distinct gender dimension: according to international studies, women comprise about 70% of people living in extreme poverty. Unequal laws and social norms put many women and girls at a disadvantage in terms of access to health and education, decision-making positions, financial resources, and the job market.
They often work under precarious conditions, in less productive sectors, and without social security. In addition, they earn less than men. Women also have less influence on social, political, and economic decision-making processes and often fall victim to gender-based violence, discrimination, and exclusion.
In working to ensure equal rights and conditions for women and men, the SDC integrates men and boys into its work on gender issues. These concerns are reflected in all SDC projects and strategies. Priority areas are conflicts, fragile contexts, the economy, and politics.
The FDFA’s strategy on equal opportunities and women's rights, adopted in 2017, made gender equality a major pillar of Swiss foreign policy. Switzerland's international cooperation strategy 2021-2024 addresses gender equality as a transversal theme that is taken into account in all SDC activities. Switzerland is also committed to implementing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its Goal 5 is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Switzerland is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of 1979. Equality between women and men is enshrined in Article 8, paragraph 3 of the Federal Constitution of 1999.
Status Report on Gender Equality 2018: Breaking New Grounds (PDF, 56 Pages, 6.0 MB, English)
FDFA Strategy on Gender equality and Women’s rights
Report on Effectiveness: Swiss international cooperation in the field of gender equality 2007-2016
Status Report on Gender Equality 2017: Closing the Gender Gap (PDF, 56 Pages, 6.0 MB, English)
Report on the SDC’s work against gender-based violence (May 2016)
Gender and Humanitarian Aid (2008) (PDF, 5.2 MB, English)
Status Report on Gender Equality 2017 (PDF, 56 Pages, 6.0 MB, English)
15.05.2025
- 14.05.2027
Les conflits armés dans la région de Tillabéri au Niger ne cessent d’accroitre le nombre de personnes déplacées internes et d’exposer les populations, notamment les femmes et les filles, à toutes formes de violence. A travers ce projet mené par une ONG nigérienne, la Suisse soutient la résilience des populations affectées via le renforcement de leurs moyens d’existence et des mécanismes communautaires de prévention et de réponse aux risques de protection.
01.05.2025
- 30.04.2026
Through the proposed project, Switzerland contributes to 2 local NGOs in the north west of South Sudan, in line with ongoing localization of aid efforts. The proposed intervention combines both protection and livelihoods interventions to address the urgent needs of refugees and returnees fleeing from the Sudan conflict and vulnerable host communities in Raja, a fairly remote and high need location with little humanitarian presence.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2029
In order to fight increasing gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian and conflict contexts, address the root causes in a sustainable way and to contribute to lasting change, Switzerland provides targeted, multi-year funding for GBV prevention and response, and invests in rights-based and survivor-centred projects of three key partners.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2026
The GEH Alliance is dedicated to addressing gender inequality and improving access to health for women, children and youth, in particular those affected by intersectional discrimination. Its focus is on addressing social norms, discrimination and violence that adversely affect health and well-being, mainly in fragile and crisis affected contexts. Its expertise on sexual and reproductive health and rights, sexual and gender-based violence, health systems strengthening and inclusion is very relevant in light of the Swiss IC strategy 2025-28.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2026
KoGe is an umbrella organisation whose mandate is aligned with the SDG 16+ framework (peaceful, just and inclusive societies). With its faith-based member organisations of protestant background that are deeply anchored in the Swiss society, KoGe empowers disadvantaged people and provides improved food security, education and health. It also strengthens communities in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2025
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) works to address questions related to population and development, with an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and youth. UNFPA is the only multilateral organization, which is engaged on a normative and operational level in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights as well as gender equality and women’s
empowerment. It is therefore a key partner for Switzerland to ensure progress on these joint priorities.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2025
UN Women is the UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was established to accelerate progress on meeting needs of women and girls worldwide. It coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality linked to the 2030 Agenda. UN Women is a key partner of Switzerland in ensuring progress on gender equality and SDG 5, a key objective of Switzerland’s strategies 2024-2027 on Foreign Policy and 2025-2028 on International Cooperation.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2026
Switzerland’s support to the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) aims at maximizing the impact and effectiveness of international development co-operation towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in low- and middle-income countries, ensuring that no one is left behind. Through knowledge sharing, joint learning and standard setting, the DAC contributes to enhance the coordination and coherence of international co-operation.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2028
The goal of the Gender Equality Strategic Partnerships is to support influential global and regional organisations promoting gender equality and women’s rights in the SDC’s three thematic priorities: women’s political participation, women’s economic empowerment, and the elimination of gender-based violence (GBV). These partnerships contribute to accelerate the implementation of the SDG 5 and to reduce its current funding gap.
01.12.2024
- 31.05.2027
The protracted conflict in North East Nigeria continues to expose vulnerable populations to multiple types of violence and abuse. This initiative implemented by local NGOs focuses on building community-based systems to prevent and respond to child protection and gender-based violence (GBV) risks. In line with SDC’s commitment to localization, this initiative will foster sustainable practices and local ownership to create a lasting impact for children, GBV survivors and their communities.
15.11.2024
- 14.11.2026
The project aims to address widespread Gender-Based violence against women and girls in both Rohingya refugee and host communities, as well as the need for skill development among youth, in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char. In partnership with UNFPA, Switzerland aims to improve protection services and provide training opportunities, thereby reinforcing its commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.
01.11.2024
- 31.10.2026
Thousands of children and women have exited areas controlled by non-state armed groups in Northeast Nigeria since 2021. The project provides temporary shelter and basic services and longer-term socio-economic reintegration to this group of civilians and other vulnerable individuals through a package of multisectoral assistance. The successful and sustainable reintegration of these individuals is instrumental towards peacebuilding and complements ongoing Swiss work on peace and security.
