People being provided with water from a tank in South Sudan
In South Sudan, Swiss Humanitarian Aid has built several water supply points to provide local communities with drinking water. © SDC

Disaster risk reduction, emergency relief, reconstruction are three fields of activity of the Humanitarian Aid of SDC. This corresponds to the work that needs to be done before, during and after a crisis, armed conflict or disaster.

Prevention refers to all of the measures taken in terms of protection of the population and infrastructure.  Hazard prevention and vulnerability reduction are part of sustainable development and are promoted in all SDC projects and programmes. The main goal of emergency relief is to save lives and alleviate the worst suffering caused by a crisis. Two-thirds of the Humanitarian Aid’s funds are earmarked for emergency relief measures. Reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts can begin after an emergency when the situation has stabilised. In situations of protracted conflict, activities in all three fields may be carried out at the same time. 

On the other hand, protection of civilians is one of the four thematic priorities of the Humanitarian Aid of SDC beside disaster risk reduction, water/sanitation/hygiene, and gender-based sexual violence.

Disaster risk reduction

While natural disasters strike both rich and poor countries, the consequences differ greatly depending on the level of a country’s development.

Rapid Response and Emergency Relief

Swiss emergency relief operates through its experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) in crises, conflicts and disasters worldwide.

Reconstruction and rehabilitation

Generally speaking, reconstruction and rehabilitation is chiefly concerned with restoring the living conditions of the stricken community.

Protection

Survivors of armed conflict and natural disasters are exposed to the risk of physical and mental violence.

Current projects

Object 85 – 96 of 114

FAO: Improved production, availability and access to nutritious food for vulnerable people in north-eastern Nigeria

01.03.2017 - 30.04.2018

Improve the production, availability and access to nutritious food for vulnerable IDPs, returnees and host communities in north-eastern Nigeria by the provision of agricultural production inputs such as seeds, tools and fertilizer. The provision of agricultural production will complement the emergency food assistance provided by the WFP and enable farmers to produce enough food, as well as to meet the most vulnerable households’ immediate food needs.


Grand Bargain Project 2017-2018

15.02.2017 - 30.06.2020

The Grand Bargain is one of the concrete initiatives announced at the WHS to improve humanitarian action, as it provides avenues for how aid financing must be more efficient. The top 30 donors and aid agencies endorsed this so-called “Grand Bargain” to make aid more efficient, including long-term, flexible and less earmarked funding from the donors, reduced overhead costs and reporting requirements, a greater use of digital funding (cash transfers) and more means flowing to local and national responders. It also commits to more coherent and “impartial” needs assessments and less competition between aid agencies. In a nutshell, the Grand Bargain tries to address some of the structural reforms that are needed in the humanitarian system through the lenses of financing.


SSD IOM: Regional Information and Coordination Mechanisms for South Sudanese Displacement Dynamics

01.02.2017 - 30.08.2018

Continued conflict, food insecurity and a dire economic situation have increased the scale of displacement both within and outside the country to unprecedented levels, with many sheltering in UN POCS or crossing to neighbouring countries. For humanitarians to be able to respond to the needs of these populations, a better understanding of the displacement dynamics and trends must be developed. IOM’s proposed project will help create a better understanding of the displacement dynamics and trends and enable humanitarians to effectively respond to needs of the populations.


Contribution 2017 to WFP Refugee Operations in Kenya

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017

Rational and relevance of the intervention and summary of overall goal:

In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises. SDC funding to WFP operations allows the World Food Programme (WFP) to respond proactively and to provide immediate food assistance in life-threatening situations.

Amidst funding shortfalls and consequent cuts of food ratios for refugees in Kenya, Switzerland contributes to the food assistance for refugees living in Dadaab and Kakuma camps.


Allocation of SDC Funding to WFP Operations in 2017

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017

In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises. SDC funding to WFP operations allows the World Food Programme (WFP) to respond proactively and to provide immediate food assistance in life-threatening situations.


Allocation of SDC Funding to WFP Operations in 2017

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017

In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises. SDC funding to WFP operations allows the World Food Programme (WFP) to respond proactively and to provide immediate food assistance in life-threatening situations.


WFP Additional Contribution 2017 to Scale up Operations in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region in Response to the Hunger Emergency

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017

On 24 February 2017, SDC/HA pledged an additional allocation of CHF 15 million to support emergency relief operations to help populations facing starvation in parts of Africa (South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria and the larger Lake Chad Region) and Yemen. This decision followed a call issued by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on 22 February 2017 urging for USD 4.4 billion aid to avert famine for 20 million people who risk starvation in these countries. Out of the CHF 15.0 million, CHF 7 million will be allocated to support WFP’s emergency operations in South Sudan, Nigeria and the larger Lake Chad region, and Yemen.


Allocation of SDC Funding to WFP Operations in 2017

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017

In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises. SDC funding to WFP operations allows the World Food Programme (WFP) to respond proactively and to provide immediate food assistance in life-threatening situations.


WFP Additional Contribution 2017 to Scale Up Operations in South Sudan in Response to the Hunger Emergency

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017

On 24 February 2017, SDC/HA pledged an additional allocation of CHF 15 million to support emergency relief operations to help populations facing starvation in parts of Africa (South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria and the larger Lake Chad Region) and Yemen. This decision followed a call issued by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on 22 February 2017 urging for USD 4.4 billion aid to avert famine for 20 million people who risk starvation in these countries. Out of the CHF 15.0 million, CHF 7 million will be allocated to support WFP’s emergency operations in South Sudan, Nigeria and the larger Lake Chad region, and Yemen.


Allocation of SDC Funding to WFP Operations in 2017

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017

In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises. SDC funding to WFP operations allows the World Food Programme (WFP) to respond proactively and to provide immediate food assistance in life-threatening situations.


Allocation of SDC Funding to WFP Operations in 2017

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017

In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises. SDC funding to WFP operations allows the World Food Programme (WFP) to respond proactively and to provide immediate food assistance in life-threatening situations.


Allocation of SDC Funding to WFP Operations in 2017

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017

In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises. SDC funding to WFP operations allows the World Food Programme (WFP) to respond proactively and to provide immediate food assistance in life-threatening situations.

Object 85 – 96 of 114