The private sector has a key role in transition countries. © SDC/Suzanne Linder

Unemployment and underemployment are some of the most serious development problems facing partner countries of the SDC.  Only if people have access to productive, reasonably paid employment that enables them to earn an income, can global poverty be reduced in the long term and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achieved.

Private sector development

As a driving economic force, the private sector is accorded a key role in sustainable development.

Youth employment

Vocational education and training (VET) for young people must be tailored to the job market.

Financial sector development

Providing poor households, farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with improved access to financial services can boost their involvement in economic life and reduce their vulnerability to crises.

Current projects

Object 133 – 144 of 165

Skills for Employment Tanzania – SET

Babati, Tanzania

01.03.2017 - 30.06.2022

SET seeks to enhance youth (self) employment by improving the Vocational Skills Development (VSD) system. It will support public and private stakeholders to expand access to quality training that matches the demand from both the economy and youth, in particular women, including young mothers. Key elements from the Swiss VSD model will be emphasized: the coordination between skills providers and private sector, practical training and innovation.


HortiSempre 2

02.01.2017 - 31.12.2021

Switzerland’s introduction of market focused and innovative solutions in horticulture, contributed to the growth of the sector in Northern Mozambique by improving productivity and de-seasonalization of production. Phase 2 of the project will consolidate and scale-up on these achievements in order to increase the annual income for 25’000 poor women and men producers. The introduction of beans and cassava will enhance the resilience against weather shocks and disasters.


Swisscontact (Kredit Süd)

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2018

Swisscontact veut élargir son rôle en tant que moteur de la promotion du secteur privé dans les pays en développement. A cette fin, Swisscontact repose son programme sur les axes d’intervention suivants : formation professionnelle et renforcement des capacités, promotion des petites et moyennes entreprises, facilitation de l’accès aux services financiers et promotion de l’utilisation efficace des ressources.


Sustainably managed pastures and healthy animals: Mongolia's 'green gold'

A woman holding a blue bucket tends to a herd of yak in a vast grassland landscape.

01.01.2017 - 30.09.2021

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the number of livestock in Mongolia has nearly tripled – to the detriment of the country's grasslands. The SDC is supporting an array of measures to encourage the sustainable use of pastureland, and to improve animal health and the marketing of livestock products. These efforts are helping to safeguard the livelihoods of nomadic herder families.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Mongolia
Agriculture & food security
Employment & economic development

Agricultural land resources
Agricultural co-operatives & farmers’ organisations
SME development
Agricultural policy

01.01.2017 - 30.09.2021


CHF 8'676'000



Gendermainstreaming in SDC to support the implementation of the gender goals in the Agenda 2030 and the new message 2017-2020

01.01.2017 - 30.06.2022

Mit dem strategischen Ziel 7 in der Botschaft 2017-2020 bekräftigt die DEZA die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter als Schlüssel für Armutsreduktion und leistet einen Beitrag zur Umsetzung der Genderziele der Agenda 2030. Thematische Prioritäten sind die Geschlechtergleichstellung in fragilen Kontexten sowie die Stärkung der ökonomischen und politischen Partizipation von Frauen. Wichtigste Massnahmen sind ein strategischer Politikdialog, Investition in Wissens-management und Gender Expertise sowie Capacity Building und Qualitätssicherung für verstärkte Wirkungsorientierung.  


Better training to facilitate the integration of youngsters in rural areas into the labour market

Three young Nigerien men walking through a plantation.

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2021

The SDC is committed to improving the education and vocational training system in Niger. Over 1.5 million young people living in rural areas currently have no access to education or vocational training. Their future ability to enter the labour market depends on good-quality basic education and vocational training tailored to their needs.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Niger

Dosso and Maradi

Vocational training
Employment & economic development
Education
Vocational training
Employment creation
Primary education

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2021


CHF 14'796'530



Vocational Skills Development in Macedonia

01.09.2016 - 28.02.2022

Macedonia has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe (25%), especially among youth (48%). One of the key factors for youth unemployment is that the education and training system does not provide skills needed by the economy. The Vocational Skills Development project aims to address youth unemployment through supporting market relevant skills development by strengthening the engagement of the private sector (e.g. through systematised internships), thus increasing the employability of vocational training graduates.


Programme d’appui à la commercialisation du bétail en Afrique de l’Ouest (PACBAO)

01.07.2016 - 30.06.2023

L’élevage et les marchés des produits animaux contribuent à l’intégration régionale et à la sécurité alimentaire en Afrique de l’Ouest. La Suisse soutient la Communauté Economique des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) et le secteur privé de la région afin de fluidifier les échanges des produits animaux entre les 15 Etats plus le Tchad. La finalité est d’accroitre le revenu des éleveurs, développer des emplois surtout pour les femmes et les jeunes et favoriser une transhumance apaisée dans la région.


Protection of Orphans and Vulnerable children in Zimbabwe

01.07.2016 - 31.12.2022

The project aims at consolidating social protection in Zimbabwe in order to reduce widespread household poverty, provide basic needs, care and support to the most vulnerable children, especially those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. In the context of continued political instability and economic collapse in Zimbabwe, SDC will continue to engage through the multi-donor trust fund “Child Protection Fund” managed by UNICEF.


Bangladesh Agricultural and Disaster Insurance Programme (BADIP)

15.05.2016 - 31.12.2022

Smallholder farmers in Bangladesh face considerable risks. Droughts, floods, winds, temperature shocks, pests and diseases can destroy their livelihoods and leave them indebted for years. To cope with such shocks, they are often forced to sell productive assets and fall back in poverty. By developing the market for agricultural insurance and related extension services, BADIP will sustainably increase poor farmers’ resilience, giving them the confidence and security to step up their productive investments.  


Prospects for young, unemployed adults in Bosnia and Herzegovina

01.04.2016 - 31.03.2022

The aim of the Youth Employment Project (YEP) is to help public employment bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve their offer and to introduce youth-friendly services, such as individual and group careers advice for unemployed young adults between 18 and 30 years. Together with local partners, YEP also promotes new job opportunities linked to social entrepreneurship models.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Employment & economic development

Employment creation
Business support & economic inclusion

01.04.2016 - 31.03.2022


CHF 5'795'000



Inclusive territorial economic development in the Muskitia region, department of Gracias a Dios

cocoa drying

01.03.2016 - 31.08.2021

The economic development programme is carried out in the Honduran Muskitia, a fragile indigenous territory with great productive potential. The program empowers the territorial stakeholders in the cocoa and fishing value chains and the basic grains production chain located in the mid and lower watershed of the Patuca river. It promotes public-private alliances that respect indigenous rights in accordance to the convention 169 of the international labor organization. These public-private alliances generate 3000 new jobs and increase the income of 1500 indigenous families by 10-30%.

Object 133 – 144 of 165