Members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit during a practical workshop with Haitian masons
The building of earthquake-resistant infrastructures unfolds via the building of local capacities. Here we see a member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit at a practical workshop with bricklayers in Haiti. © SDC

Natural disasters strike rich and poor countries indiscriminately, but the repercussions are much more dramatic in the Global South. An earthquake, cyclone, flood or drought can undo decades of development efforts. The SDC is committed to disaster risk reduction not only to save lives, but also to ensure the sustainability of the socio-economic development of the countries it assists.

SDC Focus

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is central to all programmes implemented by the SDC. This preventive approach is essential in vulnerable countries at high risk of natural disasters. The goal of DRR is to save lives and safeguard development gains. 

DRR activities focus both on sudden disasters, particularly flooding and earthquakes, and on disasters that make fewer headlines such as droughts. DRR involves action taken before, during and after a disaster. It requires a long-term commitment to strengthening the institutions, human resources and infrastructure of the partner countries concerned. It is an integrated process that encompasses scientific, technical and socio-political considerations.

The SDC promotes an integrated approach to disaster risk management, centred around the stages that typically occur before, during and after natural disasters:

  1. Prevention: reduce existing risks and prevent the emergence of new risks through preventive and planning measures
  2. Management: reduce the impact of a disaster by organising and training rescue teams
  3. Recovery: reduce the risk of future damage by advocating appropriate reconstruction models

Preventive measures can take a wide variety of forms, including the reforestation of catchment areas affected by landslides, forest mapping and the construction of earthquake-resistant schools (as in Haiti). Organising and training rescue teams saves lives and reduces the impact of disasters.

The SDC is also committed to promoting at the international level the experiences gained in the countries where it is active. In this respect, it played a prominent role in the drafting of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The SDC also works together with international organisations such as the Global Facility for Disaster Risk and Recovery (GFDRR) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

Background

Adopted in March 2015, the Sendai Framework for Action on Disaster Risk Reduction sets out the priorities of the international community for disaster reduction during the 2015–30 period. The Sendai Framework replaced the Hyogo Framework for Action for the 2005–15 period and updated the definition of disaster. The new framework applies to the risk of small-scale and large-scale, frequent and infrequent, sudden and slow-onset disasters, caused by natural or man-made hazards as well as related environmental, technological and biological hazards and risks. It also calls for the strengthening of disaster risk governance, including national platforms.

DRR concerns all sectors of society. It only proves effective when everyone does their part: national and local authorities, the private sector (the insurance sector in particular), civil society, international organisations and the public at large.

Switzerland is internationally renowned for its expertise in DRR. In Switzerland, the SDC is leveraging its partnerships with other units in the Federal Administration to transfer this knowledge to its partner countries. It has joined forces with the Federal Office for the Environment, the Federal Office for Civil Protection and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), as well as a number of NGOs, the private sector, various universities and the Swiss National Platform for Natural Hazards (PLANAT).

Online tool

DRR is more than a priority theme for the SDC: it is a working methodology. Each project in a country at risk is evaluated to determine how vulnerable it is to potential disasters, and activities are planned to mitigate identified risks. To this end, the SDC has created the CEDRIG Online Tool (Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Integration Guidance). Intended for all development and humanitarian aid professionals, this online tool can be used to integrate into project designs the risks associated with natural hazards, climate change and environmental degradation.

CEDRIG Online Tool

SDC internet portal on disaster risk reduction

Specialised information (news, documents, instruments, methods) on knowledge sharing and cooperation with partners and experts

SDC Disaster Risk Reduction Network

Documents

Current projects

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Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA)

01.08.2017 - 31.03.2022

The project supports the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and its Member States in reducing vulnerability of households to disaster risks by increasing their preparedness for response and recovery and in strengthening their resilience. This will be achieved through institutionalising and sustaining vulnerability assessments and analyses systems that enhance emergency and developmental responses at national and regional levels.


Cameroun: CRf-Accès aux soins et résilience

01.08.2017 - 28.02.2018

Par son appui financier au projet de la Croix-Rouge française, la DDC contribue au renforcement des capacités de résilience des populations affectées par le conflit (hôtes, personnes déplacées internes, réfugiées et retournées) les plus vulnérables socio économiquement tout en garanttissant un accès aux soins de qualité pour les enfants de moins de 5 ans et les femmes enceintes et femmes allaitantes. 



Mercy Corps: Rapid responses to movements of populations through cash based programming

01.08.2017 - 08.06.2018

Eastern DRC has faced a crisis for over twenty years and humanitarian needs remain acute. A combination of persistent armed conflict, forced and prolonged displacements, epidemics poor governance and poor service delivery have fostered high vulnerability within the population. Providing multi-sectoral assistance will helpp address the diversity of needs in communities in crisis, especially those of displaced people. SDC's contribution to Mercy Corps (MC) is specifically earmarked to provide assistance through unconditional, multi-purpose cash transfers. 


Intergovernmental Process on Strengthening Respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

01.08.2017 - 31.07.2018

The 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent of December 2015 recognized the imperative need to improve compliance with IHL and mandated Switzerland, together with the ICRC, to facilitate an “intergovernmental process to find agreement on features and functions of a potential forum of States and to find ways to enhance the implementation of IHL using the potential of the International Conference and IHL regional forums”. As in the previous phase of the project (01.09.2016 to 31.07.2017), Switzerland, jointly with the ICRC, will continue to organize and facilitate negotiation meetings in Geneva, open to all States, with a view to strengthening the international system for reinforcing respect for IHL.


ICRC Programme for Humanitarian Impact Investment (PHII) on Physical Rehabilitation

10.07.2017 - 31.12.2022

The ICRC will increase its response to the needs for physical rehabilitation especially in fragile and conflict- affected countries by raising more funds outside the traditional governmental donors of the ICRC. The Programme for Humanitarian Impact Investment (PHII) is a financing mechanism, with the aim to fund the construction and operation of physical rehabilitation centres through the mobilization of the private sector to support humanitarian outcomes. The Programme will develop new measures to improve the efficiency of physical rehabilitation centres providing services, and it will also allow to measure results. Switzerland will participate in the PHII as an Outcome Funder recompensing the ICRC for their services according to measurable results (Payment by Result Agreement, PbR).




OCHA Donor Support Group (ODSG) Vorsitz der Schweiz 2017-2018

01.07.2017 - 31.12.2018

At a challenging moment, defined by increasing humanitarian needs and constrained financial resources, OCHA has launched a Change Management Process. At the same time the Office is in the process of elaborating its new Strategic Plan for the period 2018 – 2021. It is within this context that Switzerland is taking over the Chairmanship of the ODSG from June 2017 until June 2018. The overall goal of the Swiss ODSG Chairmanship is to support and guide the organization towards a more sustainable position within the humanitarian ecosystem.




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