Poverty reduction through conflict and disaster prevention

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 1 – 12 of 379

Programme d’Appui aux Organisations et Populations Pastorales (PAO2P3)

01.05.2025 - 30.04.2029

La Suisse soutient les populations pastorales afin qu’elles accèdent à des formations de qualité et à des opportunités d’emplois. Ces populations sont marginalisées par les politiques nationales et ré-gionales. Le programme PAO2P-3 vise la formation et l’emploi des jeunes (agro)pasteur-e-s dans les zones transfrontalières entre le Burkina Faso, le Bénin, le Mali, le Niger et le Togo. Il renforce leur résilience économique et contribue à réduire leur marginalisation et les conflits.


Supporting Durable Solutions in Sudan: Multi-Year Capacity to Operationalise Solutions

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2027

The Durable Solutions (DS) Unit will be established to support collective approaches to DS in Sudan, serving as a shared resource for all stakeholders at both national and regional levels. Operating under the strategic guidance of the Resident Coordinator/ Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/ HC), the DS Unit aims to provide a more structured and effective response to the needs of the affected populations. This initiative aligns with the UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda and the recommendations from Professor Kaelin’s report. Its primary objective is to systematize and enhance the coordination, advisory, and information-sharing functions led by the RC/HC and the Durable Solutions Working Group.


Core Contributionfo r FondationT erre des hommes, Lausanne, 2025-2028

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2026

Fondation Terre des hommes is an independent, neutral and impartial Swiss organisation dedicated to ensure meaningfula nd lastingc hanges in the lives of childrena nd young people, particularlyt hose most at risk. It works in 26 countries, including in fragile and conflict settings, linking humanitarian response with development and peace promotion. Its focus on maternal and child health, children and young people on the move, and access to child friendly justice is very relevant for the implementation of the Swiss IC strategy 25-28.


Core contribution to Fondation Hirondelle, 2025-2026

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2026

Fondation Hirondelle is the leading Swiss NGO in the international media development sector. In a digital age marked by misinformation, the role of independent media is more crucial than ever, especially so in contexts of violence and crisis. Inspired by Swiss values such as democracy, dialogue and respect for minorities, Fondation Hirondelle fills a gap in crisis regions where quality information is precious. It ensures that communities are objectively informed and can make their voices heard.


FSD Mine and UXO clearance in Kharkiv and Kherson Oblasts (MUCKKO)

01.12.2024 - 31.08.2027

This phase 02 of the project of Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD) deploys the full range of mine action activities, to identify the threat of contamination, clear unexploded ordnance and mines, and educate the population to the risks. It resorts to Swiss innovation, mechanical demining machines and dogs. It builds on phase 01, gaining scale in both Kharkiv and Kherson regions and adding a strong component of building local capacity through mentorship of a Ukrainian NGO.


Programme D’Accès à l’Information pour une Citoyenneté Engagée (ALICE)

20.11.2024 - 31.10.2027

La peur de se faire enlever, emprisonner ou interdire d’activités, a réduit au silence la plupart des contrepouvoirs. Les populations participent peu aux débats et sont exposées à cause du manque de contenus pertinents dans les médias et la désinformation. Avec ALICE, la Suisse consolide son partenariat avec les médias en offrant une information crédible, des espaces de dialogues inclusifs et une éducation des citoyens aux médias sociaux pour combattre la désinformation.


Projet d’appui au renforcement de la résilience et la cohésion sociale dans la Région de Diffa, PROARRCS

15.11.2024 - 14.11.2027

A Diffa, les effets des changements climatiques et l’avènement des groupes armés non étatiques depuis 2015 entrainent une insécurité alimentaire croissante. Les dispositifs de la gestion des conflits sur le foncier ne sont pas fonctionnels. La Suisse contribue à renforcer la cohésion sociale et asseoir les bases pour le renforcement de la résilience des populations à travers la redynamisation des structures locales de gestion de conflits et un soutien aux moyens d’existence.


Nigeria, UNICEF, Improved access to quality reintegration services for children and women formerly associated with non-state armed groups in Northeast Nigeria.

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.


Enhancing access to safe land in Kharkiv region through mechanical clearance

01.10.2024 - 30.09.2027

This project led by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in partnership with the machine producer Digger enhances efficiency to prepare suspected land of explosive ordnance contamination for survey and clearance. It focuses on small farmers in the Kharkiv oblast (with the highest number of victims) within the WFP/FAO programme. It also promotes gender participation in mine action, with a 100% female multi-task team conducting operations, including with the Digger machine. 


Catalyst for a Harmonised Approach on Nexus for Growth and Empowerment (CHANGE)

01.10.2024 - 30.09.2027

Switzerland is leading the humanitarian-development nexus approach to the protracted Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh through five UN agencies, which will work to mainstream and institutionalise cross-sectoral cooperation by strengthening the capacity of local non-governmental organisations. This will not only improve assistance to refugees and advance durable solutions, but also promote local ownership and leadership of the Rohingya response, ultimately reducing costs.


E-Governance for Accountability and Participation (EGAP), Phase 3

01.10.2024 - 30.09.2028

Digital transformation of Ukraine’s public administration significantly contributed to its resilience in the critical war conditions. Switzerland will consolidate its support to Ukraine in promoting innovative digital tools as amplifiers of democratic reforms in socially important sectors, catalysts of sustainable recovery and effective service provision to citizens and the private sector.


Ukraine, Global Clearance Solutions GCS mechanical demining assets, training and mentoring for State Emergency Services Ukraine SESU

01.08.2024 - 31.07.2027

This project with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) and Global Clearance Solutions (GCS) seeks to strengthen the mechanical demining capacities and capabilities of SESU to enable them to carry out qualitative humanitarian demining. These needs shall be met by delivering a comprehensive package consisting of the donation of three mechanical demining machines GCS-200 and the delivery of expansive training, mentoring and logistics services.

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