How Switzerland comes to the aid of people forced to flee their homes

Article, 20.05.2016

What action can be taken to address the ever-increasing number and duration of humanitarian crises? The SDC’s Humanitarian Aid takes measures to make the most efficient use possible of the funds at its disposal. In addition to providing emergency aid it gives priority to enabling population groups forcibly displaced by conflicts or other disasters to take their lives in their own hands in the long term. Switzerland will contribute the results of several successful experiences it has had in this field to the discussions at the World Humanitarian Summit on 23-24 May 2016 in Istanbul.

A family in a refugee camp
When crises cannot be avoided, the SDC’s Humanitarian Aid does all it can to launch projects that enable vulnerable population groups to rebuild their everyday life in the long term. © UNHCR

From the perspective of humanitarian aid for the victims of conflicts and natural disasters, these are frightening times. Humanitarian needs for 2015 alone amounted to almost CHF 20 billion (five times more than ten years ago), of which only half was raised. 

The main crises today are characterised by their durations of many years as can be seen with the Syrian crisis, the persistent emergency situation in the Central African Republic and the ongoing acts of violence committed by the Boko Haram group against civilians. It is estimated that the number of forcibly displaced people in the world currently stands at 60 million. 

Faced with this reality, the donor countries, international organisations and NGOs are obliged to set priorities and deal with the most urgent needs – this meaning that hundreds of millions of other people around the world see their basic needs (subsistence, education, health) remain unmet.

Long-term rehabilitation 

In parallel, Switzerland, like others, is doing all it can to adapt its intervention strategies. For many years the SDC and the FDFA's Human Security Division have been actively involved in preventing conflicts and disasters by means of concrete initiatives carried out in the regions concerned. 

When crises cannot be avoided, however, the SDC's Humanitarian Aid endeavours to launch projects that aim to contribute to the rehabilitation of vulnerable population in the long term. By means of support Switzerland helps beneficiaries to develop their own 'resilience', meaning their ability to confront difficulties and rebuild their everyday life – in many cases far from home. 

At the World Humanitarian Summit, the Swiss delegation, headed by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, will have the opportunity to present a number of successes Switzerland has had in this field (see below). Furthermore, Switzerland will appeal for greater respect for the values and principles of international humanitarian law.

Syria: employment aid, food vouchers and durable accommodation

Helping displaced Syrians to feel useful and earn a livelihood while contributing to the reconstruction of their country – this is the aim of a project launched by the United Nations Development Programme and co-funded by the SDC. In view of this protracted crisis, Syrians are unwilling to remain inactive for much longer.

«Recommencer à vivre dans un pays à feu et à sang», (Starting life again in a country torn apart by war), article to appear in the 2/2016 edition of the 'Un seul monde' magazine (special dossier 'Refugees and migrants') (PDF, 1 Page, 2.4 MB, French)

The resilience of the victims of the Syrian conflict also involves developing new ways of providing food aid. In the cities of Homs and Latakia, the World Food Programme distributes vouchers to pregnant women and mothers with newborns, with which they are able to buy the kinds of food that best meet their needs. A member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit is coordinating the project.

Interview with Stefan Bumbacher, specialist working for the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit

The financial and technical support that Switzerland is providing the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria is crucial. The two years that building expert Henri Stalder spent in Damascus has enabled the UNHCR to draw up standards for 'solid' buildings in the midst of the ruins. Only when displaced Syrians have a proper roof over their heads will they be able to look to the future.

UNHCR-project in Syria: Rebuilding beyond the crisis

In general, Switzerland's involvement in the Middle East aims to complement the emergency aid delivered to Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon with a long-term vision of development for the populations concerned.

Switzerland’s Middle East cooperation strategy: ensuring the long-term security of civilian populations

Darfur: producing honey against all odds

Almost three million Sudanese were forced to flee their land during the war in Darfur. Since 2010, the SDC has funded a programme to relaunch local beekeeping to enable displaced communities to become as financially autonomous as possible. It has paid off: to date, more than 3,300 family beekeeping operations are marketing their honey, which in some cases is generating up to CHF 2,900 a year.

Project in Sudan «Farmers displaced by the conflict acquire a business perspective»

Somalia: humanitarian aid to strengthen basic services

In 2016, the SDC has allocated CHF 4 million to support the ICRC's efforts in Somalia to raise awareness among various local actors about respect for international humanitarian law. The SDC is also improving the health systems, the drinking water networks and agricultural production in several parts of the country.

Somalia: the challenges of operating in a protracted crisis

Nansen Initiative: a long-term vision for displaced people 

In October 2015, Switzerland and Norway presented the 'Agenda for the protection of cross-border displaced persons in the context of disasters and climate change', which was the product of the Nansen Initiative developed by Bernese professor Walter Kälin.

Preventive measures to help people displaced by natural disasters or the effects of climate change

Links

Current projects

Object 1 – 12 of 934

Good Financial Governance (GFG)

01.05.2024 - 30.04.2027

The project contributes to strengthen Tanzania’s public financial system, a central element to cement its economic status. The 3rd phase aims at expanding the mobilization of domestic revenue and improving the government’s expenditure control. It shall strengthen interinstitutional mechanisms for tax data exchange, enhance the audit system, and improve public procurement. At policy level, it seeks to develop an evidence-based and gender responsive fiscal strategy for better public service delivery to benefit the population, especially the poor.


Integrated Water Resources Management in Kosovo (IWRM-K)

01.05.2024 - 30.04.2029

Switzerland assists water sector related governments, civil society and private sector stakeholders in Kosovo in the development/implementation of a national integrated and sustainable water resources management framework. Support activities combined with capacity development and awareness building will contribute to enhanced conservation, protection, quality and equitable distribution of water resources. Thus the project also contributes to good governance, reduced risks of internal and transboundary water-related conflicts, the mitigation of climate change impact as well to enhanced the health of the population.


Scaling Up Youth Employment in Agriculture Initiative

01.05.2024 - 30.04.2028

In Zambia and Zimbabwe, due to a mismatch between the skills they have and those in demand, youth cannot access or create economic opportunities and overlook those available. The project builds skills and matches youth with firms, markets and finance to create more and better (self)-employment in agri-food, renewable energy and emerging sectors, contributing to Swiss priorities on human and economic development and climate change. This is a contribution implemented by SNV.


Progressing towards Universal Health Coverage in Moldova

01.05.2024 - 30.06.2027

Switzerland supports Moldova’s efforts to achieve better health of the population, through ensuring universal access to affordable medical services of good quality. In its 2nd (exit) phase, the project will accompany the health authorities in advancing health financing and service delivery reforms, improving the efficiency and responsiveness of the healthcare system, promoting transparency and accountability in the health sector, and empowering service users and civil society organizations to oversee healthcare services, their quality and resource allocation.


Swiss Emergency Response Team (SERT)

16.04.2024 - 31.12.2027

Several Swiss organizations active in Mozambique together with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) decided to join forces to be organized in a way, that we all together have fast and unbureaucratic access for doing the rapid needs assessment together and provide immediate response support where possible in Mozambique. Since 2021, the Swiss Emergency Response Team (SERT) organized several trainings in crisis management, rapid needs assessment and cash/voucher-based approaches for the staff members of the organizations. Doing the crisis management and rapid need assessment together creates synergy and complementarity among partners rather than each partner planning a response at the same place. A coordinated, locally led intervention will also yield the data necessary to justify an appeal to SDC’s emergency fund in time, should it be opportune.


Building Damage Assessment in Albania

01.04.2024 - 31.12.2027

The devastating earthquake in 2019 revealed that Albania has a weak policy and institutional framework and low public awareness on building damage assessment. The Swiss project will support Albania in strengthening its disaster risk management institutions at national and municipal level to provide sustainable and effective building damage assessment services, leading to safer living conditions and a more disaster resilient business environment.


Anti-corruption and Accountability

01.04.2024 - 31.12.2027

Building on the results achieved in the first phase, Switzerland will contribute to reduce corruption in Mozambique by (1) improving and strengthening legal institutions and the judicial framework (2) strengthening anticorruption institutions to effectively tackle corruption, economic crime and the recovery, management of stolen assets and (3) supporting civil society organisations at national and local level in the fight against corruption. 


Strengthened and Informative Migration Systems (SIMS) Phase II

01.04.2024 - 31.03.2029

Switzerland is interested in ensuring that international migration is regular, secure, respects human dignity and the rights of migrants. The project will institutionalise well tested awareness mechanisms on the perils of irregular migration and enhance further public and private capacities to deliver services to potential migrants. The intervention contributes to Switzerland’s dialogue on safe, orderly and regular migration at national and global levels.



AidData Chinese development finance profile

15.03.2024 - 30.06.2027

While China is becoming a main actor of international cooperation for development, it rarely discloses the specific financing terms and implementation details at project-level or transaction-level information about its foreign aid activities which makes it challenging for other actors of the international cooperation for development (including SDC) to understand their implications on recipient countries. The AidData project is building a dataset of country profiles summarizing Chinese’s aid with information form, function and impacts of their programs.


8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva, June 2025

01.03.2024 - 31.12.2025

The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction is the most important international conference to discuss progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR. The eighth session of the Global Platform will be hosted by Switzerland in Geneva in June 2025. It will review advances in the realisation of the calls to action made in 2023 by the United Nations General Assembly on the midterm review of the Sendai Framework and will be key for the identification and support of measures to accelerate DRR implementation and improve coherence with the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement.


Appui aux Programmes PASEC et PACTE de la CONFEMEN (Conférence des Ministres de l’Education des Etats et Gouvernements de la Francophonie)

01.03.2024 - 28.02.2028

En soutenant le Programme d’Analyse des Systèmes Educatifs (PASEC) et le Programme d’Appui à la Transformation de l’Education (PACTE) de la Conférence des Ministres de l’Education de la Francophonie (CONFEMEN), la Suisse contribue au renforcement de l’accès et de la qualité de l’éducation dans ses pays prioritaires en Afrique de l’Ouest. Des analyses approfondies des systèmes éducatifs sont réalisées, et les résultats permettent d’orienter les politiques éducatives pour une efficacité accrue.

Object 1 – 12 of 934


Safeguard Young People Programme
Safeguard Young People Programme © UNFPA Tanzania

With 62% of its population below 25 years, the Safeguard Young People (SYP) programme supports Tanzania’s demographic dividend. The project advances young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through a gender-responsive and inclusive policy environment, empowered youth who make informed decisions, and responsive health and education systems. SYP builds on 10 years of regional experience and UNFPA’s expertise.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Tanzania
Health
Gender
nothemedefined
Reproductive health & rights
Sexual & gender-based violence
Sexually transmitted diseases incl. HIV/AIDS
01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026
CHF  2’800’000
Background Young people 10-24yrs make up 31% of the 61.7 million Tanzania population. The demographic transition’s youth bulge comes with worrying SRHR statistics, specifically high rates of: fertility - 4.8 children per woman, teen pregnancy - 22%, underage marriage - 29%, female genital mutilation - 8%, unmet need for family planning - 21%, and gender-based violence - 24% for physical and 12% for sexual violence for females 20-24yrs. Also, the school dropout rate due to pregnancy remains a challenge at 8.1% of school girls. The observed SRHR, education, employment and social protection outcomes, especially for girls and young women in Tanzania, are mainly attributed to inadequate financial resources allocated to support the respective areas.
Objectives Young Tanzanians aged 10-24 years are healthy, realize their full potential and participate in decision-making for matters affecting their own lives and bodies.
Target groups

Primary: Adolescents and young people 10-24 years old

Secondary: Agents of change and community gatekeepers such as policymakers, teachers, health service providers, religious and local traditional leaders, parents and guardians, media, and youth leaders.

Medium-term outcomes
  1. Create an enabling environment: Improved inclusive policies, legislation and accountability mechanisms for the promotion and protection of adolescents and young people’s rights at national and sub-national levels with a focus on sexual and reproductive health rights.
  2. Strengthen demand: Adolescents and young people have utilized knowledge, skills, and agency to make informed decisions and positive actions about their bodies, their lives and their world.
  3. Strengthen supply: Increased equitable access to quality SRHR, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and HIV integrated services, which are gender-responsive, inclusive and adolescents and youth friendly.
Results

Expected results:  

  • Strengthen capacity of sub/national institutions to advocate for conducive policy environment that promotes the rights and choice of young people
  • Strengthen capacity of youth to meaningfully participate in decision making platforms
  • Enhance knowledge and skills of young people in and out of schools to negotiate on SRHR information and services
  • Improve knowledge, attitudes, and skills of communities to promote positive gender and social norms in support of adolescent SRHR
  • Strengthen systems that respond to, expand and deliver information and services to young people


Results from previous phases:  

  • 9 national policy instruments developed /updated (e.g., on youth development, life skills education, and male engagement)
  • Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) was integrated in all 54 folk development colleges’ curricula (annual reach: ~18’000 learners) with 216 education practitioners capacitated
  • 937 young people from 61 groups and 120 organisations trained on advocacy, leadership and entrepreneurship skills, with 90 integrated in decision making/ leadership positions and 519 supported with USD 153’000 in government loans
  • 211’253 out-of-school and 237’400 in-school young people reached with SRHR information (through 290 trained peers, multi-media campaigns etc.)
  • 921’169 young people accessed standard package of youth-friendly SRHR services through 225 trained providers
  • 6 district-level health care centres refurbished to provide youth-friendly services
  • Regionally, partnerships with the African Union Commission, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), and the East African Community (EAC), contributed to progress towards the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Ministerial Commitment on CSE, SRHR and HIV for Young People.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
Foreign academic and research organisation
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • Other Academic Research North
  • United Nations Population Fund


Coordination with other projects and actors Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC), SYP in Southern Africa, UNFPA’s other youth programs, UNESCO’s O3+ programme, US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) DREAMS initiative, and other Civil Society Organization (CSO)-led initiatives
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    2’800’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    675’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   7’438’381
Project phases Phase 2 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.03.2021 - 28.02.2024   (Completed)