Core Contribution Swisscontact 2025-2028

The international environment is characterised by numerous multiple crises. The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the escalation in the Middle East, food insecurity, debt burden and inflation, climate change and the energy crisis are all having a direct impact on the world's population. They particularly affect the most vulnerable, mostly women and children and result in increasing humanitarian needs.

Accelerated change is accompanied by increased uncertainty: The world is becoming more fragmented, unstable and unpredictable. Whilst the vision to reach the Sustainable Development Goals remains, challenges including the accelerating global food and nutrition crisis, shrinking civic and humanitarian space, the erosion of rule of law, intensifying armed conflicts, more frequent climate-related disasters, international migration and internal displacement, exacerbated demographics and an important gender gap hamper progress in reaching them and pose a main challenge for all actors engaged in Switzerland’s International Cooperation.

The main challenges in the 24 countries of SC's international programme are related to poverty, inequality, food insecurity, weak education systems, corrupt governments, poor sanitation and violence. The countries also suffer from low economic growth with small-scale farmers or enterprises disconnected from international markets. At the same time, the pressure on natural resources and climate change affects production and productivity. SC integrates climate change solutions into its broad development strategy, addressing climate change not as an isolated issue, but as an integral part of social and economic development. SC will additionally empower communities through its localisation approach, acknowledging their expertise, and building their capacities to own, design, and implement projects.

SC will increasingly engage the private sector and test new cooperation and financing models. This is particularly relevant for SDC. To promote this form of partnership and gain in-depth experience, SC has reserved a part of the budget for new projects and grant matching. This allows to target such partnerships more specifically and in a flexible manner.

Through the project activities, established and emerging micro, small, and medium-scale farms and businesses enhance their productivity, production, sales and/or turnover. On the impact level, over 23'000 people (48% ♀) have found productive wages and self-employment. More than 3'800 new jobs have been created or retained.

The programme’s performance was very satisfactory and outlines a promising trajectory for completion in 2024. Over 53'000 (48%♀) target group members accessed new/improved Technical and Vocational Education and Training services. A total of 95'000 vulnerable considered as most marginalised had access to improved products and services. A total of 20'400 tons of CO2 equivalents have been reduced in the period of 2021-2023

Outcome 1 (skills & employability): Target groups (e.g. job seekers, workers) increase their employability and find or enhance productive wage and self-employment to sustainably genate additional income and create jobs with positive impacts on the environment, gender equality and social well-being.

Outcomes 2 (entreprise & productivity): Target groups (e.g. small enterprises, entrepreneurs) are empowered and increase their productivity, production, sales and turnover to sustainably generate additional income and create jobs with positive impacts on the environment, gender equality and social well-being

The role of Swiss NGOs in the implementation of the Swiss IC Strategy 2025-28 shall be strengthened through:

a) sharpening the narrative on the importance of the core contribution,

b) an inclusive policy dialogue,

c) Locally led development and

d) potential adaptations of programmes and approaches (reforms in the larger sense).