The SDC up close – a look at current projects

Changing course in global agriculture: Nourish People – Nurture the Planet

Country / Region: Kenya, Mali, Horn of Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya), Worldwide
Theme: Agriculture and Rural development
SDC department: Global Cooperation

The SDC and Swiss NGO Biovision are running a joint project advo-cating more sustainable agriculture within national and international policies. In three pilot countries, Mali, Kenya and Ethiopia, they are promoting comprehensive policies and long-term action plans based on smallholder farmers as the pillar of global food security. Meanwhile, advocacy activities at international level targeting the Rio+20 Confe-rence should lead to the implementation of a global approach that nou-rishes people and nurtures the planet.

Support for the first free elections after the fall of the Ben Ali regime

Country / Region: Tunisia
Theme: Rule of Law and Democracy
SDC department: Humanitarian Aid

After 23 years of dictatorial rule under President Ben Ali, Tunisia held its first free elections on 23 October 2011. Switzerland, at Tunisia’s request, assisted with every stage of the election process

Supports of decentralisation process

Country / Region: Mongolia
Theme: Rule of Law and Democracy, Governance
SDC department: Regional Cooperation

«We want our people to decide for themselves, not somebody else to make decisions for them.» The Mongolian President’s statement demonstrates the government’s commitment to give its citizens more power to make decisions that concern their communities. The Government of Mongolia requested support from Switzerland because of its expertise in decentralisation and democratisation.

Assistance for 3'600 migrants who have fled Libya

Country / Region: Libya
Theme: Conflict prevention and transformation, Migration, Emergency Assistance and Reconstruction
SDC department: Humanitarian Aid

The lack of stability and the continuing violence led to the dramatic flight of some 140'000 citizens of third countries from Libya in the spring of 2011. Many of them ended up stranded in the bordering regions of Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Chad, and Niger. Switzerland supported the International Organization for Migration with financial contributions and by seconding a humanitarian expert with the aim of bringing the stranded persons back to their home countries as rapidly as possible.

Socio-economic integration of Roma in Vojvodina

Country / Region: Serbia
Theme: Migration
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe

The situation of the Roma has worsened drastically as a result of the war and process of transition in the Balkans. On top of economic, political and social exclusion, the significant migration to Serbia and other neighbouring countries that occurred in the wake of the Kosovo conflict has had a further negative impact on their position.

Safe and healthy living conditions for palestine refugees

Country / Region: Lebanon
Theme: Migration, Emergency Assistance and Reconstruction
SDC department: Humanitarian Aid

Thanks to the project “Cash for self-help shelter rehabilitation” the living conditions for some of the most vulnerable Palestine refugees in Ein el-Hilweh camp, Lebanon have improved: 38 families now live in clean, safe and healthy accommodation. During the pilot phase, useful information was gained about the needs of the refugees and how to serve them best at a reasonable cost. The project is being expanded to benefit 736 families.

Plant Clinics and Doctors to Reduce Crop Losses

Country / Region: Worldwide
Theme: Agriculture and Rural development
SDC department: Global Cooperation

Led by the Center for Applied BioSciences International (CABI), Plantwise is an initiative designed to improve food security and living conditions of the rural poor by reducing crop losses. Supported by the SDC, it aims at establishing a network of 1000 “plant clinics” in 40 countries by 2016.

Support for minorities

Country / Region: Kosovo
Theme: Education, Employment and the economy
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe

The government of Kosovo has committed itself to improving the participation and integration of minorities. Nonetheless, progress with implementation of this commitment is slow and represents a great challenge, particularly with regard to the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) communities.

More Rice with less Water – A success of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium

Country / Region: Bangladesh
Theme: Agriculture and Rural development
SDC department: Global Cooperation

The International Rice Research Institute IRRI has developed a technology able to save up to 30% of water use in the production of rice without compromising rice yields. Called AWD for Alternate Wetting and Drying, this intermittent irrigation technology is the result of an international partnership including partners from China, the Philippines, and Bangladesh, through the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC). Financed by the SDC since 1997, IRRC facilitates cross-country learning and the diffusion of new rice production technologies in Asia.

Ensuring decent basic care and psychological support for illegal migrants in Morocco

Country / Region: Marocco
Theme: Health, Education, Migration
SDC department: Humanitarian Aid

Morocco, originally a country of transit for people south of the Sahara heading for Europe has in recent years become an immigration country. Due to the strict controls at Europe’s borders Morocco is now the end of the road for many migrants. The centre run by Caritas offers psychological support, decent basic care and lobbies for the social and institutional integration of the migrants