Articles

15.11.2024 | Torrential rains have plunged the Chocó region on Colombia’s Pacific coast into a major humanitarian crisis. Tens of thousands of families, including beneficiaries of SWISSAID projects, are severely affected.

Colombia has adopted its first national policy on agroecology. With this clear commitment to agroecology, Colombia is heralding a comprehensive transformation of its agricultural systems and paving the way for more sustainable agriculture. SWISSAID has accompanied and supported this process.

14.10.2024 | The Sufosec Alliance, of which SWISSAID is a member, is publishing its new nutrition report «Sustainable nutrition starts locally» today. Based on data from around 125,000 households, it provides scientific evidence of the importance of agroecology in the fight against hunger. The results are promising, but many challenges remain. 

03.10.2024 | Severe flooding has hit the Sahel region in recent weeks. The normally longed-for rainy season is now leading to another critical situation in Niger. Further support is urgently needed!

In Tanzania, smallholder farming families grapple daily with the repercussions of climate change. Hunger and poverty are widespread. Yet, amidst these challenges, there is hope: New research findings indicate that agroecological practices, supported by innovative apps, can make a significant difference. A glimpse into Tanzanian field research.

14.10.2024 | The Alliance for Sustainable Food Systems (Sufosec) will present its second report on the state of food security and agroecology on October 14. To mark the occasion, its six member organizations, including SWISSAID, are organizing an event at the Politforum in Bern. You are cordially invited to attend.

12.9.2024 | Crises, climate change and the concentration of markets are driving up food prices. In Chad, for example, a kilo of rice now costs twice as much as it did a year ago. The situation is similar in India and Myanmar. The way out of hunger is through local, sustainable agriculture.

In Tanzania, SWISSAID uses agroecological methods to improve the living conditions of smallholder farming families. Thanks to local materials and biopesticides, farmers have been able to improve their harvests and thus increase their income. Women benefit from greater recognition and economic advantages.

10.06.2024 | The SWISSAID General Assembly has heralded the end of Bastienne Joerchel’s term of office as Co-President of SWISSAID. Fabian Molina will now take over the presidency of the Foundation alone.

07.06.2024 | The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, points out a central problem: The demands of Switzerland and other countries threaten the farmer seed systems in the countries of the South, which are crucial for food security.

With political crises and climate change exacerbating hunger in Chad and Niger, SWISSAID provided once more emergency aid in 2023 to alleviate the worst of the situation and avoid endangering years of reconstruction work in the country.

Biodiversity is at risk: of the original 6,500 plant varieties, just 150 are still cultivated today. Both humans and the environment suffer from this loss. Smallholders, scientists and politicians are working with SWISSAID to bring the old varieties back to life. This is part of our approach to ensuring greater food security.

In 2023, SWISSAID succeeded in increasing the inflow of funds from donations and project contributions while also further diversifying its financing. With convincing projects and programmes, new partnerships were launched with foundations, and funds were acquired from governments. Compared to the previous year, we achieved growth of 10%.

2023 was another very eventful year. On the Gurten, Bern’s local mountain, we celebrated our 75th anniversary in the fight against poverty and hunger, looking back on the many highlights of this period. At the same time, however, crisis situations in the Global South escalated once again. The editorial by Bastienne Joerchel and Fabian Molina, co-presidents of SWISSAID.

Our focus is no longer on reconstruction aid and orphans in post-war Europe, but on climate-related crises and adaptation aid for smallholder farmers in our nine countries around the world. The misery and urgency of that time is the legacy that we are still cultivating and living today. A look back at the year 2023 by Markus Allemann, Executive Director of SWISSAID.

As an expert in the fields of agroecology and gender equality, SWISSAID works in nine countries. On the ground and in close cooperation with local partners, we promote initiatives by people who are independently seeking a way out of poverty.

30.5.2024 | According to a new study, between 321 and 474 tons of artisanal gold are produced annually in Africa without being declared, and at least 435 tons of gold were smuggled from the African continent in 2022 alone. These are significant figures that represent a significant loss of revenue for many African states. This lack of state control reflects other problems: corruption, financing of armed conflicts or human rights violations.

The hurricane that swept across East Africa at the beginning of May caused severe flooding. Around 5,000 people are affected in our project areas in Tanzania. SWISSAID is active on the ground and is providing people with emergency aid. We are distributing food, seeds and tools for the reconstruction of fish ponds, fields and houses.

26.04.2024 | Numerous people participated in our online discussion on the challenges and opportunities of agroecology. Although the contexts are different in every part of the world, the difficulties of the farming world and the effects of climate change are felt everywhere. A lively discussion, enriched by the experience of our speakers and the enthusiasm of the audience.

Hundreds of millions of people are involved in the gold trade. From mining to importing, processing and selling, the precious metal is omnipresent in our society. Marc Ummel, gold expert at SWISSAID, expresses his doubts about ethics in this field and the improvements that still need to be made.

SWISSAID is committed to a more responsible raw materials sector. This includes both the countries of the South, whose soils are rich in precious metals, and the countries of the North, the main exporters of raw materials.

SWISSAID invites you to a discussion on April 25, 2024 at 12.30 p.m. about the challenges farmers face and the solutions offered by agroecology. A change of perspective and an exchange of experiences in Switzerland and the Global South will share how sustainable food systems can be developed.

18.3.2024 | Even three years after SWISSAID, together with other partner organizations, pointed out the shortcomings in the certification of the international standard in a public letter, the LBMA has done little. It is high time to put a stop to the violation of human rights and environmental pollution in gold mines.

Agroecology is at the heart of all our projects. It is the foundation of our work. The multi-layered approach of agroecology strengthens the natural cycles in the ecosystem, conserves resources such as soil and reduces dependence on external factors such as chemical fertilisers. In addition, the cultivation method strengthens the fields and thus the farming families against the effects of climate change.

29.02.2024 | Niger is once again facing an acute food crisis. Due to drought at the end of 2023, over 40% of villages did not produce enough to survive until the next harvest. This distress is compounded by international sanctions and inflation. SWISSAID is providing emergency aid to the most vulnerable. For the first time, a mobile seed market will be set up.

Goats are an important pillar of many SWISSAID projects in Chad. Not only do they provide smallholder families in the Global South with vitamin-rich food, their manure also improves the harvest. And thus independence for many.

16.10.23 | What means Agrobiodiversity? Warlier it is for the globale Food system increasingly important? And what is the effect it global warming? These and other questions are answered in the brochure «Agrobiodiversity on the plate» which was published on the occasion of World Food Day.

16.10.23 | Access to healthy and sustainable food is still far from being a given for all people. In an interview, Kavita Gandhi, head of the SWISSAID coordination office in India, explains why agrobiodiversity is particularly important in combating hunger in the face of climate change.

26.9.23 | Hunger, climate change and agroecology are our core issues. In October, we are taking a closer look at these in the form of events, forums, meetings and publications, and are campaigning for sustainable and social agriculture throughout Switzerland. Many events will take place as part of the “Days of Agroecology”. An overview.

Heat, floods, desertification: The consequences of the climate crisis are being felt particularly strongly on the African continent. This is driving millions of people into poverty and flight. How SWISSAID’s work is creating hope together with the local population.

With the military coup in Niger, the country is currently experiencing a profound political crisis. The people have already been suffering from terror and hunger and the difficult food situation for years. The Ukraine war drove up the price of basic foodstuffs, and an acute drought is now being compounded by the consequences of the government crisis.

Despite the tense situation that Myanmar has been experiencing for the past few years, SWISSAID continues its development projects in agroecology and women’s empowerment. With the same objective of providing assistance to the populations in greatest need, Daniele Polini, the program manager in Myanmar, explains the current state of the country and reports on the progress of the projects.

SWISSAID is currently in the middle of a strategy process. But how do you follow a plan, as the world continues to become more complex, volatile and uncertain? With the long-term goal of overcoming hunger worldwide. And the short-term readiness to provide emergency aid.

In February 2022, what many had thought impossible actually happened, and war broke out in Europe. Putin’s invasion is not only having a catastrophic effect on Ukraine – it’s also fuelling world hunger. SWISSAID is helping with emergency aid and with ensuring more crisis-resistant agriculture for the long term.

Economy, efficiency and trust – this has been SWISSAID’s magic formula for 75 years. A look back at the year 2022 by Markus Allemann, Director of SWISSAID, on the occasion of the publication of the 2022 Annual Report.

Hunger is gaining ground. This is the unfortunate finding of the echoes of the field staff and the Sufosec study. The climate crisis, the consequences of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine make life difficult for the populations. Read the editorial by Bastienne Joerchel and Fabian Molina, co-presidents of SWISSAID, on the annual report 2022.

SWISSAID supports the Climate Protection Act. Poor countries in the South are particularly exposed to the consequences of global warming: The increasingly frequent droughts and heavy rainfall there are making people’s already precarious living conditions more difficult. With a YES vote on June 18, Switzerland commits to achieving the net zero emissions target by 2050 and thus takes a step towards greater climate justice.

Alongside its work in the field to support farmers in preserving their traditional seed varieties, SWISSAID is also involved in the political arena, both internationally and in Switzerland. It is only by recognizing farmers’ rights to seeds and the value of the work of seed keepers that sustainable improvements can be achieved.

30.03.2023 | Many refineries hide behind business secrecy when questioned about the origin of the gold they process. But SWISSAID managed to uncover more than 140 business relationships between African industrial gold mines and refineries. Its report on the topic involved meticulous documentary work and is a plea for more transparency.

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change calls for immediate action. It underlines that climate risks and their impacts are occurring sooner and are greater than previously assumed. The 1.5 degree target can hardly be achieved if no effective measures and decisions are taken.

This year, SWISSAID celebrates its 75th anniversary. We take a brief look back. And a long look into the future: The challenges are enormous. That is precisely why we need passion, knowledge and a lot of practical experience.

In June, a commemorative booklet will be published to tell the last 25 years of SWISSAID. The publication, in German and French, will give an overview of what SWISSAID has achieved and what it hopes to achieve in the coming years. Volker Eick, a political scientist, is (co-)author of the publication. In an interview he reveals some of his research work and his sometimes surprising findings.

Swissaid is committed to ensuring that Switzerland continues to reduce its high per capita CO2 emissions and that it proactively tackles the net-zero emissions target. As a rich and innovative country, Switzerland could set a shining example in this area and thus send a clear signal for climate justice.

Industrialized countries are primarily responsible for climate change, but it is mainly the populations of the South who suffer. Niger is particularly hard hit. In an interview, Sonja Tschirren, SWISSAID’s Climate Officer, explains the reasons for this situation, how bleak the outlook is, and what responsibility Switzerland must shoulder.

Throughout 2022, the inhabitants of Niger feared the worst. Already weakened by numerous conflicts, climate change has destroyed their crops and left their granaries empty. One year after the beginning of the crisis, women farmers tell us about their situation and how emergency aid saved them and their families.

21.10.2022 | The question is not whether there is a global food crisis. The question is to what extent it is worsening and how to reverse this trend. This has been the subject of a conference on October 21 at the House of Religions in Bern.

The food report published by the Sufosec Alliance on the occasion of World Food Day on 16 October 2022 shows shocking results. It highlights the dramatic increase in hunger in the world with figures and testimonies from those affected in the South. But it also gives hope and shows a way out of the hunger crisis. For example, with agroecology.

3.10.2022 | In autumn 2021, we followed Yaya, Marceline and Esther, women farmers in Chad, who received support from SWISSAID through its Women’s Empowerment Project. One year later, the aid provided has enabled these women to improve their living conditions and those of their families, and to fight against hunger. In video and in pictures, they tell us about their situation one year later.

26.09.2022 | The war in Ukraine has drastic effects worldwide. Especially in our African partner countries, the consequences are worrying. People who were already threatened by hunger before are now facing food shortages and price increases for basic foodstuffs. On this page you will find news and developments in our partner countries.

6.9.2022 | What is agroecology? If you regularly read our articles, you probably know it. But this concept of ecological agriculture is not known by everyone. That’s why the association Agroecology works! is organizing for the second time in October the Agroecology Days. Events, forums and meetings are intended to reach a broad public. So that the transformation of food systems will soon be a reality!

02.09.2022 | January emergency aid in the south south of Niger is bearing fruit. The farmers in need in need have received food packages and have been able to plant fast-growing seeds for almost immediate consumption. Beyond the emergency, the project has allowed a conversion to more resistant and quality crops for fight against the climate change.

19.07.2022 | SWISSAID is helping the poorest families in southern Niger to survive until the autumn harvest. An emergency aid project provides them with seeds and food parcels to minimise the impact of the impending food crisis. 

On June 13, SWISSAID Geneva and Jai Jagat International invite you to a roundtable discussion on the challenges that international trade rules represent for peasant families. Starting from an international level, the discussion will focus on the specific case of India.

For almost 75 years, SWISSAID has been fighting for a world in which hunger no longer exists. Agroecology is SWISSAID’s solution of choice for achieving this ambitious goal. Thanks to this method of sustainable agriculture, many farming families have managed to reduce their outgoings and secure their food supply while respecting the environment at the same time.

Is it really possible to invest money in a sustainable way? Yes, but only if it’s in the right hands. And this is why SWISSAID chooses the asset management company Arete Ethik Invest. Managing Director Roman Limacher provides information on values and “greenwashing”, and explains why it’s about more than just a few exclusion criteria.

2021 was a year of disasters, with the world being confronted with hurricanes, droughts, Covid and terror attacks. Especially in the Global South. SWISSAID was on hand with rapid and uncomplicated assistance – without losing sight of the long-term horizon.

A look back at the year 2021 by Markus Allemann, Managing Director of SWISSAID, on the occasion of the publication of the Annual Report 2021.

Two years of pandemic, followed by war in Europe. The terrible conflict has consequences that extend far beyond Ukraine. Rising food prices in particular are threatening the livelihoods of the poorest in the Global South, and causing existing inequalities to increase. The editorial by Bastienne Joerchel and Fabian Molina, Co-Presidents of SWISSAID, on the 2021 annual report.

05.05.2022 | A delegation of six Swiss parliamentarians and the director of Alliance Sud visited Tanzania in mid-April to learn about several SWISSAID projects, particularly in the extractive sector. They also visited a small agroecological farm and met with the authorities, partners and the local population.

28.04.2022 | In the Ecuadorian Andes, SWISSAID supports women farmers in producing in an agroecological way, as well as in marketing their products on the markets and raising awareness among the urban population. Paul Van Mele went to the province of Tungurahua in Ecuador and took part in a training course for women farmers on how to market their products. An amazing performance that he recounts in an article on agroinsight.com. Here is his story.   

Four questions for Simon Degelo: the responsible officer for food sovereignty and seed policy at SWISSAID talks about seed policies in Switzerland and the countries in the South, and the impact these restrictive rules have on smallholder farmers.

07.03.2022 | SWISSAID is saddened by the developments in the situation between Russia and Ukraine. We express our solidarity with the civilian population in distress.

New genetic technologies are often presented as a solution to problems related to agriculture; global warming, pesticides, loss of biodiversity and soil fertility. According to SWISSAID, this is not the right approach. What is needed is a change towards sustainable and equitable agriculture, both in Switzerland and in the countries of the South.

28.2.22 | The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is releasing the second part of its climate report today. It takes stock of the situation and the prospects for climate change. SWISSAID is particularly attentive to this report since the health of the planet has a direct influence on the health of rural populations in the South.

21.2.22 | The emergency aid launched in December in the Dosso region of Niger is soon bearing its first fruit. Thanks to the rapid procurement of seeds, we have already been able to distribute 62 kilos of urgently needed plant seeds to the farmers. The first harvest is coming soon.

14.12.2021 | The fight against hunger is multi-faceted. It starts with women being able to inherit and own land. This is what Isabela, a farmer from Guinea-Bissau, is fighting for. With the help of SWISSAID, she has broken through the patriarchal traditions in her country.

12.11.2021 | Bundespräsident Guy Parmelin hat rund 30 Schülerinnen und Schüler im Bernerhof beim Bundeshaus empfangen. Sie hatten sich am jährlichen Verkauf von SWISSAID-Abzeichen beteiligt, um Geld für die Projekte der Stiftung zu sammeln. Parmelin dankte ihnen herzlich für ihr Engagement und beantwortete einige ihrer Fragen.

12.11.2021 | Today, COP26 in Glasgow comes to an end. While we wait for the outcome of the negotiations, Ibrahim Hamadou, a staff member of SWISSAID Niger, gives his perspective. He reports from an African country that has been suffering the consequences of climate change for many years.

26.10.21 | The network “Agroecology works!” has organized the “Agroecology Days”, a serie of events based on agroecology. These will take place from 1 to 6 November at various locations in Switzerland, as well as online. The programme includes 30 different events, which are co-sponsored by SWISSAID. The events aim to provide information about the many facets of agroecology and show how important it is for sustainable change in our food systems.

For many families in Chad, there is often only one meal a day – little enough for the hard work in the fields. But without work, there is no harvest. Women in particular suffer greatly; they are often responsible for the family’s survival and take care of the household chores and work. The famine also often leads to disputes among the farming families. SWISSAID helps families in Chad to fight hunger and prevent conflicts.

Millions of people in Chad – often the women – produce their own food while the men work in the city. Due to the difficult climatic conditions, growing their own crops is often not enough to feed the family, and many people suffer from hunger. This is also the case for Esther and her family. SWISSAID is working on the ground to help these people.

Women in Chad bear a heavy burden: they often provide for their families, mainly their children, on their own, without having the rights and means to do so. This is the case of Yaya Adoum. Despite her hard work, this widowed peasant woman was unable to provide for her family. With the support of a SWISSAID project, she found a way to fight hunger.

27.09.2021 | The United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021 (UNFSS) took place from 23 to 24 September in New York. On this occasion, SWISSAID met with six women farmers from the South and from Switzerland. The aim was to give a voice to those who are in daily contact with the land and are working hard to feed the community. A report, which was handed over to Christian Hofer, Director of the Federal Office for Agriculture, on the eve of the Summit, describes their struggle and highlights the benefits of agroecology.

03.09.2021 | Since September 2020, Régina Clément Likopéro has been an intern at SWISSAID Tanzania. Far from the university benches, the young woman has found herself thrown into the world of work and has grown from it. She tells us about her experience.

27.08.2021 | More than 70 people participated in the webinar on local markets and food sovereignty organized by SWISSAID on August 24. All speakers as well as the guests agreed: Many people in the South are dependent on local markets. They, especially women, deserve more help, remuneration and weight for their products.

24.08.21 | Local markets are an essential source of income for small-scale producers. Furthermore, they are a main source of food supplies in the South. The pandemic has highlighted their vital role in access to food and the advantages of short circuits. Local markets are thus key factors for food sovereignty. Nevertheless, they must face the pressures of international markets. On the eve of the United Nations Summit on Food Systems, the question of their future is more important than ever.

16.08.21 | In Gámeza y Mongua, Boyacá, five peasant organizations have strengthened their knowledge of territorial development by appropriating the environment and working collectively to generate positive changes in their communities. Achieving the recovery of 18 types of ancestral seeds and the expansion of the vegetation cover of 160 water sources.

30.6.21 | Hunger and malnutrition are still widespread in large parts of Africa and Asia. Heating climateand the loss of soil fertility are further exacerbating the problem. The new SWISSAID project CROPS4HD focuses on local, almost forgotten crops to improve the situation of people in the South.

09.06.2021 | The sanitary, social and economic crises that have been shaking our planet for several months have not deterred many donors from supporting us. According to SWISSAID’s 2020 annual report, despite the pandemic, there is still solidarity. Last year, the amount of donations and project contributions even increased from CHF 11.2 million in 2019 to CHF 11.6 million in 2020.

11.05.2021 | In the shadow of the Corona and climate debate, the most existential challenge of our time is often forgotten: the biodiversity crisis. On 25 May, SWISSAID discussed the silent death of biodiversity and its impact on the spread of diseases, agriculture and the central role played by women farmers.

30.4.21 Not long ago, the Corona situation in India seemed under control. In February 2021, India’s government declared that it had defeated the pandemic. Now the situation is worse than ever. SWISSAID is following the situation with great concern. Kavita Ghandi, Head of the SWISSAID office, tells us what the situation is like on the ground and what impact the pandemic is having on our projects.

Ermelinda Pedro Mendonça is president of the farmers’ association Granja Pessube. This mother of 4 children has both suffered the crisis and participated in the solution, distributing emergency aid. One year later, we asked her about the situation in the country, the changes that have taken place and her vision for the future.

21.04.2021 | One year ago, Covid-19 plunged our planet into uncertainty and fear. The consequences of this pandemic include an alarming increase in the number of hungry people.

16.03.2021 | More than 130 people attended the webinar on “agroecology against climate change and pandemics ” that took place on 9 March 2021, co-organised by SWISSAID and the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) of the University of Bern. The participants were unanimous: the time has come to change the world’s agriculture and food systems. There is an urgent need to develop agroecology in the North and the South. In 30 years, it will be too late.

09.03.2021 | In a letter to the LBMA, SWISSAID and four partner organisations point out the shortcomings of the certification of the international standard. The standard only partially meets its own criteria and some certified refineries are still sourcing gold of doubtful origin.

24.02.2021 | SWISSAID works locally and in Switzerland to improve the living conditions of people in the Global South. Information, awareness-raising and advocacy: here is an overview of our activities.

Climate extremes, the loss of natural resources and pandemics are shaking up our food systems. What do practical solutions look like so that we can continue to nourish ourselves in the future? In the webinar on 9 March, SWISSAID discussed the urgently needed paradigm shift in our food systems.

26.01.2021 | From sustainable fish farming on the coast to organic watermelon cultivation and responsible mining of raw materials in gold mines in the interior: SWISSAID is active in Tanzania in many different areas. Our new programme officer Christina Aebischer reports on her project visit.

2.12.2020 | The 13-year-old student Maria experiences the lockdown in a small village in Tanzania. Her school is closed. She no longer sees her friends. But her dreams live on.

29.11.2020 | The Responsible Business Initiative was rejected. Despite the defeat, civil society has proven that it can go far together – and must continue to fight for a fairer world.

20.11.2020 | Within a very short time Nicaragua has been hit by two devastating hurricanes. Many people in our project areas are severely affected by the consequences. In Nicaragua we are immediately switching all our activities and concentrating on emergency aid.

October 2020 | SWISSAID supports women in its projects in the South and campaigns for women’s rights in the Swiss landscape. The same fight is waged in many different ways. Like in October 2020, for example, when SWISSAID launched a week of action under the motto “I step out of the shadows”.

24.10.2020 | The Valcambi gold refinery in Switzerland is threatening to file a lawsuit against SWISSAID if its study “The hidden face of the gold trade”, published in July, is not “withdrawn or corrected” by the end of October. SWISSAID sticks to the results of the study and will therefore not withdraw it. For the sake of transparency, however, we are publishing the points disputed by Valcambi here.

27.08.2020 | Two years ago, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants was created. Switzerland was very strongly committed to this process and successfully lobbied for its adoption. Despite this, a new study shows that its implementation is lacking both in Switzerland and abroad translated with DeepL

July 2020 | The Covid pandemic was a clear wake-up call: Only local agriculture can ensure healthy nutrition for the population. Farmer-owned seeds have a key role to play in this. SWISSAID organized a webinar on this topic in summer 2020 to enable an exchange and dissemination of knowledge between countries and experts.

15.07.2020 | From where is the gold in our smartphones sourced? Is the gold shining on your wrist of the ‘dirty’ variety? Have children worked themselves to death for the gold bars stored in the vaults of our Swiss banks? Unfortunately, such is very likely the case. In a study, SWISSAID has traced gold’s journey from Africa to Dubai and on to Switzerland. The research reveals the relationship between Swiss refiners and companies in the United Arab Emirates that trade with gold from conflict zones.

SWISSAID is committed to strengthening the position of women in society and combating gender-based violence. To do so, it draws on its long experience in the field, its local networks and its inclusive projects working hand-in-hand with local populations.