The impact of climate change has no geographical boundaries. It affects everyone, all over the world, and is particularly hard on those whose livelihoods depend directly on the natural environment. Climate change is one cause of poverty, hunger and natural disasters.
Climate change around the world is creating new challenges for those involved in international development, since poor countries and population groups are much harder hit than prosperous ones. Climate change hampers development and jeopardises the progress that has already been achieved. For this reason, climate change mitigation and management are increasingly important elements of development cooperation. The SDC's Global Programme Climate Change, in particular, takes account of this trend.
Flyer Climate Change: A SDC Global Programme (PDF, 8 Pages, 1.0 MB, English)
Biofuels, opportunity or threat to the poor? (PDF, 10 Pages, 178.3 kB, English)
01.03.2025
- 28.02.2029
Improper waste management is widespread in North Macedonia and a pressing environmental issue threatening public health and environment. To address it Switzerland engages with Pakomak to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of its packaging waste recovery system1 through digitalization and modernization of packaging waste selection2, collection, sorting, transportation and recycling. These efforts will significantly decrease the amount of waste disposed in landfills and contribute to the Green Agenda.
22.01.2025
- 31.10.2027
Air pollution poses a significant challenge to public health, environmental sustainability and the climate, particularly in Asia. Switzerland has been supporting China through scientific exchanges in better identifying sources of pollution. The progress made by China is of interest to countries in the region facing similar challenges. Clean Air Asia, one of the few INGOs operating in China, will facilitate these knowledge exchanges, with a special focus on Mongolia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2028
As a globally active knowledge-based organisation, SDC is critically dependent on effective and efficient knowledge management. SDC’s thematic networks sit at the heart of this endeavour, rendering an essential service across the organisation and its partners by connecting network members, collecting and processing information, and retaining and distributing knowledge. State-of-the art backstopping services are essential to this activity, as is close cooperation between SDC’s thematic networks.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2028
The Adaptation Fund (AF) has a proven track record for implementing innovative adaptation projects, including in SDC priority countries. It supports most vulnerable communities to increase their resilience and adaptation capacities in the face of the rapidly rising impacts of climate change including extreme weather events and slow onset processes. It is one of the four climate funds that reports to the Conference of the Parties to the Paris Agreement.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2026
HEKS/EPER, through an extensive network of partners, engages in inclusion, equal rights, peacebuilding, and resilience by empowering people to overcome disparities and reduce poverty. The main focus is on the right and access to land and resources and their sustainable management, the right to food, agro-ecological production, inclusive markets, and climate justice and adaptation for improved resilience. Increasingly well anchored in humanitarian aid, HEKS/EPER provides emergency assistance.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2026
The Swiss Red Cross supports disadvantaged people and communities in disaster preparedness, response and recovery. It promotes equal access to healthcare particularly for the most at risk, including women, children and the elderly. SRC also engages in the field of internationaml igration.S RC's main priorityi s to strengthen Sister National Societies (SNSs) to become effective local actors tackling development challenges. SRC’s endeavours are highly relevant for the implementation of the Swiss IC Strategy 25-28.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2026
Caritas Switzerland is dedicated to combating poverty and providing relief assistance in 15 countries affected by disaster and crisis, while combining humanitarian aid, development and peace building. It has strong roots in the Swiss population and partners with various Swiss actors from academia and the private sector. The organisation’s international programme focuses on Income, Climate Change and International Migration – three domains that are highly relevant in the implementation of the Swiss IC Strategy 2025-28
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2026
The World Wide Fund for Nature Switzerland (WWF CH) is a Swiss NGO funded by foundations, private donors and members. As a fully autonomous organisation it is part of WWF’s global network, which is present in roughly 100 countries. Through and jointly with local WWF offices, WWF CH works towards sustaining natural resources such as freshwater, forests and coastlines whilst improving the livelihoods of disadvantaged and marginalised communities depending on functioning ecosystem services.
01.12.2024
- 30.11.2027
Finding durable solutions for up to five hundred thousand current and formerly displaced persons (IDPs) in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria, is a critical step towards lasting peace and development in the region. This project, which is part of a multi-pronged SDC support to local authorities, will contribute to facilitate local integration and return of IDPs by enhancing agricultural productivity, providing livelihood and employment opportunities, strengthening community disaster risk reduction, and access to justice.
15.11.2024
- 31.12.2027
This project aims to increasing resilience to disasters through multi-hazard early warning systems and government-led early actions. It will build on experiences in selected watersheds in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, while promoting exchange through a regional and global Community of Practice including Swiss expertise at the forefront of technological alarm systems. The initiative shall serve to influence policies and financing mechanisms necessary to successfully implement anticipatory actions.
01.11.2024
- 31.10.2028
The Indo-Gangetic Plain is the most affected region by air pollution globally with severe health, economic and climatic impacts. With Swiss expertise, this project addresses transboundary air pollution with a financial contribution to the World Bank’s regional Air Quality Management program to provide cleaner air to 680 million people, by developing states and regional plans and supporting coordinated sectoral measures by decision-makers in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
15.10.2024
- 15.02.2026
Air pollution poses a significant challenge to public health, environmental sustainability and the climate particularly in Asian countries such as China. Knowing the sources of pollution is essential to formulate adequate policies. The Swiss Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) together with its Chinese partners from the Institute of Earth Environment (IEE) will transfer an innovative air pollution source identification model developed under phase 1 and capacitate the cities to run the model independently.
