La inequidad de género es uno de los mayores obstáculos para el desarrollo sostenible, el crecimiento económico y la reducción de la pobreza. La COSUDE actúa para que las mujeres y los hombres desarrollen sus potenciales en condiciones de equidad y puedan emplear sus recursos adecuadamente.
La pobreza sigue teniendo una marcada dimensión de género: los estudios internacionales revelan que alrededor del 70% de las personas que viven en la pobreza extrema son mujeres. Las leyes y las normas sociales suelen situar a las niñas y a las mujeres en desventaja a la hora de acceder a la salud, a la educación, a los puestos en las instancias decisorias, a los recursos financieros y a los mercados.
A menudo las mujeres se encuentran en relaciones laborales precarias en sectores poco productivos y carecen de seguridad social. Además, ganan menos que los hombres. Las mujeres también tienen menos influencia que los hombres en los procesos de decisión sociales, políticos y económicos, y con frecuencia son víctimas de la violencia, la discriminación y la exclusión por razón de género.
La COSUDE aboga por la igualdad de derechos y de condiciones entre la mujer y el hombre e integra a los hombres y a los niños en sus actividades en materia de género. Representa sus intereses de forma transversal, es decir, en todos sus proyectos y estrategias. Sus ámbitos prioritarios de intervención son los conflictos y los contextos frágiles, la economía y la política.
Con la “Estrategia del DFAE sobre igualdad de género y los derechos de las mujeres”, aprobada en 2017, la igualdad entre los hombres y las mujeres pasó a ser un pilar importante de la política exterior de Suiza. La estrategia de Cooperación Internacional de Suiza 2021-2024 trata la igualdad de género como un tema transversal que se tiene en cuenta en todas las actividades de la COSUDE. Suiza está además comprometida con la aplicación de la Agenda 2030 de las Naciones Unidas para el desarrollo sostenible, cuyo objetivo 5 es lograr la igualdad entre los géneros y empoderar a todas las mujeres y las niñas. Es un Estado parte de la Convención sobre la Eliminación de Todas las Formas de Discriminación contra la Mujer, aprobada por las Naciones Unidas en 1979 (CEDAW, por sus siglas en inglés). La igualdad entre mujeres y hombres se enuncia en el art. 8, párr. 3 de la Constitución Federal de 1999.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2029
In order to fight increasing gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian and conflict contexts, address the root causes in a sustainable way and to contribute to lasting change, Switzerland provides targeted, multi-year funding for GBV prevention and response, and invests in rights-based and survivor-centred projects of three key partners.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2026
The GEH Alliance is dedicated to addressing gender inequality and improving access to health for women, children and youth, in particular those affected by intersectional discrimination. Its focus is on addressing social norms, discrimination and violence that adversely affect health and well-being, mainly in fragile and crisis affected contexts. Its expertise on sexual and reproductive health and rights, sexual and gender-based violence, health systems strengthening and inclusion is very relevant in light of the Swiss IC strategy 2025-28.
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2026
KoGe is an umbrella organisation whose mandate is aligned with the SDG 16+ framework (peaceful, just and inclusive societies). With its faith-based member organisations of protestant background that are deeply anchored in the Swiss society, KoGe empowers disadvantaged people and provides improved food security, education and health. It also strengthens communities in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.
01.12.2024
- 31.05.2027
The protracted conflict in North East Nigeria continues to expose vulnerable populations to multiple types of violence and abuse. This initiative implemented by local NGOs focuses on building community-based systems to prevent and respond to child protection and gender-based violence (GBV) risks. In line with SDC’s commitment to localization, this initiative will foster sustainable practices and local ownership to create a lasting impact for children, GBV survivors and their communities.
15.11.2024
- 14.11.2026
The project aims to address widespread Gender-Based violence against women and girls in both Rohingya refugee and host communities, as well as the need for skill development among youth, in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char. In partnership with UNFPA, Switzerland aims to improve protection services and provide training opportunities, thereby reinforcing its commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.
01.11.2024
- 31.10.2026
Thousands of children and women have exited areas controlled by non-state armed groups in Northeast Nigeria since 2021. The project provides temporary shelter and basic services and longer-term socio-economic reintegration to this group of civilians and other vulnerable individuals through a package of multisectoral assistance. The successful and sustainable reintegration of these individuals is instrumental towards peacebuilding and complements ongoing Swiss work on peace and security.
15.10.2024
- 31.12.2025
The contribution to the WPHF is to support women peacebuilders, humanitarians and human rights defenders working at the forefront of Women, Peace, Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA) issues. The WPHF, managed by UN Women, provides funding to local civil society organizations for women’s participation and leadership in situations of conflict and humanitarian crisis, contributing to a nexus approach.
01.10.2024
- 30.09.2027
Switzerland is leading the humanitarian-development nexus approach to the protracted Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh through five UN agencies, which will work to mainstream and institutionalise cross-sectoral cooperation by strengthening the capacity of local non-governmental organisations. This will not only improve assistance to refugees and advance durable solutions, but also promote local ownership and leadership of the Rohingya response, ultimately reducing costs.
01.10.2024
- 31.12.2028
The Arts and Culture programme aims to invigorate Nepal's arts sector by partnering with three local cultural spaces focused on documentaries, music and photography. it promotes creative expression, professional growth, gender equality and social inclusion and community engagement, contributing to cultural development and an inclusive Nepali society. The programme aligns with SDC’s Thematic Guidance on Culture and Development, supporting independent, diverse and participatory cultural sectors.
01.09.2024
- 31.08.2026
Switzerland has been successfully supporting women and their businesses in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan since 2017. In this final phase of the project, Switzerland aims to institutionalize gender-related policies at national and local levels, build the capacities of the governmental and non-governmental partners to continue promoting women's empowerment and encourage the private sector to support more women in the formal economy.
01.09.2024
- 31.05.2028
Decent work for low-income migrant workers in the Middle East is promoted, in sectors particularly prone to forced labor and exploitation, affecting increasingly African workers. Through improved services, access to justice and representation, migrant workers have their rights protected. Interregional and regional cooperation is promoted for improved labor migration governance and safe migration, thereby enhancing the development benefits for countries of origin and destination.
01.08.2024
- 31.12.2027
Gender-based discrimination, or the denial of women’s rights, is one of the major causes of poverty and food insecurity. The support from SDC contributes to women’s economic empowerment and the sustainable and transformative change in their livelihoods. FAO, IFAD, WFP and UN Women together tackle the barriers to gender equality at global, regional and national levels, including through the uptake of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls Empowerment.
