Programme Contribution Alliance for Sustainable Food Systems and Empowered Communities SUFOSEC 2023-2024

In the 27 SUFOSEC countries of intervention in Africa, South and South-East Asia and Latin America widespread poverty and inequality are compounded by climate change, environmental fragility, shrinking space for civil society, conflict and weak social capital. The Covid pandemic has led to more inequality. The income and food situation for the population has further deteriorated in many of the countries and remains precarious, it is likely to worsen even more due to increasing fuel and food prices triggered by the war in Ukraine. Local food systems have been and will remain key to increase resilience of the most vulnerable. Despite agriculture being a mainstay of these economies, extreme poverty and malnutrition remains more prevalent amongst rural and pastoralist communities. Women and girls are disproportionately undernourished and lack ownership of productive assets. Access to basic services, financial and natural resources and productive and sustainable agricultural technologies are patchy and unequal. Rightsbased approaches combined with innovative research partnerships are crucial to address these challenges.

The security situation is deteriorating in many programme countries, and the scope of action for civil society is shrinking significantly due to state regulations. The Nexus approach is an essential strategy to stay engaged in these fragile contexts.

Secured livelihoods through agro-ecological transformation and empowered communities.

The following SUFOSEC Alliance member organisations contribute to the overall goal by valorizing methodological, thematic and geographic complementarity:

• Swissaid (SW)
• Fastenaktion (FA)
• Vivamos Mejor Switzerland (VMS)
• Vétérinaires sans Frontières (VSF-S)

Strategic partners

• Aqua Alimenta (AA), associated with Fastenaktion
• Skat Foundation (SF), associated with Swissaid

Outcome 1: No Poverty
In 2021, the Alliance contributed to improved livelihoods of 723’000 men and women. By livelihood domain, 36’000 improved their access to water, sanitation and hygiene, 7’000 to education, 543’000 to animal health services, 103’000 to economic resources, and 42’000 to natural resources, namely to land (19’000), productive water (11’000), and forest (11’000). In eleven countries, the Alliance reached 353’000 men and women in emergency situations. Five evaluations and two case studies gave qualitative insights on the impact of the Alliance’s livelihood interventions. 

Outcome 2: Zero Hunger
A baseline survey on food security was conducted among 11’000 households at 30 sites across 16 programme countries. The established baseline median of 72% (moderate and severe) and 26% (severe) food insecurity across the SUFOSEC survey sites is above the world region reference values, showing that the Alliance operates in areas in need. To support local food systems, the Alliance trained 49’000 people (56% female) in food transformation and 17’000 extension workers (31% female) in sustainable farming. 

Outcome 3: Empowered Communities
In a baseline survey among 242 Partner Organisations, SUFOSEC found that 44% of the leadership positions were women ranging from 62% in South America to 30% in Central Africa. At output level, the Alliance programme improved the life skills of 456’000 people (56% female), including various capacity development approaches regarding psychosocial competency, leadership, coping strategies, conflict resolution and nutrition literacy of individuals. Alliance members also supported communities in their efforts to participate in peace, development and political processes, reaching out to 45’200 people

Outcome 4: Effective Civil Society Organisations, Partnerships
Strengthening the organisational capacities of the partner organisations and joint learning within the Alliance is at the heart of the SUFOSEC joint programme. A survey among 241 partner organisations showed that 38% had a case management system in place that allows to systematically follow up and sanction cases. 77% of the POs conducted a total of roughly 1’000 staff trainings in domains such as PSEAH, anti-corruption and safety and security. A learning Group Nexus/CSPM developed a working document on the implications of the OECD DAC recommendations on Triple Nexus.

Outcome 5: Awareness Raising
In 2021, the Alliance member organisations spread the message of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development using various channels. 5’829’140 people were reached through various information channels. First joint communication efforts under the umbrella of the SUFOSEC Alliance are planned for 2022. 

Outcome 1&2: SUFOSEC launched a learning group on local ownership and commissioned a study that was debated at three online learning events with partner organisations. The Alliance played an active role in the first learning events of the respective SDC learning journey.

Outcome 3: The learning group gender facilitated a gender audit among Alliance members and held a learning event on a case study in Laos. The learning group PSEAH created a Community of Practice. 

Outcome 4: The Alliance purchased and introduced a joint monitoring software that increases the effectiveness and efficiency of monitoring, evaluation and learning, particularly at HQ level. At country level, a process was launched to identify SUFOSEC joint operations and organisational synergies in Chad, Colombia, Nicaragua, and Madagascar. 

Outcome 1: Livelihoods
Improved livelihoods because of increased access to basic services, natural and economic resources. 

Outcome 2: Food security
Increased food security due to access to diverse food all year round based on the promotion of sustainable and climate-resilient food systems. 

Outcome 3: Participation
Improved participation and inclusion of empowered target groups, especially women, in political, economic and social life and strengthened local and national CSOs.

Outcome 4: Strengthening partner organizations
Strengthened and effective partner CSOs and other partners through capacity development and joint learning.

Outcome 5: Raising awareness in Switzerland
Increased awareness on SDGs and Human rights along the Alliance's thematic focus (for this outcome no SDC-programme contribution must be used).

Outcome 1: The alliance introduces good practices strengthening local civil society partners to become actors in their own right.

Outcome 2: The alliance enhances the national ownership in its international programme according to the GPEDC principles.

Outcome 3: Enhanced gender equality through transformation of unequal gender relations, including PSEAH, among partner organisations and beneficiaries. 

Outcome 4: Increased effectiveness through strengthened cooperation & joint learning.

Phase 2 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024   (Completed)