Every day, a great number of Swiss women and men work on the SDC's development cooperation and humanitarian aid projects. In the SDC podcast, they tell us about their projects and provide insight into the lives of local people. The sixteenth episode of the SDC podcast 'A Plus for Humanity' takes a look at Burkina Faso and highlights the importance of education for people living in a country suffering from years of war.

Diplomat and former Swiss State Secretary Peter Maurer is set to step down as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). His 10 years in office have had a global impact on humanitarian aid. As his presidency draws to a close, we take a look at the organisation which has its roots in Switzerland and provides independent and neutral humanitarian relief in times of war and other disasters.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is aligning itself with the fields of action of modern international cooperation and is adopting a new structure as of 1 September 2022. The SDC is now divided into three geographical divisions, one thematic division and one multilateral division.

Floods in Germany, heatwaves in India, droughts in Africa – how can humanity arm itself against the rising number of natural disasters and their effects worldwide? At the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Bali, Indonesia, delegates from the worlds of politics, science, business and civil society are seeking effective solutions to reduce disaster risks. A multi-stakeholder delegation from Switzerland will be present. Regina Gujan, deputy head of the Multilateral Humanitarian Aid Division, is responsible for DRR at the SDC.

One of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world is taking place in and around Syria. Switzerland's international cooperation has been active on the ground since the outbreak of the conflict in 2011 to alleviate suffering and save lives. In this interview, Caroline Tissot, the SDC's regional head of international cooperation for the Middle East, explains how Switzerland is working to protect the Syrian civilian population and their livelihoods, and to provide education.

Nigeria and Chad are caught up in the throes of deadly floods. Switzerland is very concerned about the situation, which raises fears of increased food insecurity. It has decided to allocate CHF 750,000 as an emergency response to the crisis in Nigeria, and an additional CHF 300,000 for Chad.

Pakistan has suffered one of the worst catastrophes in its history. In late August, an unusually strong monsoon left large swathes of the country flooded for several weeks. When the Pakistani authorities launched an international appeal for help, the SDC responded swiftly by releasing CHF 3 million in aid. It also deployed a Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) team to assist on the ground.

A year ago, the Swiss architect Emilie Schmid boarded a flight for Beirut wearing the uniform of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit as a member of a team that helped rebuild the city after the tragic explosion. She talks about her experience and the importance of Swiss humanitarian aid. We are publishing this article to mark World Humanitarian Day and pay tribute to the many people who dedicate their lives to helping others.

Sandro Didebashvili is one of seven students from the Swiss Agricultural School Caucasus in Georgia who visited Switzerland for two weeks, learning about animal husbandry, fodder and cheesemaking. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supports Georgia in agricultural education and training.

Switzerland is adapting its international cooperation activities to the situation brought about by the Russian attack. Existing contacts and resources are being used to meet the increased need for humanitarian aid. Projects already under way on 24 February 2022 will be adapted and expanded in cooperation with local partner organisations or the authorities. Actors of international cooperation in Ukraine report on their experiences.

Back from the Near East, SDC Director General Patricia Danzi and Ambassador Simon Geissbühler, head of the Peace and Human Rights Division, share their experiences. Their visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory gave them an insight into what the Swiss Cooperation Programme for the Near East 2021–24 is doing in the region.

Switzerland and Sweden co-hosted a hybrid high-level pledging event on 16 March for those hit by the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. UN Secretary General António Guterres launched the event. On behalf of Switzerland, President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis has pledged CHF 14.5 million to further humanitarian aid efforts.

We interviewed Phonepaseuth Phouliphanh, secretary general of the Lao National Mekong Committee, in Martigny, a town located at a large bend in the River Rhône, during a study trip to the heartland of Swiss water management expertise. He spoke with us about his impressions and the best practices he observed during this visit, which was organised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperatio. Read on to find out more about the common challenges we face and our cooperation for a sustainable future.

Switzerland shares six rivers and four lakes with its neighbouring countries. The use of these water bodies is regulated by cross-border cooperation treaties dating back several decades. Based on this extensive experience in sustainable TWM, Switzerland shares it technical and policy expertise with delegations from Asia via the SDC – this time during a field visit focusing on practical cases in Geneva, Martigny and Bern.

Landlocked, mountainous and democratic: a description of Switzerland? Yes, and of Mongolia too. But those are not the only links connecting these two countries. From 14 to 22 August, a Mongolian government delegation paid an official visit to Switzerland as part of the cooperation between the two countries. How does Zolzaya Lkhagvasuren, a Mongolian citizen working as a good governance expert at the SDC, view this?

This year marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Switzerland and Bangladesh, beginning with Bangladesh's founding in 1972. Since then, Switzerland has been aiding the South Asian nation with its economic and social development. Swiss ambassador Nathalie Chuard shares insights into Switzerland's activities in Bangladesh, a country that is currently on the upswing despite its numerous challenges.

828 million – this is the staggering number of people currently suffering from hunger worldwide. That's 10% of the world's population. Climate change, conflicts, COVID-19, and economic crises: the ongoing global food crisis has multiple causes and triggers, all of which are placing enormous stress on communities. The food crises that result from these triggers can also reduce people's lives to a struggle for survival.

The effects of climate change are exacerbating political, social, economic and ecological stress factors and increasing the risk of conflicts. The Berlin Climate and Security Conference aims to find answers to these problems. SDC Director General Patricia Danzi explains why climate and security cannot be considered in isolation and how Switzerland intends to raise the issue in the UN Security Council.

Today two billion people throughout the world are still without access to clean drinking water. The start-up enterprise Openversum, winner of the Community Award of the Youth and Future Prize 'Together we’re better', wants to change this: a locally produced drinking water filter would grant affected populations access to clean drinking water. Olivier Gröninger and Julián Salazar's team have now presented their project in New York at the Hult Prize finals – the 'Nobel prize for students'.

In addition to the urgent humanitarian action needed in Ukraine, the Global Programme Food Security (GPFS) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) also emphasises the need to strengthen systemic approaches to healthy and sustainable food systems. In certain regions, hunger and malnutrition are increasing exponentially because of crises. Alessandra Roversi of the GPFS answers our questions.

Health challenges cannot be viewed in isolation. One example of this is malaria, a disease linked not only to environmental but also to socio-economic factors. Accordingly, we have to take joint action on multiple fronts. The SDC promotes cross-sectoral interventions in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda, as shown by the teamwork within the Swiss Malaria Group.

In 2022, the SDC marks another year in its partnership with Visions du Réel, a documentary film festival that is celebrating its 53rd edition from 7 to 17 April. Through this cultural partnership, the SDC enables a wide range of artists from the Global South and East to share their message with an international network of film professionals. Seydou Cissé, a filmmaker from Mali, is one of them.

The international community has committed itself to the goal of securing a high-quality education for everyone by 2030. Non-state actors make a fundamental contribution to achieving this goal and are the focus of this year's UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report. On 3 February, the report will be presented in Switzerland at a virtual event. Basilio Ghisletta, education adviser at the SDC, speaks in the interview below on the report's significance for the 2030 Agenda's education targets.

Poverty and disability form a vicious circle. More than 80% of persons with disabilities in developing regions live below the poverty line. The United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December is intended to raise awareness of the issues they face. Through its projects in Burkina Faso and Bangladesh, Switzerland creates prospects for persons living with physical, intellectual or mental impairments. This work is particularly important in the age of COVID-19.

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), supports a public services digital transformation project in Ukraine. Today, Patricia Danzi, the SDC Director General, and Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, sign a memorandum of understanding in Kyiv to extend the E-Governance for Accountability and Participation Program (EGAP). This project forms part of Switzerland's International Cooperation Strategy and Digital Foreign Policy Strategy.

Rising temperatures and increasingly frequent extreme heat waves are driving up demand for cooling and air-conditioning systems, especially in urban areas in emerging countries. Air conditioning saves lives. But air conditioning is also one of the main causes of global warming. To break this vicious circle, tackle climate change and alleviate poverty, Switzerland promotes energy-efficient cooling solutions.

SDC Director General Patricia Danzi talks about the role of the private sector in international cooperation, explains how the new guidance regulates cooperation, and highlights how the involvement of businesses in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is ultimately a win-win situation for all. A conversation about poverty reduction, equal opportunities and human dignity.