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                                                                                      The difference SWISSAID makes

                                                                                      Articles

                                                                                      What makes a difference to us, what difference we make: this is where we report on our work in Switzerland and in partner countries.

                                                                                      Development policy issues being debated in Switzerland. Siss-based companies violating human rights. Success stories from our partner countries. A teacher talking about her experiences of selling trinkets. SWISSAIDmaking a difference every day: that is what we report on here.

                                                                                      Articles

                                                                                      • How Maria John (13) experienced lockdown

                                                                                        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.

                                                                                      • Today a no, tomorrow a yes

                                                                                        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.

                                                                                      • Residents inspect an area full with plastic rubbish after the passing of Hurricane Iota, in Puerto Cabezas
                                                                                        Residents inspect an area full with plastic rubbish after the passing of Hurricane Iota, in Puerto Cabezas

                                                                                        Hurricane “Iota”: Threat of hunger and poverty

                                                                                        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.

                                                                                      • SWISSAID is sticking to its research and is not withdrawing the study

                                                                                        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.

                                                                                      • United Nations Declaration: Promise Yes, but Act Too

                                                                                        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

                                                                                      • The dark side of the gold trade

                                                                                        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.

                                                                                      • Corona: View of the countries (May/August)

                                                                                        As a foundation for development cooperation, SWISSAID is also heavily affected by the corona virus. Faced with the crisis, each employee and each project had to reinvent themselves and often work in a hurry. On this page, you will find news from our partner countries for the months of March and April. –Translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • Washing hands for peace

                                                                                        15.04.2020 | Washing hands, restricting contacts, exposing fake news: the measures against the coronavirus in our partner countries in the south are similar to those in Switzerland. The only difference is that the general conditions are much more difficult. How SWISSAID is tackling the problem – and why hygiene is not only fundamental to health, but also counteracts the threat of conflict.

                                                                                      • Coronavirus: a wake-up call for local and sustainable food systems

                                                                                        01.04.2020 | The spread of the coronavirus raises tremendous challenges for the world. It reminds us of how fragile our system is, how abstract our boundaries are and how much a change is needed.

                                                                                      • What the crisis means for women

                                                                                        25.03.2020 | The global corona crisis does not affect everyone equally. Some people are much more economically and socially affected than others. Women, who are often victims of domestic violence as well as being the sole earners of their families and in precarious employment, are especially under pressure.

                                                                                      • Corona: View of the countries (March/April)

                                                                                        As a foundation for development cooperation, SWISSAID is also heavily affected by the corona virus. Faced with the crisis, each employee and each project had to reinvent themselves and often work in a hurry. On this page, you will find news from our partner countries for the months of March and April.

                                                                                      • National Meeting of Seed Banks in Nicaragua

                                                                                        On March 4, a meeting was held in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, organized by the National Alliance “Semillas de Identidad“. This alliance was founded years ago by SWISSAID. The aim of the event was to exchange knowledge and experiences among producers of locally adapted seeds.

                                                                                      • “A wonderful lesson in social skills”

                                                                                        4.03.2020 | Doing good and learning new things: Renate Bach from Gstaad has been taking part in SWISSAID trinket sales with her school class for 41 years. She is convinced that “it gives the children valuable experience”. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • Tanzania shows how agroecology works

                                                                                        10.03.2020 | In Tanzania, the demand for organic products is increasing – farmers are adapting by switching to agro-ecological cultivation methods. A win-win solution for producers, consumers and the entire country.

                                                                                      • “I am impressed by the human dimension of SWISSAID projects”

                                                                                        Bastienne Joerchel (54) has been active in development cooperation for more than 20 years. Alongside Fabian Molina, the French-speaking Swiss is the new Co-President of SWISSAID. She believes in the change that the Foundation is making to combat poverty in the world. And she will do everything in her power to support this commitment. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • “Without agriculture we cannot live”

                                                                                        Since 2019 SP National Councillor Fabian Molina is the new Co-President of SWISSAID alongside Bastienne Joerchel. In an interview, he talks about his relationship with SWISSAID and what impressed him most on his trip through Colombia. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • How SWISSAID helps to implement sustainable development goals

                                                                                        The 17 SDGs, also known as Agenda 2030, commit the international community to making its contribution to a fairer and less poor world. SWISSAID is working actively and energetically to achieve some of these goals. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • Seed Monopolies: How Switzerland promotes hunger

                                                                                        By demanding strict plant variety protection (UPOV91) in free trade agreements, Switzerland helps agribusiness to monopolize seeds and thus promotes hunger.

                                                                                      • Why Switzerland cannot look away

                                                                                        2020 is a crucial year for the responsible business initiative: after years of debating proposals and counter-proposals, the Swiss Parliament will hold a referendum on 29th November. But what is it all about?

                                                                                      • The problem – three examples

                                                                                        Syngenta sells lethal pesticides in India that have long been banned in our country. Glencore poisons rivers in Colombia. Time and again, Swiss-based corporations violate human rights and ignore minimum environmental standards. Three concrete examples.

                                                                                      • “Self-regulation is not the answer”

                                                                                        Dick Marty, former public prosecutor of the Canton of Ticino and member of the Council of States (1995-2011), is at the forefront of the Responsible Business Initiative as co-chair of the Initiative Committee.

                                                                                      • “Our guests think the donation is a cool thing”

                                                                                        Pay for tap water – and do good with it. The catering company Presswerk in Arbon has donated half of its income to Hahnenwasser. The money will go to a SWISSAID drinking water project in Chad. In an interview, Michèle Mehli, Head of Gastronomy, explains why this is not just a benefit for the people of Chad. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • Welcome

                                                                                        10.03.2020 | Sensitive and competent: that’s how we report on people, topics and projects. We rely on large pictures so that everyone can see – and on depth of content as a breeding ground for sustainable change.

                                                                                      • Conflicts in Ecuador

                                                                                        At the beginning of October 2019 conflicts broke out between the indigenous population, represented by their umbrella organisation (CONAIE), and the Ecuadorian government. The reasons were the announcement of new budget cuts, labour law reforms and the increase in fuel prices. Dissatisfaction with the new economic measures has mobilised more than 25,000 indigenous people, as […]

                                                                                      • Gene Drive Organisms: Destructive and uncontrollable

                                                                                          A comprehensive new study published by three groups of scientists – Critical Scientists Switzerland, the European Network of Scientists for Social and Ecological Responsibility and the Association of German Scientists (Vereinigung Deutscher Wissenschaftler) – says that ‘many claimed features of gene drives are unrealistic and carry a high degree of scientific uncertainty and unpredictability’. Given […]

                                                                                      • A brochure on farmers’ seed in Niger

                                                                                        For thousands of years, small farmers around the world have been the guardians of the knowledge and endogenous genetic heritage of local communities. Through cultivation, replication and propagation, they have created an incredible diversity of varieties. In Niger, over 60% of farmers select their own seeds – a system that ensures food security, health and […]

                                                                                      • UPOV 91: The wrong system for West Africa

                                                                                        A new study makes it clear that the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV 1991) does not bring any benefits to West Africa. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • Experts agree: The future belongs to family farms

                                                                                        What are the challenges facing family farms in developing countries? Christine Badertscher, an agricultural expert at SWISSAID, spoke on this topic at the annual conference of the Swiss Society for Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Sociology (SGA). Over 70 experts from all over Switzerland exchanged views on agricultural topics in Wädenswil. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • SWISSAID is concerned about small farmers and indigenous people in Brazil

                                                                                        In Davos, the Federal Council is to campaign for human rights and the Paris Climate Agreement. In particular, Jair Bolsonaro, the new President of Brazil with whom Switzerland is currently negotiating the Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, will be in the spotlight. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • Anything but indifferent: the issue of equality

                                                                                        The issue of gender equality is to be given even greater weight: This is what SWISSAID decided together with employees from Switzerland and the nine countries on the occasion of the development cooperation strategy for the years 2019-2024. For ethical reasons, and also for practical reasons: projects that take gender relations into account usually have a greater impact and more sustainable results. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • International Day of Women in Rural Areas

                                                                                        On the occasion of the International Day of Countrywomen, the Swiss Farmers’ Association (SBLV) and SWISSAID are giving countrywomen in Switzerland and Chad a voice to report on their situation and developments since the International Year of Family Farming in 2014. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • With agroecology to victory

                                                                                        The SWISSAID Tanzania team not only impressed the public at the “Nanenane” national agricultural exhibition: thanks to agroecology, it was able to win first prize at the first attempt. -translated with DeepL

                                                                                      • Stop «Baysanto» from monopolising seeds!

                                                                                        We, the signatory organisations, are calling upon European politicians and governments to stop the European Patent Office from promoting the sell-out of resources needed for our daily food, and effectively limit the monopolisation of seeds needed for conventional breeding and food production. Even though European patent law prohibits patents on plant varieties and «essentially biological» […]

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