Our Approach: Building Food Sovereignty Together

A world where hunger does not belong and where even the poorest can lead a healthy, dignified and autonomous life.

To achieve our goal, we must create sustainable and equitable solutions in partnership with local communities so that they can adapt and sustain them over time.

For many years, SWISSAID has relied on a close dialogue with local stakeholders. In each partner country, our offices work with “local advisory committees” that actively participate in strategic planning. This ensures that grassroots knowledge is sustainably integrated into our actions.

In its 2025–2028 strategy, SWISSAID is further strengthening this approach. We trust local dynamics, monitor them closely, and support solutions tailored to each context. When good practices emerge, we integrate and share them with our partners in the countries where we operate.

In the coming years, more space will be given to voices from the Global South within our governing bodies in Switzerland. This is already reflected in the strengthening of local structures and a greater involvement of our colleagues in coordination offices, particularly in shaping national programs. Because they, better than anyone, know the needs on the ground.

To turn this vision into reality, it is essential to have more flexible funding available on the ground. Indeed, the majority of funding is earmarked for specific areas defined by public donors or foundations. Furthermore, monitoring requirements are increasingly strict, which considerably reduces flexibility.

Despite these constraints, we want decisions to be made locally by our partners. We are currently working on setting up local development funds within our projects. These are budgets whose allocation is determined by local actors. We always ensure that funds are used where the needs are most urgent.

More than 15 years ago, SWISSAID integrated agroecology into its projects, making it the core of its strategy to fight hunger. Thanks to our local partners, who have been using this method for many years, we have acquired unique expertise in this field.

Agroecology is not just a farming technique; it is a political and social approach. Now scientifically recognized, it is the central pillar of our action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, which Switzerland helped to develop.

Quality seeds play a vital role in food autonomy and the climate resilience of farming families. These are ancestral seeds, adapted to local weather conditions, which farmers can exchange and reproduce. SWISSAID is committed to restoring these seeds in the rural areas where we work, and advocates for their unrestricted distribution, free from the patents and sanctions that surround them.

SWISSAID is particularly committed to women in rural areas. Through its projects, it advocates for access to education, work, equal pay for equal work, a political voice, credit, and land. Strengthening women’s rights and combating violence against women are the first steps toward a balanced society and a world without hunger.

In our projects, women are an integral part of implementing activities. As both participants and drivers of change, we place a special focus on them to maximize our impact.

SWISSAID’s work also takes place in Switzerland. We are convinced that decisions made in Bern directly impact the daily lives of farmers in the Global South.

In Switzerland, our information work focuses on agroecology, the preservation of traditional seeds, promoting the role of farming families, gender equality, climate defense, and raw materials transparency.

In recent years, we have hosted numerous webinars, published reports on gold, agroecology, and seeds—supporting the valuable work done in these areas—and maintained a strong media presence.

We also maintain a dialogue with multiple stakeholders, including corporations, the government, international institutions, and scientists. We carry out advocacy work when we believe that certain decisions or measures taken in Switzerland can help improve living conditions in the South, or conversely, worsen them.

Finally, to promote the work of development cooperation, demonstrate our commitment to transparency, and show the impact of our projects, we organize parliamentary trips. Politicians are invited to discover the real-world impact of development cooperation.