No development without security

01.07.2012 - 30.04.2016

Crime and insecurity are a big challenge for development cooperation work in Central America. The situation is particularly alarming in Honduras, where the homicide rate has doubled over the past five years to 86 murders per 100,000 inhabitants – the highest homicide rate in the world. This high level of violence not only costs lives, it also undermines development. Unlike in the rest of Latin America, in Honduras efforts to reduce poverty are stalling and economic growth is low.

Promotion of financial services for low-income segments of the population

01.08.2009 - 31.07.2013

The PROMIFIN programme contributes to the development of the financial sector by addressing the specific needs of the various groups of population targeted by the SDC in terms of the quality and variety of services proposed by microfinance institutions, while pursuing the objective of institutional sustainability so as to optimise the scope of services and their range. To achieve this objective PROMIFIN cooperates closely with the public authorities, private institutions, and donor agencies.

Grassroots women building resilience and peace in Central America.

01.10.2019 - 31.12.2022

The project enables two thousand grassroots women and their families to implement effective climate adaptation practices and strengthen their voice and leadership to influence related public plans and policies. The exchange of good local practices will be fostered among women in the region, thus increasing their resilience to climate change and variability.

Strengthening Governance and Human Rights in Central America

01.10.2019 - 30.09.2022

The program strengthens the capacities and the presence of the Inter-American Human Rights System in Central America in order to ensure the follow-up on court judgements and recommendations, to educate employees of the justice sector, to report on the Human Rights situation and to strengthen the protection of Human Rights defenders. The program further promotes dialogue on natural resource management among governments, the private sector, indigenous peoples, and Afro-descendants.

Territorial Governance in the Honduran Muskitia

01.04.2019 - 31.03.2031

Switzerland contributes to the strengthening of territorial governance in the Muskitia region fostering a coordinated approach with other donors. The program supports the recognition of the rights of indigenous and afro-descendent peoples and promotes governance mechanisms that help to reduce conflicts derived from historic marginalization and lack of access to basic services implementing a “leave no one behind” approach. The program supports the interaction between local governments and territorial organizations to implement the legal framework and the Convention on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (ILO Convention 169.)

Community Watershed Management Program for Climate Change Adaptation – “Nuestra Cuenca Goascarán” (NCG)

01.04.2019 - 31.03.2023

The program empowers watershed organizations composed of public-private actors to govern a manage water resources in a sustainable and integrated way, together with the adoption of new technologies, this will improve living conditions and reduce impact of climate change  for 20,000 families in 16 municipalities, located in the Goascoran watershed river.

SDC Education Fund

01.01.2019 - 31.12.2021

As part of its increased commitment for Education and of the implementation of SDC’s Education Strategy, the SDC launches an Education Fund in order to incentivize innovation and the application of new approaches in basic education/vocational skills development and through educational activities across sectors. Innovation can have a catalytic effect on the effectiveness of programmes in and through education. Education is a core enabler for sustainable development and is an important lever in Switzerland’s commitment to promote human and economic development, peace and stability. 

Central America: Zamorano - Educating future leaders

01.12.2018 - 31.12.2022

Citizen security

01.09.2018 - 31.08.2022

The program supports the reforms of the National Police focusing on institutional integrity: reform of the police education system, community policing and effective control systems for personnel. In the Gulf of Fonseca and the Mosquitia, justice and security sector actors, local governments, civil society, private sector and indigenous populations strengthen their cooperation and jointly implement local and regional violence prevention strategies.

Fortalecimiento de la Gobernanza y de los Derechos Humanos con enfoque en el Triángulo Norte de Centro América

05.07.2018 - 31.12.2019

El programa facilita que autoridades de gobiernos, sistemas de justicia, sociedad civil, empresa privada, prioricen acciones de vigilancia, promoción y protección de defensores de derechos humanos y de pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes en el marco del Sistema Interamericano de Derechos Humanos, e inicien un proceso de dialogo regional alrededor de la gestión de los recursos naturales.  

Contribution to the country office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras (OHCHR)

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021

The OHCHR has established itself as the principal point of reference for critically positioning human rights in the public and political agenda of Honduras. It will continue to strive to provide protection of individuals and communities whose rights are at risk or denied, while also working to further develop institutions, laws and policies that effectively protect human rights. This will contribute to rule of law and providing the necessary framework for equitable and sustainable development.

ProJoven: Vocational training for young people at risk of exclusion

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021

In phase II, ProJoven contributes to the labour insertion of approximately 6,000 young people who are at risk in the Central District, the Gulf of Fonseca region, and the Muskitia/Atlantic region. This represents at least 80% of the 7,500 youth trained through a high quality vocational training/labour insertion system aligned with market demands in the production, service and tourism sectors. The training/labour insertion system also incorporates a psycho-social focus to enhance the sustainability of results.