SDC in India is engaged in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and provides capacity building for preparedness/response and needs-based support in case of emergency events. SDC supports national government and Himalayan states’ institutions to increase people’s resilience against climate change. A milestone of this collaboration was the development of the first Guidelines for Management of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) published in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority.
In 2003, the Governments of Switzerland and India signed the ‘Cooperation in the event of disaster’ framework agreement. This paved the way for a close collaboration towards capacity building of India’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) units. From 2008 to 2017, SDC supported the Indian National Disaster Response Forces (NDRF) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on management and operational leadership, training methodology, search, rescue and medical operations, logistics, canine search and advice for the design of training grounds. In 2024, SDC is supporting the NDRF for international classification under international standards of INSARAG (International Search and rescue Advisory Group).
In case of an emergency event, SDC is prepared for a “rapid response” action. Through its regional advisor for rapid response based in New Delhi and experts from Switzerland, SDC can rapidly mobilise emergency assistance through expertise, equipment or financial support to save human lives, alleviate suffering and assist most affected victims.