The three countries that make up the region (Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC) are closely interconnected and have shaped each other’s development. Since they gained their independence, this continued interdependence has fed into cross-border conflicts that have caused enormous human suffering and brought state institutions to the brink of collapse. The three countries have signed peace agreements and held elections. However, it has become clear in recent years that these elections have failed to cement peace, and various conflicts endure. Institutions remain fragile and the people of the three countries have yet to reap the benefits of peace.
The Great Lakes Region (Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

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Embassy |
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Mission / Delegation / Permanent Representation |
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Consulate general |
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Honorary representation |
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Cooperation office |
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Contribution Office |
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Embassy with Cooperation Office |
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Embassy with Regional consular center |
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Swiss Business Hub |
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Swissnex |
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City |
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Capital |
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Disputed border |
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River |
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Lake |
The Great Lakes region, comprised of Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern DRC, is a priority region for the South Cooperation Department of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). This fragility is an obstacle to the strengthening of regional institutions and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Because the prospects of these three countries are intertwined, regional stability is a basic condition for improving the well-being of the local populations. In terms of business and trade, the region is rich in natural resources and offers many untapped opportunities.
Swiss Bilateral ODA |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 * |
---|---|---|---|
mill. CHF |
mill. CHF |
mill. CHF |
|
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) |
|||
Bilateral development cooperation |
25.25 |
23.61 |
25.00 |
Humanitarian aid |
16.15 |
14.91 |
13.22 |
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) |
|||
Economic Cooperation and Development |
– |
– |
– |
Human Security Division (HSD) |
|||
Conflict transformation and human rights |
2.95 |
2.77 |
3.46 |
Total SDC/SECO/HSD |
44.35 |
41.29 |
41.68 |
Other Federal Offices |
|||
Other FDFA Divisions (ASAF, AIO, aso) |
0.06 |
0.01 |
.. |
Network of FDFA representations abroad |
3.83 |
4.85 |
.. |
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) |
0.12 |
0.03 |
.. |
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) |
0.13 |
0.12 |
.. |
Total other Federal Offices |
4.14 |
5.01 |
– |
Cantons and municipalities |
1.70 |
.. |
.. |
Total |
50.19 |
46.30 |
41.68 |
* planned; total based on available data
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
N.B. Contributions of the humanitarian Aid to persons from the region of the Great Lakes having fled to Tanzania are reported under the humanitarian Aid of Tanzania
Overall goal of the Swiss cooperation strategy for the Great Lakes region
In the Great Lakes region, Switzerland works to further peace and stability, reduce poverty and protect civilians. It helps to strengthen democratic processes, respect for human rights, social cohesion and employment, especially for young people. In line with Switzerland’s diplomatic and political efforts, these activities are aimed at strengthening the capacities of local people to overcome crises and challenges.
Dialogue, fighting impunity and diplomacy
Switzerland is committed to preventing and reducing violence, strengthening democratic institutions and processes, and contributing to the fight against impunity. Switzerland’s activities include facilitation and mediation at the political and civil society levels, support for elections and constitutional reforms, advocacy, monitoring and the protection of human rights. In Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC, Switzerland has helped set up a variety of media outlets, especially radio stations, which perform a watchdog function and produce good quality programming, and has also supported the media’s self-regulation efforts.
Protection of civilians
Switzerland uses all means and channels at its disposal – bilateral, multilateral, the Geneva Conventions – to assure the existence of humanitarian spaces in the region which are necessary to protect vulnerable population groups and restore dignity to those who have been denied it. The protection of civilians includes the monitoring and recording of violations of international humanitarian law, inter-community dialogue, advocacy, training and awareness-raising activities, and reintegration measures. These efforts benefit nearly three million people every year. Switzerland has supported almost 300,000 people through its bilateral projects, including child protection projects, over the past four years.
Employment and economic development
To promote employment and income opportunities, Switzerland is giving priority to high-quality vocational education and training in occupational sectors that are adapted to the needs of the market, both in rural and peri-urban areas. In rural areas, Switzerland is focusing its efforts on the transformation of the building materials sector, which is experiencing rapid growth and is very labour intensive. Technology introduced by Switzerland in Rwanda and Burundi to improve working conditions and energy efficiency in brickmaking has boosted production to approximately 14 million bricks per year since 2015.
Health and combating violence against women
Ensuring continued access to healthcare services in crisis situations is critically important for public health, eases community tensions and promotes social cohesion. Switzerland is working in this sector for universal healthcare and for primary and secondary health services, particularly mother and child healthcare and the fight against child malnutrition. Switzerland is committed to combating violence against women. Swiss-supported efforts have helped some 60,000 women to access survivor support services since 2011, including 12,300 rape survivors who have received medical, psychological and legal support. Thanks to the efforts of over 500 civil society organisations, 54% of the women have been able to reintegrate into their communities.
History of cooperation
Switzerland has been present in the Great Lakes region since the 1960s. For three decades, it carried out development cooperation programmes in the region, but since the 1990s, the primary focus has been on humanitarian aid and peace policy. As part of its 2017–20 strategy, Switzerland combines development aid, humanitarian aid, peace policy and diplomacy in the Great Lakes region. Through the coordinated deployment of these instruments, Switzerland aims to improve the coherence of its efforts, to deal more effectively with the complex political, security, humanitarian and developmental challenges facing the region.
Links
Rwanda: Consulate General of Switzerland in Kigali
Swiss Cooperation Office in Rwanda
Burundi: Programme Office SDC and Consular Agency Bujumbura
Embassy of Switzerland in Democratic Republic of Congo
Gender equality – gender and women's rights
Basic education and vocational training
Engagement in fragile contexts and prevention of violent conflicts
Private Sector Development and financial services
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Burundi
Bilateral relations Switzerland–The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Documents
Current projects
Food security in the Great Lakes Region - Nutrition
01.07.2017
- 31.12.2021
Multidisciplinary partnerships and multi-stakeholder alliances wrought by One UN agencies and the Governments of Burundi, Rwanda and DRC develop practical solutions to deliver activities in support of the institutionalization of nutrition strategies in the respective countries. The activities take place at the provincial level, in locations where food insecurity and poverty are at highest level; they feed-back to the respective coordination secretariat, thus ensuring an appropriate political steering of the strategies.
SDC Grands Lacs: Gender mainstreaming
01.07.2017
- 30.06.2021
Les inégalités de genre sont très ancrées dans les coutumes et les pratiques des populations de la région des Grands Lacs. Elles sont accentuées par le contexte en ébullition, particulièrement au Burundi et en RDC, qui contribue au taux élevé de viol et de violences basées sur le genre. La présente intervention contribuera à leur réduction en améliorant le niveau de l’expertise liée aux inégalités et à la Violence Basée sur le Genre (VBG) dans la région, en promouvant les réformes adéquates et favorisant l’empowerment des femmes avec l’implication des hommes.
OXFAM : Renforcement des capacités communautaires à résister et s’adapter aux chocs et contraintes de l’insécurité et de la violence au Masisi, Nord Kivu
10.06.2017
- 31.12.2017
Dans le territoire de Masisi, l’environnement de conflit induit de nombreuses menaces de protection, qui ont elles-mêmes des répercussions négatives sur les moyens de subsistance des ménages. Le projet vise à renforcer la capacité des individus, des ménages et des réseaux communautaires à résister aux chocs et aux stresses liées au conflit, en renforçant leur environnement protecteur et en donnant aux groupes communautaires les capacités d’investir dans leurs moyens de subsistance et dans des stratégies positives de survie. Ce projet s’étalera sur deux phases au minimum : la première jusqu’à la fin 2017, et la seconde en 2018.
Allocation of SDC Funding to WFP Operations in 2017
01.01.2017
- 31.12.2017
In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises. SDC funding to WFP operations allows the World Food Programme (WFP) to respond proactively and to provide immediate food assistance in life-threatening situations.
RDC, Alliance Globale du Vaccin (GAVI): Approvisionnement en médicaments
01.12.2016
- 31.12.2021
La contribution ciblée à GAVI présentée dans cette proposition de crédit est la mise en pratique de la stratégie de coopération : elle vise non seulement l’appui stratégique et vital du circuit des médicaments et vaccins en RDC, en particulier au Sud-Kivu, mais convole aussi l’agenda du programme global Santé, du travail diplomatique de la représentation Suisse à Kinshasa et du programme de la coopération Sud.
Support to the DPCG (Development Partners’ Coordination Group) Secretariat in Rwanda
15.09.2016
- 15.09.2019
Switzerland and the UK, in an effort to facilitate a broad and fruitful development policy dialogue in Rwanda, will dedicate financial resources towards a UNDP support to the line ministry in charge of aid coordination. It entails, on the one hand, carrying out analytical research leading to evidence-based policy decision, and, on the other hand, the efficient management of the Development Partners’ Coordination Group (DPCG) Secretariat.
Promoting off-farm employment and income in the Great Lakes Region through climate responsive construction material production
01.07.2016
- 28.02.2021
High demographic growth in the Great Lakes increases the competition for scarce natural resources and boosts the demand for affordable housing. The project aims at triggering local economic development, improving working conditions and increasing off-farm employment through climate responsive building material production. Results of the first phase allow for a technology transfer adjusted to local needs and scaling up of the brick production value chains in the region.