Agriculture and food security
Hunger and malnutrition not only endanger the health of people but pose a significant threat to the overall development of a country. The SDC is committed to ensuring adequate, sufficient and good-quality food for all, taking into account the entire food value chain: from the fields where food is produced, to storage and processing, markets, trade, transport and up to consumers via diet.
The SDC works worldwide to secure the human right to adequate food. It designs its activities with the aim of giving poorer and disadvantaged population groups, such as smallholder farmers, women and young people, equal access to education, productive resources and markets. The SDC helps them to make productive but sustainable use of natural resources and supports them in dealing with the effects of climate change, with the storage and marketing of their produce and with continuous adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Throughout all these endeavors, the SDC persistently pays special attention to the preservation of the highly endangered biodiversity in each context. It also promotes needs-oriented research and advisory services.
In addition, the SDC encourages innovations all along the food value chain that provide consumers with a healthy and diverse diet by facilitating access to suitable foodstuffs, both in rural and in urban areas.
Sustainable agriculture ensures a healthy diet, preserves biodiversity, and is the basis for securing the human right to adequate food. With this goal in mind, Switzerland engages in international cooperation in the field of food security. The Swiss agriculture sector, with its multifunctional, family-based and environmentally-friendly food production geared to social and regional balance, acts as a role model.
Links
Documents
Global Programme Food Security: Programme Framework 2021–24 (PDF, 28 Pages, 2.0 MB, English)
Food security: An SDC Global Programme (PDF, 8 Pages, 1.7 MB, English)
Food security – a value-added chain (Multilaterale Akzente, September 2011, fr) (PDF, 2.2 MB)
Securing enough food for all (2007) (PDF, 6.2 MB)
Current projects
Selection
Rangeland Management Project (RAMA)
01.10.2017
- 31.08.2022
Poor and landless families depend on rangeland resources for livestock rearing, fuel and fodder collection. A growing population puts increased pressure on limited resources, while decades of conflict and displacement have weakened rangeland management systems. RAMA will improve livelihoods and food security of rural households through empowering the communities to sustainably manage and use their rangeland resources in order to generate equitable benefits.
Facility for Refugees, Migrants, Forced Displacement and Rural Stability (FARMS), SIGHT and HALEPP
01.08.2017
- 31.12.2024
With this contribution to the Facility for Refugees, Migrants, Forced Displacement and Rural Stability (FARMS) established by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in 2016, Switzerland will contribute to sustainable livelihoods for approximately 5000 Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. The two co-funded projects will also support host communities, in particular poor smallholders breeding small ruminants (Jordan) and smallholders in the dairy sector (Lebanon) to increase their income and food security.
Support to WWF rattan initiative: "Sustainable rattan and bamboo supply chains in the Lao PDR”
01.08.2017
- 31.03.2021
Maintaining high biodiversity in agro-ecosystems contributes to poverty reduction in rural livelihoods. Better knowledge, tools and institutional arrangements are needed to support poverty alleviation and preserve biodiversity. Considering the current development context in Lao PDR, WWF supports the conservation and sustainable economic use of rattan and bamboo, aiming at improving the livelihood of upland farmers and enhancing the policy environment.
Global Diet Quality Project
01.08.2017
- 31.12.2022
Diet is the most important determinant of health. Multiple forms of malnutrition co-exist with overweight and obesity being the fastest growing form, particularly in developing countries. SDC as a main bilateral donors to address non-communicable diseases aims to close a significant data gap by facilitating the generation of routinely collected and internationally comparable data on diet quality, thereby contributing to a better understanding of dietary trends, awareness, and policies.
A FONDS: Appui au FOnds Nationaux de Développement du Secteur agricole
01.07.2017
- 30.11.2023
Le Bénin a besoin d’un dispositif national pour le financement du secteur agricole. La DDC soutient l’Etat béninois et le secteur privé dans la mise en place de dispositifs communs et pérennes de financement du secteur. Le but est de renforcer la productivité, la compétitivité des productions agricoles et la résilience des systèmes de productions aux effets des variations climatiques. Ceci devrait contribuer à créer des emplois pour les jeunes.
Support to GRET bamboo initiative: “Strengthening the bamboo and rattan sectors in Lao PDR”
01.07.2017
- 30.04.2021
Maintaining high biodiversity in agro-ecosystems contributes to poverty reduction in rural livelihoods. Better knowledge, tools and institutional arrangements are needed to support poverty alleviation and preserve biodiversity. Considering the current development context in Lao PDR, GRET supports the conservation and sustainable economic use of bamboo and rattan, aiming at improving the livelihood of upland farmers and enhancing the policy environment.
LEB – Improved Water Resources Monitoring and Integrated Water Resources Management in the North of Lebanon
01.07.2017
- 31.05.2022
For over five years now, the Syria crisis is continuing to affect middle-income neighbouring countries. As a result, Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. The weak governance of the Government has been worsened with the burden of the refugees from Syria and Palestine who use the same overstretched infrastructure and public services. The project aims at enabling the water authorities to better manage the water sector for the benefit of the vulnerable communities in the North of the country.
Enhancing the Food Security and Liveli-hoods Coping Mechanisms for Conflict Af-fected Communities in Torit & Pageri Admin-istrative Area, Eastern Equatoria State
16.06.2017
- 31.10.2018
Strengthening Research for Agriculture Policy Development
15.06.2017
- 31.12.2020
In 2012, a Policy Think Tank (PTT) was established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, with the vision of helping guiding the country towards economic prosperity and poverty alleviation. The PTT has established a core team, carried out several studies and generated interest amongst stakeholders involved in the agricultural sector policy improvement. Now, the PTT structure and mandate need to be strengthened and adapted to answer to the changes that the country is facing.
Accompagnement des Organisations Paysannes et développement de systèmes de marchés durables
15.06.2017
- 31.08.2023
Confrontées à de nombreux défis liés aux effets du changement climatique, à la sécurisation foncière et à l’accès aux marchés, les exploitations familiales peinent à améliorer leurs revenus et à contribuer à la sécurité alimentaire nationale. Le programme vise à renforcer les organisations paysannes et à développer des partenariats avec le secteur privé pour accroitre l’offre des services d’appui/conseil aux exploitations familiales et ainsi contribuer au développement économique durable de 75'000 ménages.
Soutien au Dispositif National de Sécurité Alimentaire -PRESA-
01.05.2017
- 31.12.2022
Malgré l’excédent céréalier enregistré depuis plus de 20 ans, le Mali fait face à des crises alimentaires récurrentes qui touchent près du quart de la population. La Suisse soutient le Dispositif National de Sécurité Alimentaire par la combinaison des instruments de l’aide humanitaire et de développement en vue de gérer les crises alimentaires et renforcer la résilience des populations vulnérables. Cet appui contribuera à la stabilité du pays et de la sous-région et a le potentiel de réduire la migration forcée.
Reform and Development of Markets, Value Chains and Producers’ Organisations
01.03.2017
- 31.12.2022
Private sector-led agriculture and agribusiness in the Palestinian occupied territory (oPT) can play a key role in building a resilient economy towards economic growth and in safeguarding rights and entitlements to natural resources and markets. This program aims at improving income and productivity in the agriculture sector, through improved access to markets, increased share of local market, enhanced competitiveness and profitability of Palestinian agribusinesses.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Palestinian Authority |
Agriculture & food security
Agricultural development
Agricultural policy
Agricultural co-operatives & farmers’ organisations
|
01.03.2017 - 31.12.2022 |
CHF 3’000’000 |
