HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is an international network of independent affiliate member organisations working in the field of development cooperation and emergency response. Our vision is a just world in which all men and women determine the course of their lives in dignity and security, using environmental resources in a sustainable manner.
As a network, we promote the fundamental rights of individuals and groups and strengthen governments and other duty bearers in their service provision. The HELVETAS network builds upon six decades of development experience. With 1400 collaborators, it is engaged in more than 30 countries. The affiliated members share a common vision and mission and subscribe to common working principles and policies. The members implement joint development programmes and adhere to a common strategy including defined working approaches and thematic areas of intervention.
Development work in four continents
The main focus of our work is on international projects. HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is committed to improving the living conditions of disadvantaged people in rural parts of Africa, Asia, South and Central America and Eastern Europe. The projects focus on the specific areas of Water and Infrastructure (water and sanitation, water for food, bridges and roads), Rural Economy (food, organic farming and Fairtrade), Environment and Climate Change (soils, forests, water and energy), Skills Development and Education (basic literacy and vocational training) and Governance and Peace (human rights and culture).
Giving the South a voice
Successful development not only requires activities in the South but also change in the North. For this, Helvetas draws on its broad support base in every language area of Switzerland. Helvetas uses its information and awareness-raising work, along with its FairShop, to inform the Swiss public about people’s living conditions and concerns in developing countries, and to persuade them to support development cooperation endeavours as well as to influence development policy in Switzerland.
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