Phase 1, ADB Frontier, single phase
01.11.2024
- 31.10.2028
In Cambodia and Laos, young fast-growing SMEs are incremental to transform local economies. However, perceived as risky and operating in small frontier markets, the finance sector doesn’t invest in them the capital to further grow. This contribution aims to close this gap and demonstrate the viability of investments through adapted financial products and technical assistance, while creating employment, developing the market, and driving gender- and climate inclusive growth.
Accelerating School Meals, Empowering Communities: A Climate Resilient Approach
01.10.2024
- 30.09.2026
The macroeconomic crisis, characterized by high inflation and public debt, in addition to the accelerating impact of climate change, is putting pressure on food security, families’ livelihoods and public services. Households’ coping capacities are getting stretched and school drop outs rising. This contribution aims to enhance localization of the National School Lunch Programme and increase communities’ economic and climate resilience, while keeping children at school.
Building community health resilience and alleviating poverty through multisectoral cooperation for elimination of schistosomiasis in Cambodia and Laos PDR
01.10.2024
- 30.09.2026
The project contributions of the SDC and the Chinese International Development Cooperation Agency to the two World Health Organisation offices of Cambodia and Lao PDR will foster the elimination of schistosomiasis (Mekongi) in the hard-to-reach areas along the Mekong River. It will contribute to community empowerment on health issues and strengthen the health authorities’ capacities in the fight against this neglected tropical disease. The Swiss TPH will inject its decades of Swiss expertise in the Mekong to the interventions.
Boosting collective action for improved water quality management
01.08.2024
- 31.07.2028
Using a water stewardship approach, the programme aims to improve the quality and management of water as a shared resource, while ensuring sustainable business development in the Greater Mekong Region. In this 2nd phase, Switzerland will continue to support the World Wide Fund for Nature’s engagement with small and medium enterprises as well as other stakeholders, to reduce water pollution and improve water governance at river basin level.
Sustainable Consumption and Production in Lao PDR
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2027
While Lao PDR transitions to a more urban economy, it struggles with insufficient waste management. Switzerland and the European Union (EU) in support of the government are joining hands to promote sustainable consumption and production practices in urban areas by strengthening the capacities, outreach and impact of waste-related CSOs.
Contribution to NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response) 2024-2025
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2025
The Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR) is a consortium of local organizations that aims at shaping an international cooperation system where local communities are empowered to address the challenges that impact their own communities. The network is composed of local and national civil society organizations from the Global South rooted in their communities. It focuses on genuine local participation at all levels to ensure effective aid is delivered.
Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS)
01.12.2023
- 30.11.2027
The exit phase of VTESS will further promote an inclusive vocational skills development (VSD) system in Lao PDR. Within the current context of economic crisis, early school leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds will thereby benefit from improved and labour market relevant training, employment support services and a sustainable funding model for VSD.
Agroecology Promotion Programme APP
01.02.2023
- 30.04.2028
Switzerland has been one of the front-runners positioning agroecology globally to support food systems transformation, notably following the aftermath of the UN Food Systems Summit in September 2021. This Agroecology Promotion Programme strengthens this momentum, by supporting the capacitation of, dissemination and implementation by leveraging actors to further embed agroecology within the civil society, policies and markets, globally, in Sub-Sahara Africa and South-East Asia.
STAF - Skills for Tourism and Agriculture and Forestry
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2027
Switzerland, Luxembourg and the European Union are joining hands to reform the TVET sector together with the Government of Laos to increase the employability and income of the Lao people. Switzerland’s long-term experience in poverty reduction, vocational training and private sector engagement will support youth to access improved vocational skills development and reach employment through stronger employment service delivery.
Flood Resilience in the Lower Mekong
01.01.2023
- 31.07.2027
Lao PDR is vulnerable to hydro-meteorological events, exacerbated by climate change and unplanned urbanization. In partnership with the Lao government, Switzerland is committed to strengthening early warning systems, preparedness and response capacities of authorities and vulnerable communities by leveraging low-cost technologies and successful experience of the Cambodian 1294 Early Warning System.
Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG)
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2025
Switzerland with its longstanding engagement and experience in land and natural resource management will support a last phase of the “Mekong Region Land Governance” project. This Swiss flagship project will continue to support Alliances of Reform-Actors, including policy-makers and civil society, to improve policy-making environment and implementation toward improved land tenure security for vulnerable family farmers in the Mekong region, particularly in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.
JPOs4UN Programme 2023-2028
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2028
The JPOs4UN programme aims at increasing the presence of Switzerland in the UN by augmenting the number of Swiss nationals working in SDC priority UN organizations. Switzerland directly funds partner humanitarian UN organizations to hire 11 Swiss young professionals on a three-year Junior Programme Officer contract; the Swiss foundation CINFO provides administrative support and career counselling. Swiss nationals add to a qualified and diverse UN workforce to implement the Agenda 2030.
