Helvetas - Schweizer Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit

Vision
At the outset of the 21st century, the world seems more fragmented than before: A part of the world and global society enjoys rapid technology progress, expansion of political freedoms and economic growth. Other parts are suffering from increasing poverty, erosion of education possibilities or augmenting violence and human rights violations. The development challenges remain large in the new millennium. Against the widening gap between the few rich and the many poor, Helvetas sets its vision of a society
which ensures that the basic needs of all people – men and women – are met and that they can live a life in dignity and peace; which guarantees all people the right of self-determination and allows them to participate in shaping their social and political environment; which manages its natural resources in a sustainable manner; which is based on organisations and institutions adhering to the principles of accountability, transparency, quality and efficiency.

Mission

For its international programmes, Helvetas’ mission is:

to collaborate in a participatory manner with and for the benefit of the poor and underprivileged society groups in the poor regions of development and transition countries;
to further promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences between Switzerland and the partner countries as well as among the partner countries;
to strengthen local structures and sustainable development and to promote human rights;
to develop suitable measures that prevent or mitigate violent conflicts and contribute to mutually agreed and sustainable resolutions.

For its engagement in Switzerland, Helvetas’ mission is:

to sensitise the people in Switzerland towards the situation in the development and transformation countries and to encourage them to contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of the people in these countries;
to generate the resources required for fulfilling the Helvetas mandate abroad and in Switzerland.