Equal opportunities shouldn't be a matter of chance

By chance, Sundar Thapa, Madina Muhuthage and Clemencia López Cabrera were born into circumstances where they have no education, clean water or voice. Help create equal opportunities!

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Our vision is of 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.

Action Research on Migration and Climate Change

Surveys and case studies conducted in coastal Bangladesh reveal the growing impact of climate change on lives and livelihoods.

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Our e-newsletter connects you to the latest updates from experts, including our response to COVID-19.

Our latest blogs & news

Blog 03. February 2022

Kyrgyzstan Shows Positive Spillover Effects of Improved Services at the Local Level

Blog 01. February 2022

Growing Inequality Demands Political Action

Blog 31. January 2022

Inclusive Plug Episode 20: Does Location Matter in Accessing and Using Economic Opportunities?

Blog 27. January 2022

What does daily life in Mozambique look like without clean water? Madina Muhuthage shares her story.

“Out of all the chores I do, fetching water is the hardest.”

SPECIAL: Selected projects on water

Benin

Clean Water – from the Well Pipes to the Drinking Bowl

Guatemala

Good Governance Makes for Good Water

Madagascar

Clean Drinking Water and Hygiene Make for Good Health

Nepal

Travel around the world with our stories

Yezina Overcomes Every Hurdle

Yezina won't let her handicap stop her. She wants to become a successful seamstress who decides her own life.

Welcome Home

Hospitality has a long tradition for the Red Dao in the northern highlands of Vietnam. Thanks to sustainable tourism, it should now also give rural communities an income.

Stateless – the Fate of the Rohingya

In the refugee camp in Bangladesh, Rabeya Begum and Mohamad try everything to enable their little son Mohamad Rizwan to live in dignity.

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Where and how we work

Our Topics

Helvetas’ work impacts livelihoods: water, food and the environment. Thanks to trainings and capacity building people better determine their living conditions.

Where we work

Helvetas helps people in some thirty different countries to actively improve their living conditions. Find out more about our work in each of these countries.

Advocacy

Sustainable development only works within the right policy framework. Helvetas advocates for dialog with political decision-makers.

Our topics

Water, Food & Climate

Helvetas helps vulnerable populations build resilience and prepare for climate change by securing access to safe water and a stable supply of nutritious food.

Skills, Jobs & Income

Lack of education perpetuates inequality and limits economic opportunity. Helvetas enhances the quality of skills training and helps build fair labor markets with decent jobs.

Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

In many countries where we work, men and women are unable to claim their rights and participate actively in decision-making processes.

WASH & Water Governance

The most vulnerable communities of the world suffer from dirty water. Every year, we support up to 500,000 people in getting access to clean drinking water and sanitary facilities.

Gender & Social Equity

Helvetas makes sure that our work actively and meaningfully includes and supports the most disadvantaged groups.

Climate & Disaster Resilience

Every year, we support over 1,000,000 people in adapting to climate change, reducing the risks of disasters, sustainably managing natural resources, and conserving nature.

Food & Nutrition

Helvetas works to combat the world’s hunger problem by connecting disadvantaged women and men to stable supplies of affordable, nutritious and healthy food.

About us

Helvetas is an independent Swiss development organization that is building capacity in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. We bring about real change in the lives of over three million disadvantaged people every year. We implement development projects in the areas of water, food and climate, education, jobs and private sector development, governance, gender and social equity. Helvetas also provides emergency response after disasters. In Switzerland we promote solidarity in spirit and in action and take part in the ongoing developmental policy dialogue.

Support our efforts with a donation

Such as our efforts to ensure that families have access to clean drinking water, children can go to school and young people receive vocational training.