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SDC approach

SDC approach in DRR

The SDC's approach to address DRR is based on the three following lines of action:

The SDC assists partner countries - through governments, civil society, communities, the private sector and international organisations - through targeted programmes and projects to reduce disaster risks and increase resilience (see the page - Types of activities)
DRR is mainstreamed within the SDC and systematically integrated into development and humanitarian programmes and projects (see the page Mainstreaming into sectors / contexts)
The SDC influences the international DRR policy system and institutions at regional and global level, which in turn aim to reduce risks in disaster-prone countries and enhance institutional partnerships (see the page International DRR system)

The SDC's long-standing expertise in DRR

The SDC has been active in specific aspects of DRR for many years. Development endeavours such as watershed management, rural development and natural resource management, which have been practised for a long time, also contribute significantly to DRR. Furthermore, the SDC considers DRR to be a core element of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA). Thus, DRR and CCA have similar aims and mutual benefits. Both approaches are closely linked as they focus on reducing communities' vulnerability to weather and climate-related hazards by improving their capacities to cope.

One of the seven strategic objectives of Switzerland's international cooperation 2017-2020 is to prevent and manage the consequences of crisis and disaster, and of fragility; and promote conflict transformation. DRR is therefore one of the 12 core themes of the SDC and its thematic lead is given institutionally to the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Department.

Conceptually, the SDC concentrates its DRR activities by adopting a disaster risk management approach which comprises support for an enabling environment for DRR, risk analysis, prevention/mitigation, preparedness for better response, and risk transfer (see the pages types of activities).

SDC collaborates with various swiss actors

Other government agencies like the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) and others closely collaborate with SDC in the domain of DRR.

Furthermore, scientific institutions in Switzerland provide knowledge and know-how, in various fields such as risk assessment and monitoring. Also the Swiss insurance sector, with direct insurers and re-insurers are providing solutions in this particular field.

A number of Swiss NGOs are implementing particular DRR projects in various partner countries and have joint effort through the Swiss NGO DRR Platform.

Criteria and skills for DRR activities

DRR is relevant in countries and regions where natural events are frequent and intense, where risks for the population and their livelihoods are high, and where coping capacities are low (see the map below). As DRR implies a long-term commitment, DRR-targeted programmes are preferably embedded in development cooperation activities. The mainstreaming of DRR is done in all relevant countries and / or sectors where the SDC is active (development cooperation and humanitarian aid).

The SDC has developed a series of basic strategic documents and tools in the field of DRR and its related fields, such as the SDC DRR guidelines, the Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Integration Guidance CEDRIG online tool (www.cedrig.org), the thematic gender checklist DRR and guiding principles on microinsurance for catastrophic events.

The SDC is committed to ensuring that its programme staff has the appropriate technical, social and process skills to ensure a risk-informed approach. Making development and humanitarian efforts disaster-resilient and integrating DRR into the design of strategies, programmes and projects requires: a) risk awareness; b) knowledge of existing natural hazards and vulnerabilities; c) thematic and technical competencies.

SDC collaborate with strong partners to implement the DRR programme and can rely on the expertise of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) DRR and Environment Expert Group. The SDC DRR network - author of this Platform - manages the knowledge on DRR in the institution.

Disaster risk classification of SDC priority countries and focus regions (2017) (Download the map here)

SDC Instruments and criteria

More specifically, DRR considerations must be incorporated into the following SDC instruments:

Cooperation strategies and annual planning processes in countries at a high or considable risk of disaster
Entry or credit proposals in countries at a high or considerable risk of disaster (see the map) and / or in spatially relevant activities (projects). At project level, DRR is integrated into the project cycle management.
Thematic and corporate strategies, relevant for countries at a high or considerable risk of disaster.

The assessment of the DRR potential of a strategy, programme or a project can be implemented through the application of the CEDRIG online tool (www.cedrig.org) (Climate Environment and DRR Integration Guidance). The tool helps to analse whether existing and planned cooperation strategies, programmes and projects are at risk from disasters emanating from climate variability, climate change, environmental degradationand/or tectonic activities, as well as whether they have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions and /or the environment

Further, there are various other tools for DRR mainstreaming, which often start with a risk assessment (e.g. at community level, sector specific), see the pages on DRR types of activities, especially on risk assessment.

Monitoring indicators

To support the elaboration of Results Frameworks for country strategies, programmes and projects, SDC elaborated a list of Reference outcome indicators incorporating the following four theme: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, environment and disaster reduction.

Further, the Swiss NGO DRR Platform developped a DRR indicator tool box with set of qualitative and quantitative indicators to monitor the implementation of targeted DRR projects.

SDC approach

The SDC's approach to address DRR is based on the three following lines of action:

The SDC assists partner countries - through governments, civil society, communities, the private sector and international organisations - through targeted programmes and projects to reduce disaster risks and increase resilience (see the page - Types of activities)

DRR is mainstreamed within the SDC and systematically integrated into development and humanitarian programmes and projects (see the page Mainstreaming into sectors / contexts)

The SDC influences the international DRR policy system and institutions at regional and global level, which in turn aim to reduce risks in disaster-prone countries and enhance institutional partnerships (see the page International DRR system)

The SDC's long-standing expertise in DRR

Conceptually, the SDC concentrates its DRR activities by adopting a disaster risk management approach which comprises support for an enabling environment for DRR, risk analysis, prevention/mitigation, preparedness for better response, and risk transfer (see the pages types of activities).

SDC collaborates with various swiss actors

Other government agencies like the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) and others closely collaborate with SDC in the domain of DRR.

Furthermore, scientific institutions in Switzerland provide knowledge and know-how, in various fields such as risk assessment and monitoring. Also the Swiss insurance sector, with direct insurers and re-insurers are providing solutions in this particular field.

A number of Swiss NGOs are implementing particular DRR projects in various partner countries and have joint effort through the Swiss NGO DRR Platform.

Criteria and skills for DRR activities

SDC collaborate with strong partners to implement the DRR programme and can rely on the expertise of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) DRR and Environment Expert Group. The SDC DRR network - author of this Platform - manages the knowledge on DRR in the institution.

Disaster risk classification of SDC priority countries and focus regions (2017) (Download the map here)

SDC Instruments and criteria

More specifically, DRR considerations must be incorporated into the following SDC instruments:

Cooperation strategies and annual planning processes in countries at a high or considable risk of disaster

Entry or credit proposals in countries at a high or considerable risk of disaster (see the map) and / or in spatially relevant activities (projects). At project level, DRR is integrated into the project cycle management.

Thematic and corporate strategies, relevant for countries at a high or considerable risk of disaster.

Further, there are various other tools for DRR mainstreaming, which often start with a risk assessment (e.g. at community level, sector specific), see the pages on DRR types of activities, especially on risk assessment.

Monitoring indicators

To support the elaboration of Results Frameworks for country strategies, programmes and projects, SDC elaborated a list of Reference outcome indicators incorporating the following four theme: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, environment and disaster reduction.

Further, the Swiss NGO DRR Platform developped a DRR indicator tool box with set of qualitative and quantitative indicators to monitor the implementation of targeted DRR projects.

SDC approach

​​The SDC's approach to address DRR is based on the three following lines of action:

The SDC assists partner countries - through governments, civil society, communities, the private sector and international organisations - through targeted programmes and projects to reduce disaster risks and increase resilience (see the page - Types of activities)

DRR is mainstreamed within the SDC and systematically integrated into development and humanitarian programmes and projects (see the page Mainstreaming into sectors / contexts)

The SDC influences the international DRR policy system and institutions at regional and global level, which in turn aim to reduce risks in disaster-prone countries and enhance institutional partnerships (see the page International DRR system)

The SDC's long-standing expertise in DRR

Conceptually, the SDC concentrates its DRR activities by adopting a disaster risk management approach which comprises support for an enabling environment for DRR, risk analysis, prevention/mitigation, preparedness for better response, and risk transfer (see the pages types of activities).

SDC collaborates with various swiss actors

Other government agencies like the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) and others closely collaborate with SDC in the domain of DRR.

Furthermore, scientific institutions in Switzerland provide knowledge and know-how, in various fields such as risk assessment and monitoring. Also the Swiss insurance sector, with direct insurers and re-insurers are providing solutions in this particular field.

A number of Swiss NGOs are implementing particular DRR projects in various partner countries and have joint effort through the Swiss NGO DRR Platform.

Criteria and skills for DRR activities

SDC collaborate with strong partners to implement the DRR programme and can rely on the expertise of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) DRR and Environment Expert Group. The SDC DRR network - author of this Platform - manages the knowledge on DRR in the institution.

Disaster risk classification of SDC priority countries and focus regions (2017) (Download the map here)

SDC Instruments and criteria

More specifically, DRR considerations must be incorporated into the following SDC instruments:

Cooperation strategies and annual planning processes in countries at a high or considable risk of disaster

Entry or credit proposals in countries at a high or considerable risk of disaster (see the map) and / or in spatially relevant activities (projects). At project level, DRR is integrated into the project cycle management.

Thematic and corporate strategies, relevant for countries at a high or considerable risk of disaster.

Further, there are various other tools for DRR mainstreaming, which often start with a risk assessment (e.g. at community level, sector specific), see the pages on DRR types of activities, especially on risk assessment.

Monitoring indicators

To support the elaboration of Results Frameworks for country strategies, programmes and projects, SDC elaborated a list of Reference outcome indicators incorporating the following four theme: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, environment and disaster reduction.

Further, the Swiss NGO DRR Platform developped a DRR indicator tool box with set of qualitative and quantitative indicators to monitor the implementation of targeted DRR projects.

The SDC's approach to address DRR is based on the three following lines of action: