The three countries that make up the region (Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC) are closely interconnected and have shaped each other’s development. Since they gained their independence, this continued interdependence has fed into cross-border conflicts that have caused enormous human suffering and brought state institutions to the brink of collapse. The three countries have signed peace agreements and held elections. However, it has become clear in recent years that these elections have failed to cement peace, and various conflicts endure. Institutions remain fragile and the people of the three countries have yet to reap the benefits of peace.
The Great Lakes Region (Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Embassy | |
Mission / Delegation / Permanent Representation | |
Consulate general | |
Honorary representation | |
Cooperation office | |
Contribution Office | |
Embassy with Cooperation Office | |
Embassy with Regional consular center | |
Swiss Business Hub | |
Swissnex | |
City | |
Capital | |
Disputed border | |
River | |
Lake |
The Great Lakes region, comprised of Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern DRC, is a priority region for the South Cooperation Department of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). This fragility is an obstacle to the strengthening of regional institutions and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Because the prospects of these three countries are intertwined, regional stability is a basic condition for improving the well-being of the local populations. In terms of business and trade, the region is rich in natural resources and offers many untapped opportunities.
Swiss Bilateral ODA |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 * |
---|---|---|---|
mill. CHF |
mill. CHF |
mill. CHF |
|
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) |
|||
Bilateral development cooperation |
25.25 |
23.61 |
25.00 |
Humanitarian aid |
16.15 |
14.91 |
13.22 |
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) |
|||
Economic Cooperation and Development |
– |
– |
– |
Human Security Division (HSD) |
|||
Conflict transformation and human rights |
2.95 |
2.77 |
3.46 |
Total SDC/SECO/HSD |
44.35 |
41.29 |
41.68 |
Other Federal Offices |
|||
Other FDFA Divisions (ASAF, AIO, aso) |
0.06 |
0.01 |
.. |
Network of FDFA representations abroad |
3.83 |
4.85 |
.. |
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) |
0.12 |
0.03 |
.. |
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) |
0.13 |
0.12 |
.. |
Total other Federal Offices |
4.14 |
5.01 |
– |
Cantons and municipalities |
1.70 |
.. |
.. |
Total |
50.19 |
46.30 |
41.68 |
* planned; total based on available data
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
N.B. Contributions of the humanitarian Aid to persons from the region of the Great Lakes having fled to Tanzania are reported under the humanitarian Aid of Tanzania
Overall goal of the Swiss cooperation strategy for the Great Lakes region
In the Great Lakes region, Switzerland works to further peace and stability, reduce poverty and protect civilians. It helps to strengthen democratic processes, respect for human rights, social cohesion and employment, especially for young people. In line with Switzerland’s diplomatic and political efforts, these activities are aimed at strengthening the capacities of local people to overcome crises and challenges.
Dialogue, fighting impunity and diplomacy
Switzerland is committed to preventing and reducing violence, strengthening democratic institutions and processes, and contributing to the fight against impunity. Switzerland’s activities include facilitation and mediation at the political and civil society levels, support for elections and constitutional reforms, advocacy, monitoring and the protection of human rights. In Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC, Switzerland has helped set up a variety of media outlets, especially radio stations, which perform a watchdog function and produce good quality programming, and has also supported the media’s self-regulation efforts.
Protection of civilians
Switzerland uses all means and channels at its disposal – bilateral, multilateral, the Geneva Conventions – to assure the existence of humanitarian spaces in the region which are necessary to protect vulnerable population groups and restore dignity to those who have been denied it. The protection of civilians includes the monitoring and recording of violations of international humanitarian law, inter-community dialogue, advocacy, training and awareness-raising activities, and reintegration measures. These efforts benefit nearly three million people every year. Switzerland has supported almost 300,000 people through its bilateral projects, including child protection projects, over the past four years.
Employment and economic development
To promote employment and income opportunities, Switzerland is giving priority to high-quality vocational education and training in occupational sectors that are adapted to the needs of the market, both in rural and peri-urban areas. In rural areas, Switzerland is focusing its efforts on the transformation of the building materials sector, which is experiencing rapid growth and is very labour intensive. Technology introduced by Switzerland in Rwanda and Burundi to improve working conditions and energy efficiency in brickmaking has boosted production to approximately 14 million bricks per year since 2015.
Health and combating violence against women
Ensuring continued access to healthcare services in crisis situations is critically important for public health, eases community tensions and promotes social cohesion. Switzerland is working in this sector for universal healthcare and for primary and secondary health services, particularly mother and child healthcare and the fight against child malnutrition. Switzerland is committed to combating violence against women. Swiss-supported efforts have helped some 60,000 women to access survivor support services since 2011, including 12,300 rape survivors who have received medical, psychological and legal support. Thanks to the efforts of over 500 civil society organisations, 54% of the women have been able to reintegrate into their communities.
History of cooperation
Switzerland has been present in the Great Lakes region since the 1960s. For three decades, it carried out development cooperation programmes in the region, but since the 1990s, the primary focus has been on humanitarian aid and peace policy. As part of its 2017–20 strategy, Switzerland combines development aid, humanitarian aid, peace policy and diplomacy in the Great Lakes region. Through the coordinated deployment of these instruments, Switzerland aims to improve the coherence of its efforts, to deal more effectively with the complex political, security, humanitarian and developmental challenges facing the region.
Links
Rwanda: Consulate General of Switzerland in Kigali
Swiss Cooperation Office in Rwanda
Burundi: Programme Office SDC and Consular Agency Bujumbura
Embassy of Switzerland in Democratic Republic of Congo
Gender equality – gender and women's rights
Basic education and vocational training
Engagement in fragile contexts and prevention of violent conflicts
Private Sector Development and financial services
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Burundi
Bilateral relations Switzerland–The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Documents
Current projects
Intégration de la santé mentale dans les soins de santé primaire au Burundi
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2031
L’intégration de la santé mentale dans les services de santé primaire du Burundi vise à renforcer le système de prise en charge des personnes atteintes de maladies mentales post traumatiques. La Suisse est un partenaire important du Burundi qui a un intérêt à contribuer à mettre fin au cycle de violences qui trouvent leur origine en partie dans des traumatismes vécus mais non traités. Le programme appuie les institutions nationales concernées, le système de formation spécialisée et vise l’amélioration du cadre législatif en santé mentale.
SYP Safeguard Young People in Eastern African countries
01.03.2021
- 28.02.2024
The SYP program contributes to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young people, thus reducing gender based health inequities. It supports the adoption, domestication and implementation of policies, and strengthens young people’s competencies on and access to SRHR services. The expansion to Tanzania and Rwanda leverages on the experience in Southern Africa financed by SDC, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s thematic expertise and convening power.
Planned project
Multi-Donor Civil Society Support Programme in Rwanda
01.01.2021
- 31.12.2022
The present programme is a multi-donor initiative aiming at supporting civil society strengthening and specific civil society initiatives in Rwanda. The overall goal is to enable civil society to become more effective at influencing the government on key policy issues and supporting social cohesion, reconciliation, good governance and human rights. The main development partners financing the programme include the United Kingdom (UK), USA, Sweden and Switzerland.
Promotion de l‘emploi et de revenus non agricoles dans la région des Grands Lacs grâce à la production de matériaux de construction respectueux du climat (PROECCO)
01.01.2021
- 31.12.2024
La forte demande en matériel de construction due à l’urbanisation rapide dans la région des Grands Lacs prédispose ce secteur à la création d’emploi et à offrir une perspective économique au grand nombre de jeunes dans la région. L’introduction par le projet PROECCO de briques améliorées, abordables et neutres en CO2 répondant aux normes de résistance et de durabilité a créé une forte demande. Pour la troisième phase, il s’agit d’appuyer le secteur privé à augmenter la production pour satisfaire la demande et d’atteindre les effets escomptés en emplois et en réduction des émissions de CO2.
Allocation of SDC Funding to ICRC Operations in 2020
01.01.2020
- 31.12.2020
SDC funding to ICRC
operations allows the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to
respond proactively and to provide immediate protection and assistance for people
affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. In line with the
Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the
necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in
humanitarian crises.
UN-Gender Rwanda
01.10.2019
- 30.09.2023
In line with SDC’s engagement on fighting sexual and gender-based violence and women’s empowerment in the Great Lakes region, the UN-Gender Program will contribute to the efforts of the Government of Rwanda and the UN Agencies in Rwanda to transform commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment into concrete actions, in particular through awareness raising and capacity building for women and strengthening service providers.
Cross Boarder Trade for Peace
01.10.2019
- 30.09.2022
In line with SDC’s strategy to increase the elements of its portfolio fostering cross-border cooperation in the Great Lakes, this project seeks to address the lack of social cohesion and trust amongst border communities in the Great Lakes region especially between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Burundi. Cross Border Trade for Peace is a contribution by SDC to the Mupaka Shamba Letu (The border, our livelihood) project co-financed with SIDA and implemented by International Alert. A particular focus is given to empowering women active in cross-border trade.
Promoting Market Oriented Skills Training in the Great Lakes region (PROMOST)
01.07.2019
- 30.07.2023
PROMOST contributed to increased employment and income generation in the Great Lakes region by providing access and enhancing quality of vocational training. Building on the achievements of the previous two phases, the third phase will focus on the sustainability of the interventions, on the labor market insertion of graduates and on the institutionalization of short-term training and apprentice-ships, thus permitting the phasing-out of Swiss contributions and the continuous increasing of national and regional commitments to professional skills education, especially in Rwanda.
IOM : Displacement tracking in Burundi
01.03.2019
- 31.12.2019
Avec environ 147'000 personnes déplacées internes et plus de 367'000 réfugiés dans les pays voisins, les effets de la crise politique au Burundi issue des élections contestées de 2015 et des conditions climatiques défavorables sont importants. Ce projet permet de fournir des informations fiables sur les mouvements de populations internes au Burundi et les besoins des personnes déplacées. La continuité de ce projet reste d’une importance capitale dans le contexte actuel.
Participation citoyenne et prévention des conflits dans la région des Grands Lacs (PCPC)
01.01.2019
- 31.12.2029
Les conflits récurrents dans la région des Grands Lacs ont des conséquences néfastes sur les systèmes de gouvernance et sur le bien-être des populations. Il est dans l’intérêt de la Suisse de contribuer à une paix durable et à la stabilité dans la région. Le projet renforcera ainsi les mécanismes formels et informels de prévention et de gestion des conflits communautaires, par la promotion des droits de l’homme, de la redevabilité sociale et du dialogue inclusif. Des partenariats engageront les autorités et différents acteurs de la société civile, en priorité dans les régions transfrontalières.
Multi-Donor civil society support program in Rwanda
01.01.2019
- 31.12.2021
The program aims at strengthening the capacity of Rwanda civil society to engage constructively with the Government on policy, planning and monitoring issues. It will improve a bottom-up dialogue and consultation mechanisms and promote the use of evidence in policy making for an effective implementation of the National Strategy for Transformation. The project is in line with Switzerland’s approach of fostering civic participation in Rwanda.
Programme d’appui au système de santé du Sud Kivu (PASS Sud-Kivu)
01.01.2018
- 31.07.2021
L’appui suisse dans le domaine de la santé vise l’amélioration de la qualité et l’accessibilité des soins de santé primaires et secondaires de 1.5 millions de bénéficiaires (prioritairement des mères, enfants et jeunes) dans 8 zones de santé du Sud-Kivu. Ce soutien comprend aussi une meilleure préparation et réponse aux épidémies et vient en appui à la politique sanitaire de la République Démocratique du Congo au niveau décentralisé.