Cross-cutting theme
Gender - Equal Rights, Equal Opportunity for Women and Men

For the SDC, gender equality is a transversal theme, a theme cutting across all of the SDC’s development programmes where it is systematically fostered. Indeed, the reduction of discrimination based on gender is at once both a goal of development and a pre-condition for development to take place.

The SDC’s focus: gender equality, an objective in all of the SDC’s activities

In compliance with the article on equality in the Swiss Constitution, and within the frame of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which has been ratified by Switzerland, the SDC fosters equal opportunity of men and women at Headquarters, in its Cooperation Offices, and in political dialogue. Furthermore, it is engaged in promoting gender equality among its partner organizations. The SDC’s strategy is threefold: to implement gender as a cross-cutting theme; to support projects for empowerment of women wherever called for by glaring inequalities; and to strive to bring about institutional changes.

The SDC offers its members and partners a gender platform for the exchange of opinions and experience. Upon request, it organizes courses on the theme of gender equality. And finally, it provides working materials on gender mainstreaming for those interested. For instance, gender relationship patterns are analyzed as part of the initial review, and consideration of the specific needs and potential of women is mandatory in project planning and execution. The various activities in respect of equality are included in monitoring work. By applying a gender perspective in its activities, it is possible for the SDC to conduct evaluations and subsequently analyze the impact of its interventions on the relationship between the sexes.

Furthermore, SDC human resources policy consciously promotes equal opportunity inside the Agency.