More resources in favor of INTERACTION for more consistent sustainable development.

The umbrella organization of Christian aid organizations INTERACTION has concluded a partnership program with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for the first time. In 2021 and 2022, around 4.9 million francs in federal contributions will be available for the development projects of its members abroad. StopPoverty, on the other hand, INTERACTION's awareness campaign, will no longer receive public funding with immediate effect and will once again rely exclusively on private funds.

Zürich/Geneva, January 15, 2021 (db/sk) – This is an important step for INTERACTION, the national umbrella organization of 37 Christian aid organizations, which thus becomes a new program partner of the Directorate development and cooperation within the framework of the Swiss international cooperation strategy. This means that its members will benefit from support contributions amounting to around 4.9 million Swiss francs this year and next year. “This partnership was the objective when INTERACTION was created more than ten years ago,” underlines its president Marc Jost.

Eight countries with a fragile context are concerned
As part of INTERACTION's "Learning 360" program, the three member organizations Morija, FH Suisse and Mission Lèpre will initially use federal funds for their projects. These will benefit the population of eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, for which achieving the Sustainable Development Goals according to the United Nations 2030 Agenda represents a major challenge. Supported projects focus on the fourth UN Sustainable Development Goal, quality education - a human right that is often not respected in these countries.
In addition, the program agreement with the SDC explicitly provides for a significant contribution to innovation and organizational development. In principle, all INTERACTION members can benefit from it in order to further improve the quality of their projects abroad.
For Marc Jost, this innovative contribution is proof of confidence: “The SDC thus recognizes the potential of faith-based organizations in development cooperation.”