Development Cooperation
Our development cooperation aims to help vulnerable people build their livelihoods and get ono their feet. In healthcare and social services, we work on long-term systemic change. At the same time, we pay close attention to environmental protection and sustainability.
In our development work, we focus on maximising the impact of our aid and making it sustainable in the long term. At the same time, we always consider the local conditions and context in which we prepare projects. The knowledge and experience of local people are invaluable to our work. We, therefore, involve them as much as possible in the preparation and work on the projects themselves.
Building livelihoods
Securing a livelihood and being able to take care of oneself are among the basic requirements for a dignified life. That is why the restoration and building of livelihoods is one of the priorities of our development cooperation.
In Iraq, for example, we help locals returning to their homes after years of armed conflict to restart their livelihoods or get new jobs to provide for themselves and their families.
In Georgia, we create jobs in less developed mountainous regions and support local businesses. In Zambia, we support refugees, facilitating access to education and helping them secure sustainable livelihoods.
Healthcare and social services
Healthcare and social services are the fundamental pillars of our work. In developing countries, these areas often need more expertise due to poverty or a lack of experts.
We have been helping to improve the healthcare quality in Georgia for a long time. We are working on systemic changes in the country in close cooperation with the local Ministry of Health. We are expanding the availability and quality of care for children with autism spectrum disorder. We are also improving the availability of cancer screening and have joined the fight against the covid-19 pandemic.
We are also improving health and social care in Moldova, where we have already opened 10 home care centres. In Moldova, we also work closely with the local Ministry of Health on long-term legislative changes
Education
An education or a small business is a prerequisite for people to be able to support themselves. However, a lack of resources often prevents people from pursuing education.
Through scholarships in Zambia, we support refugees in education and train them in financial literacy. We provide internships for Iraqis to help them find jobs or train them to run their own businesses. In Syria, we provide people with training courses to support their trades.
Agriculture and rural development
Up to a third of the population in developing countries depends on agriculture. Rural areas play a crucial role in developing countries, but they suffer because local people leave their home areas to work in larger cities. We are therefore focusing on rural development and thus on preventing the exodus of local people.
In Iraq, we support farmers with seeds and tools to rebuild their farms. In Zambia, we work with smallholders to increase the profitability of their production, using agricultural innovations and efficient farming methods. In Georgia, we focus on developing the mountainous Adjara region in the country’s west.
Environmental protection and sustainable management of natural resources
Climate change already has a significant impact on our daily lives. The communities we work with are much more severely affected by environmental degradation. Therefore, we greatly emphasise environmental protection when preparing and working on new projects.
We are taking several measures to make our work more environmentally sustainable. At the same time, we are working on specific environmental projects. For example, in Mongolia, we are working on the processing and recycling of building materials and plastics, and in Georgia, we promote responsible waste management. In Moldova, we help set up systems for sustainable waste management and encourage organic waste composting.
We also provide humanitarian aid. Read more.
