A coalition of Swiss NGOs and development organizations has released the manifesto “Locally owned. Globally backed. A Manifesto for Locally Led Action,” calling for a stronger shift toward locally led development approaches. The signatories commit to strengthening local ownership, promoting equitable partnerships, improving access to flexible financing, and addressing power imbalances in international cooperation. The manifesto also calls on donors to align funding and partnership practices with locally led action and aims to influence the future strategies and collaboration models of Swiss development actors.

Community seed banks in Kenya are strengthening climate resilience and food security by safeguarding and exchanging local, climate-adapted seed varieties. Through the EmergenSeed project, farmer-managed seed systems in Turkana and Baringo help communities recover from climate shocks, reinforce seed sovereignty, and reduce dependence on external seed supply chains.

webinar organized by Swissaid in the context of the launch of a new publication

A SWISSAID partner project in Karnataka has won the UNDP Equator Prize 2025. Since 2018, the Bibi Fatima Self-Help Group has revived millet cultivation, created community seed banks preserving 250+ indigenous varieties, and promoted agroecological practices across 30 villages. The initiative improves food security, nutrition, and women’s empowerment while reducing slash-and-burn farming.

SWISSAID

Qualifications: Master’s in development, international relations, agronomy or similar; practical experience in Latin America preferred; fluent in Spanish and English, good German, French desired.