For the first time, 40 aid organizations in Switzerland have jointly launched a campaign. With “Halt – in Uncertain Times,” they are drawing attention to the importance of development cooperation, including for Switzerland. At a time when funding is being cut in many countries, the campaign raises awareness about development cooperation and its impact.
The latest UN State of Food Security in the World report shows a slight decrease in the number of people suffering from hunger over the past year. However, the number remains high: 645 million people were affected by hunger in 2025. That is 14 million fewer than the previous year. This represents 7.8 percent of the world’s population.
Painful cuts
Hunger is just one of the pressing issues currently being addressed by international development cooperation. We live in a time of numerous crises. Wars, as well as the climate crisis with its droughts and floods, are hitting many people hard and depriving them of their livelihoods. The fact that Switzerland, like many other countries, is cutting funding for development cooperation as part of its austerity measures has drawn criticism. For example, Sabin Bieri, professor of social sustainability at the Center for Development and Environment at the University of Bern, in an interview said: “The extent of the damage cannot yet be determined.” The federal government’s announcement that it will fundamentally restructure international cooperation also affects development cooperation. Further cuts were announced in the draft budget for 2027.
In August, the federal government then presented its latest budget projection. Instead of the budgeted deficit of 0.7 billion francs, a surplus of 0.8 billion francs is now expected. “Given the healthy state of federal finances, there is absolutely no fiscal necessity to cut spending on international cooperation. These are cold-blooded cuts at the expense of the world’s poorest,” says Andreas Missbach, executive director of Alliance Sud, the center of expertise for international cooperation and development policy, which includes several development organizations.
Connected Switzerland
A broader group has now taken action: 40 Swiss aid organizations have launched a joint campaign to draw attention to the commitment and importance of Swiss development cooperation. With “Halt – in Haltless Times,” the organizations are coming together for the first time in a joint campaign. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of development cooperation for Switzerland as well. The Salvation Army emphasizes the impact of its projects on people both in the field and in Switzerland. “We in Switzerland also benefit from this. After all, our prosperity and security depend on a stable, peaceful, and united world.”
Fastenaktion takes a similar view regarding the importance of aid organizations. “They create opportunities in vulnerable regions and establish the conditions under which economic development and trade become possible in the first place—including with Switzerland.” The work of aid organizations is also an important prerequisite for responding to crises and disasters, because these organizations are already on the ground. The austerity measures are being criticized as “short-sighted” and “incomprehensible.” The consequences are already being felt: “In 2025 alone, Swiss aid organizations reached approximately 630,000 fewer people with their support than in the previous year.”
Security and Prospects
The campaign not only highlights the challenges but also showcases what aid organizations are accomplishing today. In total, the 40 organizations are implementing 2,400 projects. In doing so, they rely on a network of local partner organizations. Through their work, they reach a total of 81 million people. In doing so, they “stand together for global stability, security, and hope in a time of uncertainty and instability. We are committed to providing stability in unstable times—worldwide and in Switzerland.”
Photo: Ian Taylor, Unsplash
