WHO WE ARE
Sufosec (for Sustainable Food Systems and Empowered Communities), the Swiss Alliance for Sustainable Food Worldwide, is an alliance of six international cooperation NGOs. Their common goal is to realize the right to food and improve people’s living conditions in times of climate crisis and fragility – by strengthening local food systems and communities based on agroecological methods. The cooperation has been in place since 2019 and was transferred to a second phase (2025-2028) after a successful first program phase (2021-2024). It brings together the complementary expertise and experience of all actors in the North and South, creates synergies for the efficient use of funds and promotes locally driven development. The effect is systematically reviewed and improved.
The Alliance organizations are Fastenaktion, SWISSAID, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse, Vivamos, Aqua Alimenta and Skat Foundation. They work together with around 250 local partner organizations in 26 countries of the global South and reach over two million people. Together, they want to make an important contribution to achieving the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly with regard to hunger, malnutrition, climate adaptation and gender equality. The alliance is financially supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) as part of its program contributions.
The Sufosec Alliance is entering its second joint program phase in 2025. Following the successes of the first four years, our six organizations are joining forces to achieve more together than alone – for the right to food and better living conditions in times of climate crisis and fragility. The global hunger crisis continues to worsen: according to the Global Hunger Index, 572 million people were still undernourished in 2017, rising to 735 million in 2023. At the same time, 42% of households worldwide cannot afford a healthy and nutritious diet. This is precisely where the Sufosec Alliance comes in.
Successes 2021-2024: A strong foundation
The first phase of the program is having an impact: in 32 project areas surveyed, food insecurity fell from 72% to 65%. Almost one million people gained improved access to basic services and natural and economic resources. Over 91,000 households are using new agroecological methods. Sufosec has developed into a knowledge hub – in agroecology, local cooperation, the Triple Nexus and gender equality.
Program 2025-2028: Five goals, one vision
We work with around 250 partner organizations in 26 countries and reach over two million people. Our focus is on five goals: Inclusive local food systems, climate-resilient ecosystems, strengthened civil society, equal partnerships and raising awareness among the Swiss population. Central to this: agroecological transition, locally driven development and gender equality.
The joint international programme Sufosec 2025-2028 comprises the programmes of the six Alliance organizations and their approximately 250 partner organizations in 26 countries. Under the overarching goal of empowering communities to realize their right to food and improve their livelihoods in times of climate crisis and fragility, the four-year program pursues five concrete key objectives that contribute to the achievement of ten development goals of the 2030 Agenda.
- Inclusive local food systems: People – all genders equally – contribute to inclusive local food systems and improve their nutrition through accelerated agroecological change.
- Climate-resilient ecosystems: People – all genders equally – manage and use their natural resources in a risk-conscious, climate-resilient and sustainable way.
- Strengthened civil society: Communities and civil society organizations are empowered, organize themselves, influence policy, promote gender equality and hold leaders accountable to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.
- Global partnerships: Alliance organizations and their partners work together in more equal partnerships and strengthen locally driven change.
- Sensitized Swiss public: The Swiss population is aware of the universal right to food, based on the Sustainable Development Goals.
The joint program 2025-2028 covers 26 countries in the Global South. The focus is on the most fragile countries and those most affected by hunger: 10 program countries are extremely fragile and in 17 countries more than half of the population is affected by food insecurity. The Alliance works with around 250 partner organizations on the ground – they form the foundation of the Alliance and the joint programme. In countries where several Alliance organizations are active, joint structures (country groups) leverage synergies and enable a targeted exchange of experience.
