WHO WE ARE
Sufosec (which stands for Sustainable Food Systems and Empowered Communities), the Swiss Alliance for Sustainable Food Systems Worldwide, is a coalition of six international development NGOs. Their shared aim is to realise the right to food and improve people’s living conditions in times of climate crisis and fragility – by strengthening local food systems and communities through agroecological methods. The partnership has been in place since 2020 and, following a successful first programme phase (2021–2024), has moved into a second phase (2025–2028). It brings together the complementary expertise and experience of all stakeholders in the North and South, creates synergies for the efficient use of resources and promotes locally driven development. Impact is systematically monitored and improved.
The alliance organisations are Fastenaktion, SWISSAID, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse, Vivamos, Aqua Alimenta and Skat Foundation. They work in 26 countries in the Global South with around 250 local partner organisations and reach over two million people. Together, they aim to make a significant 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 receives financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) as part of its programme contributions.
The Sufosec Alliance will launch its second joint program phase in 2025. Building on the successes of the first four years, our six organizations will continue to join forces to achieve more together than they could alone—advancing 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 undernourished in 2017; by 2023, that number had already risen to 735 million. At the same time, 42 percent of households worldwide cannot afford a healthy and nutritious diet. This is precisely where the Sufosec Alliance comes in.
Achievements 2021–2024: A strong foundation
The first phase of the programme is having an impact: in 32 project areas surveyed, food insecurity fell from 72 per cent to 65 per cent. Almost one million people gained improved access to basic services, natural and economic resources. Over 91,000 households are applying new agroecological methods. Sufosec has developed into a knowledge hub – in agroecology, local cooperation, the Triple Nexus and gender equality.
Programme 2025–2028: Five goals, one vision
We work with around 250 partner organisations in 26 countries, reaching over two million people. Our focus is on five goals: inclusive local food systems, climate-resilient ecosystems, a strengthened civil society, equal partnerships and raising awareness among the Swiss population. Central to this are the agroecological transition, locally driven development and gender equality.
The joint international programme Sufosec 2025–2028 encompasses the programmes of the six alliance organisations and their approximately 250 partner organisations in 26 countries. Under the overarching goal of enabling empowered communities to realise their right to food and improve their livelihoods in times of climate crisis and fragility, the four-year programme pursues five specific main objectives, which contribute to the achievement of ten Sustainable 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 transition.
- Climate-resilient ecosystems: People – all genders equally – manage and use their natural resources in a risk-aware, climate-resilient and sustainable manner.
- Strengthened civil society: Communities and civil society organisations are strengthened, organise themselves, influence policy, promote gender equality and hold decision-makers to account so that human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.
- Global partnerships: Alliance organisations and their partners work together in more equitable partnerships and strengthen locally driven change.
- A more aware Swiss public: The Swiss population is aware of the universal right to food, based on the Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2025–2028 joint program spans 26 countries in the Global South. It focuses on the most fragile countries and those most severely affected by hunger: 10 program countries are classified as highly fragile, and in 17 countries, more than half the population is affected by food insecurity. The Alliance works with around 250 local partner organizations—they form the foundation of the Alliance and the joint program. In countries where multiple Alliance organizations are active, shared structures (Country Groups) leverage synergies and facilitate targeted knowledge exchange.
