Achieving more together

Helvetas (www.helvetas.org) was founded in 1955 as the first private organisation for development co-operation in Switzerland. Helvetas is a denominationally and politically independent association, supported by approximately 38,000 members, more than 40,000 sponsors and 15 regional volunteer groups. The overseas programme includes the most varied development projects, which are implemented by about 450 local, and 42 Swiss staff members in 18 partner countries.

The aim of the merger is to strengthen the current collaboration of both organisations towards our common goals, in order to achieve a more efficient contribution to poverty reduction and an improvement in the living conditions of vulnerable people in our partner countries. Experience so far has shown that staff members of both organisations have similar high standards of professionalism and the same ethical motivations.

Helvetas and Intercooperation complement one another not only in terms of functioning but also in thematic and geographical focus. Helvetas is active in fundraising and communication towards the Swiss public, whereas Intercooperation is more profiled in technical areas, making the link between local and global issues. Helvetas is well recognised in topics such as drinking water and sanitation, agriculture, education and fair trade, whereas Intercooperation works additionally on topics like climate change, forestry, microfinance and enterprise development. Geographically, the combination of both portfolios contributes to a stronger regional presence, as for example in Central and South America, South Asia or East Africa.

Formally it is foreseen that the foundation Intercooperation enters as collective member of Helvetas association. This step still needs formal approval from both organisations’ governing bodies, respectively the Intercooperation Foundation Council and Helvetas General Assembly.

The new organisation will bring added value to Swiss development cooperation in terms of innovation, quality consciousness and efficiency. HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation will further raise awareness and engage politically in Switzerland - for instance through Alliance Sud. The reactions of country partners and main partners in Switzerland, as for example the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), support the new path taken together in the creation of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation.

Felix von Sury, Executive Director Intercooperation

01.12.2010