Current SDC Culture Programmes
The SDC's commitment includes cultural programmes in around thirty partner countries which are usually linked to the topics of governance, conflict prevention and human rights. There are five regional and eleven country programmes. In addition, the SDC supports cultural projects in several other partner countries through small-scale activities.
Overview of SDC's Long-Term, Strategic Cultural Programmes
Regional Programmes
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Girls Exhibition — © Bonum Factum Gallery 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027
Central Asia Art and Culture Programme 2.0
Read about the previous project phaseCentral Asia Art and Culture Programme 2.0: The objective of the Central Asia Arts and Culture Programme (CAACP) is to foster the further development of a vibrant and open art and culture scene that contributes to preserving freedom of expression and enhancing social cohesion in the region. The CAACP offers cultural institutions and artists opportunities to create a platform that enables people, including left-behind groups, to address issues affecting their lives and contribute to positive social change.
© Bertin Kasolene 01.06.2022 - 31.12.2025Grands Lacs (Burundi, RD Congo, Rwanda) | Programme d'appui au secteur de la culture Grands Lacs: Le PAC GL vise à promouvoir la culture et les arts en tant que vecteurs de paix et de développement. Il stimule la production artistique, crée des opportunités d’échange entre les artistes de la région, promeut de nouveaux modes d’expression et crée des revenus pour les artistes en recherchant aussi des synergies avec le secteur privé. Il renforce la cohésion sociale et promeut des valeurs universelles chères à la Suisse telles que la paix et une vision inclusive de la cohabitation.
© CISP Somalia / SDC 01.12.2024 – 30.11.2028
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Interview with Arab Fund for Arts and Culture AFACThe Culture for Peace (C4P) Programme in the Horn of Africa (HoA), seeks to safeguard cultural heritage while fostering economic opportunities in the region. The initiative supports local cultural entities, enhancing livelihoods through market-driven interventions by working with the youth, women and marginalized groups. By preserving both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, Switzerland contributes to improved social cohesion thus contributing to peace and stability across the region.
© NACP / SDC 01.11.2023 - 31.10.2027North Africa Cultural Program (NACP): By developing a Regional Cultural Program, Switzerland seeks to facilitate intercultural dialogue and exchange as a foundation for peace and conflict sensitive development in North Africa and to foster artistic expression as a driver of change in support to the challenges of transition. This will promote peaceful coexistence, political stability and social cohesion in the region, hence providing alternatives for the fulfillment of North African youth in their own societies.
© Nino-Ana Samkharadze / SDC Regional Arts and Culture Project in the South Caucasus: An overall goal of the project is to foster a pluralistic, innovative and inclusive cultural sector in the South Caucasus by promoting contemporary art forms through regional intercultural dialogues and exchanges.
Country Programmes
Girls Exhibition — © SCF The Swiss Cultural Fund is dedicated to the development of the independent artistic scene in Albania by actively engaging in supporting cultural projects. The mission is to promote and advocate the social relevance of arts and culture by supporting cultural actors in their work, strengthening their capacities, and fostering cooperation and exchange. In achieving this, The Swiss Cultural Fund has a specific focus on capacity development and on creating opportunities to network, fund raise and to implement projects.
Nodi Rocks — © FDFA 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026PROGOTI aims to unlock the untapped potential of Bangladesh’s cultural sector for positive change and sustainable development. Guided by the principles of inclusivity and collaboration, it will empower artists and cultural actors, and foster freedom of expression through a robust network of champions advocating gender equality and social inclusion. Upholding Switzerland’s commitment to diversity and cultural exchange, it will encourage critical thinking and dialogue for a vibrant culture in Khulna and Jessore districts.
Activité de culture et promotion de la cohésion sociale — © SDC 01.03.2025 - 31.12.2028Dans le contexte de crise sécuritaire et sociale au Burkina Faso, la culture est un des vecteurs pour la cohésion sociale et la paix. L’appui de la Suisse vise à maintenir les capacités de créativité et d’innovations culturelles tenant compte de la sensibilité au contexte. Ces appuis permettront aussi de préserver les acquis, d’améliorer les conditions socioéconomiques et professionnelles des artistes ainsi que leurs contributions pour la cohésion sociale et la paix.
Dance Lab de la 8ème édition du festival Fari Foni Waati, Mali — © SDC 01.07.2022 - 30.06.2026Pour un secteur culturel moteur de développement: La culture et l’art jouent un rôle moteur pour le développement au Mali, comme source d’identité collective, force de transformation sociale et niche économique. Ce rôle a été affaibli par les crises successives. La Suisse renforce ce rôle du secteur culturel en appuyant la formation des artistes, en donnant aux actrices1 du secteur les moyens d’améliorer leurs conditions de travail et en encourageant la diffusion d’œuvres de qualité, influant débats et réflexions, sources de dialogue social.
Event in Pemba, Mozambique — © Carlos Geraldo 01.09.2023 - 31.08.2027Switzerland will promote a more professional cultural sector and give emerging young artists the opportunity to improve their skills and expand their national and international networks. By working with 1 cultural centre in Maputo and 2 cultural institutions in the conflict-ridden province of Cabo Delgado, art and culture will also be used as a vector for social cohesion and peace, including the much-needed exchange between the south and north of Mozambique.
Culture Programme, Niger — © SDC 01.08.2023 - 30.11.2028Dans un Niger confronté aux défis persistants de l’insécurité et face à une jeunesse vulnérable à la radicalisation, la Suisse, via le PAJEC, vise à renforcer la professionnalisation des acteurs culturels et à créer des opportunités socio-économiques pour les jeunes à travers la culture, afin de promouvoir la cohésion sociale et la paix. Mis en oeuvre par des acteurs locaux de la culture, le PAJEC intervient dans trois régions (Agadez, Maradi et Niamey).
Project "Are You Crazy" — © ATO Bitola 01.08.2023-30.11.2028North Macedonia Culture for Development: A strong independent cultural sector contributes to safeguarding universal democratic values, strengthens critical thinking and promotes social cohesion and inclusion. However, its potential in North Macedonia remains underutilized due to limited capacities and financial resources. Switzerland will support the independent cultural scene to develop quality production, to become more strategic, to improve their financial basis and predictability, promoting dialogue and democratic participation.
Reproduction of a traditional work through collaboration between Palestinian and Myanmar artisan — © Turquoise Mountain Culture and arts play a key role to promote Palestinian identities, dialogue and freedom of expression. Switzerland contributes with this proposal to a diverse, innovative and more resilient cultural sector able to foster democratic values and voice the needs and aspirations of the civil society. Through this project, the SCO believes in a three-pronged approach to revitalize CCI actors through enhancing their entrepreneurial skills and business plans, offer seed funding to promising ideas and provide access to local and international markets. The project was mandated through an open tender process to Turquoise Mountain Trust; a UK based organizations with offices operating in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt). The project started in an inception phase for six-months in March 2024 and will followed by a 28 months implementation phase.
Theatre play on Constitution and citizen rights — © Milica Solajic 01.03.2025 - 31.12.2028
Overview of CfD instruments through which Switzerland provides support to the local cultural sceneIndependent culture & arts are strong drivers for improved social cohesion, tolerance and democratic practice at the local level. Building on this potential CfD will support quality cultural and artistic initiatives, mainly outside of urban centers. Strengthening the resilience and strategic focus of independent cultural actors will open up more spaces for critical thinking and reflection and ultimately contribute to stronger foundations for social cohesion, tolerance and democracy in Serbia.
Nafasi Art Space — © Nafasi Art Space Switzerland supports Nafasi Art Space to foster cultural expressions, stimulate public engagement and enhance outreach of cultural productions. Young cultural managers are capacitated to improve the quality of cultural initiatives and micro grants are provided to amplify outreach. Furthermore, capacities of emerging cultural spaces, particularly in underserved regions, are strengthened to contribute to an accessible and inclusive cultural scene.
Stone mason artist in Zimbabwe — © Swiss Embassy in Zimbabwe 01.09.2024 - 31.08.2028Through the SSADZA initiative, Switzerland will support Zimbabwean artists to create new work, build networks, and engage audiences, enriching the arts landscape economically and socially. The programme will stimulate social change and enhance civil society by promoting the arts and culture as a catalyst for debate, social cohesion, peaceful co-existence and localisation. SSADZA will also participate in policy influencing with donors and government for increased financial support to the sector.
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