SDC is implementing targeted DRR programmes in seven different countries or regions, namely South America (Peru and Bolivia), Central America (mainly Nicaragua, Honduras), Central Asia (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan), South Caucasus (Georgia and Armenia), Bangladesh, Middle East (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, OPT), and Morocco. In addition to those integrated programmes, individual projects have recently been and are implemented in Colombia, Belarus, China, India and Pakistan (the latter ones mainly for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) support; together with the rescue service of the Swiss Armed Forces).

Over the past few years, about USD 10 million per year (representing approx. 10% of the unearmarked Humanitarian Aid budget) were invested in activities covering the five Hyogo Framework for Action priorities in all the regions where SDC is running DRR programmes or individual DRR projects. Those investments have produced a return in increased safety, roughly estimated, equivalent to some USD 40 to 70 million per year.
 

In addition, SDC is selectively mainstreaming (i.e. integrating) DRR into development and humanitarian projects. DRR is integrated in programmes and projects where it is necessary: the integration takes place only in cases where a) the project has a spatial relevance and b) the project is located in a disaster-prone environment.

The objective is to protect development gains and to prevent the build-up of new risks and vulnerabilities. In other words: disaster risk reduction is an integral part of development or humanitarian intervention in a disaster-prone environment and contributes to the sustainability of these endeavours.
 

See the map of DRR programmes/projects