Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

Amplifying all citizens’ voices, fostering good governance, preventing conflicts and the radicalization of youth, and promoting the transformative effects of migration on development are key focus areas of Helvetas’ global programs.

Helvetas’ voice, inclusion and cohesion initiatives aim for all people, including those left behind and/or living in fragility, to contribute to and benefit from more equitable, inclusive, cohesive and just societies.

Inequality, insecurity and instability are on the rise

Considering that we are working in increasingly complex, dynamic and fragile contexts, it is essential to promote good governance, social equity, social inclusion, social cohesion and social justice in all of our work and collaborations.

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Our work aims to empower people and strengthen systems to create more equitable and inclusive societies. This is pursued through three key pathways:

Self-empowering people
Fostering collaboration and partnerships
Strengthening systems for improved frame conditions

Ultimately, this theory posits that empowered people, accountable systems and enabling frameworks will lead to more equitable, cohesive, and just societies—especially for marginalized groups.

Our work

Helvetas works to increase voice, inclusion and cohesion in societies. It does this through three main areas:

Governance and civic space: Promotes social equity by self-empowering people to exercise their rights and access services.

Migration: Fosters social inclusion by helping migrants and displaced people participate in and benefit from society.

Conflict transformation: Builds social cohesion by supporting people in preventing and reducing conflict.

Helvetas also prioritizes gender and social equity and advocacy for human rights across all its work, recognizing that these are essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive impact.

The Voice, Inclusion and Cohesion Team

The diverse team of senior experts and advisors is always ready to collaborate, support, facilitate, advise, plan, review, strategize, evaluate, train, coach and more, depending on the context and needs. The team works with our project teams and partners, while also carrying out short consultancies and longer backstopping assignments for external clients in Switzerland and abroad.