In development cooperation, the member associations of the GFCD work in the following ways: Programmes; Projects; Financial measures to re-enforce partners autonomy; Institutional support to partners in the South; Exchanges and profiting from experience. The GFCD and its members' work in information, development education and the promotion of public debate takes the following forms: Training trainers and educators; Supporting institutions specializing in information; Publications and audio-visual productions; Use of the media; Participating in/ organizing public events; Information and experience-sharing between member associations, their partners and the GFCD; Regular contacts with elected political representatives; Public statements on current issues.
Situations of socio-economic inequality, domination, violence, violation of human rights and the rights of peoples, cultural standardization, environmental degradation and the squandering of natural resources are on the increase - both locally and world-wide. Switzerland is part of the economic and political system that is, to a large extent, responsible for these problems. Development strategies may evolve over the years, but the basic problems remain. The goals of the GFCD. The GFCD has two main objectives: 1) To contribute to the elimination of the above problems; 2) To contribute towards increasing the freedom of choice of societies in their quest for economic, social and cultural well being. A broad spectrum of local and regional and global measures can be envisaged to attain these objectives, ranging from humanitarian assistance and the defense of human rights to structural changes at the international level. The GFCD has chosen to concentrate on two forms of action which seem most appropriate for it: 1) International development cooperation, with the South: 2) Information, development education and debate, in the North.
Liaise with public authorities to obtain funding for our member's projects; Lobby and advocacy work to promote international solidarity in the Swiss and Geneva political agenda; Study and adopt development and information projects submitted by our member organizations.