What we fund

In the Child Abuse Programme, we fund key actors in Eastern Africa, Eastern Europe and Switzerland as well as key international civil society organisations.

We have a particular interest in promoting and supporting learning from the work of partners. This is done through the identification of learning opportunities within our existing partnerships as well as through new partnerships specifically designed to drive learning forward across the sector. Please refer to our What we're learning page for more information.

Where we fund

We fund organisations in Switzerland, Bulgaria, Latvia, Moldova, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Please see examples of our grants in the Grant Database.

Priority Areas

In 2010, a five-year programme of work came to an end. An external programme review was then conducted which provided insights into new ways for us to operate in the future. As a result, we have chosen to prioritise two areas in the coming years: 

to eliminate the sexual exploitation of children in all its forms;

• Objective one: Reduce societal tolerance of the sexual exploitation of children
• Objective two: Prevent entry of children into sexual exploitation in all its forms
• Objective three: Create strong, enforceable legislative environments to protect children from sexual exploitation
• Objective four: Children who are sexually exploited have access to a range of services that enhances their safety and well-being and supports exit from sexual exploitation.

and to make the positive engagement of men and boys a driving force in the elimination of the sexual abuse of children.

• Objective one: Men and boys will have greater opportunities to engage positively in children's lives and to protect them from sexual abuse
• Objective two: By 2016 the incidence of sexual abuse of children and levels of recidivism will be reduced
• Objective three: Boys and girls will respect each other for their different and equally valuable contributions to families and communities

In addition to these focus areas, the support of community-based child protection and national child protection systems will continue, ensuring that the needs and rights of sexually abused and exploited children are included as a top priority. Our presence alongside global actors tackling some of the drivers of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation will be maintained. Initiatives that will be a feature of our work in the next five years include: protecting children who move from their homes and are therefore especially vulnerable to abuse; and ending the long-term placement of children in large, anonymous care institutions through the development of alternative solutions within families and communities. The latter issue is the subject of a new and exciting initiative entitled The Global Partnership for Children, for which we are soliciting broad-based international support.