The word “activity” encompasses many things. SWISSRELIEF distinguishes three different areas:
Partnership / Program
Most of our efforts are closely related to people and grow out of trusting relationships. For us a partnership consists of the joint effort between two equals and includes reciprocal giving and receiving. Strategic partnerships have a beginning but no pre-determined end.
Projects
Most relief-work is done in the form of projects. Unlike partnerships, projects usually have a pre-defined beginning and end, as well as limited resources in the form of time, energy, and money. We manage projects in keeping with the most commonly used guidelines for reporting, planning, auditing, and controlling. Projects are temporary endeavors undertaken by more than one organization and trough interdisciplinary cooperation. It takes structures to steer, make decisions, and resolve problems. For every project we seek to define tangible and measurable objectives. The definition of development goals is based on the needs identified by the target-group.
Activities
All that does not fit under the above comes here: One-time assistance, visits with no visible outcomes and the administrative resources needed in Switzerland to keep SWISSRELIEF going.