ESTHER Switzerland ESTHER Switzerland uses the twinning model to foster effective north-south and south-south partnerships that can build capacity of the health workforce and health institutions. It engages with the other European Members to develop a strong network of partnerships for development and health improvement. ESTHER Switzerland aims to strengthen health systems and particularly human resources so as to address health needs in developing countries. ESTHER partners work mostly in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) to tackle priority issues for health and help achieve the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development. The Secretariat of ESTHER Switzerland is located at the ISPM in Bern. For its cooperation with ESTHER Switzerland during the period 2016-2018, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has established a fund that each year will make available up to CHF 300,000 for project grants and up to CHF 30,000 in start-up funds to assess new partnership projects that could be managed by ESTHER Switzerland. Typical projects financed within the SDC financing framework could aim at the training of staff (medical staff, nurses, etc.). Research projects (e.g., cohort studies) are outside the scope of the present financing framework.
Thanks to this SDC support, ESTHER Switzerland is now launching its First Call for Projects. The deadline for submission is 18 September, 2016.
