Swiss TPH Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect our planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

This transformative sustainability agenda for 2030 has introduced a paradigm shift towards a more holistic view of development goals, including those related to health and well-being, which require greater intersectoral coherence and inter- and transdisciplinary approaches. The SDGs integrate and balance the three equal dimensions of sustainable development - environment, economy and society - promoting the global vision of living in justice and equity.

Swiss TPH is actively engaged in and directly contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 ("Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"), and many others of the 17 SDGs. This spans the full spectrum of innovation and research, validation and implementation to sustainably improve and maintain the health and well-being of populations in an integrated manner. Our contributions to sustainable development in health and society are made through basic and applied research, translational application and implementation, and support services. Our teams contribute to various SDG bodies in Switzerland, Europe and at the global level.

Through our research projects and service mandates, we contribute to 14 of the 17 SDGs.

• SDG 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
• SDG 4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
• SDG 1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• SDG 17 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
• SDG 10 Reduce inequality within and among countries
• SDG 5 Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• SDG 6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
• SDG 2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• SDG 11 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
• SDG 12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• SDG 13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• SDG 8 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• SDG 9 Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
• SDG 14 Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

The Jeune S3 Programme (2016-2020) focuses on improving adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health in Cameroon, Central African Republic and DRC (South and North Kivu). By working with young people, communities, schools, the health sector, media, religious and traditional authorities, JeuneS3 aims to strengthen the availability and accessibility of youth friendly services. JeuneS3 also work with local youth organisations to advocate for young people’s rights to quality SRH services and information, within the framework of national, regional and global commitments to meet the needs of young people. More about the Jeune S3 project and latest news on Twitter at @Jeune_S3.

An AIDS-free generation by 2030 – wishful thinking or a realistic goal? Are the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets achievable in a resource-limited setting with an extremely high HIV rate such as Lesotho? In 2014, the Swiss TPH initiated the ‘Towards 90-90-90’ development and research collaboration with the Butha-Buthe district in Northern Lesotho. This collaboration includes conducting randomized clinical trials, and observational and molecular studies addressing current challenges and knowledge-gaps around HIV care provision in rural, resource-limited settings. The aim is to provide insights relevant for future HIV guidelines and policies in sub-Saharan African with a particular focus on differentiated care. Read more

Tuberculosis (TB) is globally the main cause of human death due to a single infectious agent. The TB epidemic is worsening due to the emergence of TB bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. While the molecular changes leading to resistance are well known, the consequences of these changes for the biology and epidemiology of TB remain poorly understood. TbX addresses these questions by combining detailed laboratory experiments with epidemiological field studies in Georgia, one of the WHO “hot-spot” countries for multidrug-resistant TB. More information on the TbX project

The VGtS project (2013- 2017), funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), was implemented by a consortium of 3 international research partners: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Switzerland), World Vegetables Centre (Taïwan) and the University of Freiburg (Germany). Being part of a larger international movement to improve nutritional security and reduce malnutrition in line with several of the SDGs, the project aimed at increasing capacities, knowledge and evidence on school gardens, nutrition and water; sanitation and hygiene (WASH) integrated interventions in Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Nepal and Philippines. Read more