Gender balance and inclusion are core to who we are and to how effectively we deliver our mission. In January 2026, VSF-Suisse launched its Gender Balance & Inclusion Action Plan to strengthen equity, inclusion and organisational resilience.
Why this Action Plan?
In 2025, women represented 28% of all staff and 16% of senior management at VSF-Suisse. This imbalance is driven by structural barriers such as gender stereotypes, unequal care responsibilities and gendered division of labour.
Our operating reality intensifies these challenges. Many positions are based abroad, short-term and in high-risk environments. Care responsibilities and safety concerns disproportionately limit women’s access, resulting in a male-dominated workforce with few female role models, especially in leadership. Addressing this is a strategic necessity.
A jointly developed plan
The Action Plan was developed through a participatory process, including roundtables with female staff, a senior management workshop and a dedicated working group. It reflects lived experiences across countries and functions and is jointly owned by the organisation.
Clear goals, measurable progress
By 2032, VSF-Suisse aims to:
- Reach 40% female staff overall and 25% women in leadership
- Promote equitable representation from diverse backgrounds
- Foster a work culture that supports equal recruitment, development and retention opportunities
Progress will be tracked through defined targets, indicators and shared accountability.
From ambition to action
The Action Plan focuses on concrete measures in:
- Recruitment: Inclusive job ads, diverse interview panels and expanded recruitment networks
- Career development: Structured promotion paths, internships and leadership development
- Mentoring & role models: Mentoring programmes, peer exchange and visibility of female role models
- Awareness & training: Gender capacity building and engagement of male colleagues
- Work–family balance: Flexible working models and family-friendly field arrangements where possible
The Gender Action Plan is aiming to increase female representation with an intersectional lens tackling broader structural barriers (including age, ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic factors).
Shared responsibility
Gender balance is not a women’s issue. It is a leadership, equality and performance issue. Senior management and Country Directors have committed to actively championing the Action Plan. At the same time, progress depends on collective responsibility across the organisation.
What’s next
In 2026, VSF-Suisse will launch a platform for female staff, mentoring and peer programmes, and visibly activate gender champions. Implementation will be driven at country level, where impact is greatest.
The Gender Balance & Inclusion Action Plan is not a concept for a drawer. It is a commitment to act.
Equality in action starts now.