Extraordinary financial aid to NGOs in Geneva

Extraordinary financial aid from the Republic and Canton of Geneva to NGOs in Geneva affected by the international aid freeze

The State Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva has launched an extraordinary action plan to support International Geneva, which has been impacted by unexpected funding cuts.

On February 14, 2025, the Grand Council adopted a law on extraordinary financial aid from the State to non-governmental organizations in Geneva affected by the freeze on international aid, making it possible to grant financial aid to NGOs affected by the temporary freeze on international funding in order to temporarily safeguard jobs based in Geneva. However, as the emergency has been refused by the Grand Council, it may be some time before the extraordinary financial aid may be paid out.

Given the exceptional and sudden nature of this situation, the cantonal authorities have contacted the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to see whether it would be possible for entities such as NGOs to meet the criteria for benefiting from short-time working compensation (RHT).

Geneva-based NGOs, whose jobs are threatened by sudden and unforeseeable drops in external funding in 2025, can submit a duly reasoned request to the Office cantonal de l’emploi (OCE), which will decide on a case-by-case basis. As initially planned, the substitution mechanism defined in the extraordinary cantonal action plan could support NGOs whose applications for RHT do not meet the granting criteria.

• For general questions, contact OCE at toll-free nb: 0800 90 90 90 (8am/12pm – 1.30pm/4pm), or by email: rht@etat.ge.ch  
• Individual RHT applications must be submitted in advance on the Job-Room platform.

NGOs are invited to inform CAGI’s Civil Society Service of their difficulties and the extent of the impact of unexpected funding interruptions on their jobs and activities in Geneva by email: ong.cagi@etat.ge.ch