Swiss-backed programmes seek to make migration safer, remittances more productive

Switzerland is supporting initiatives in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar aimed at helping Bangladeshi migrant workers make informed decisions before migration and turn remittances into sustainable livelihoods for their families.

Diepak Elmer, deputy head of mission and head of cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, recently visited the two districts to observe the implementation of Swiss-supported migration programmes, the embassy said in a social media post.

In Cox’s Bazar, the Safe Migration and Sustainable Reintegration Programme (SIMS), implemented with Helvetas Bangladesh, helps prospective migrants understand the costs and risks associated with migration, safe migration channels and where they can seek assistance, according to the embassy.

In Chattogram, the SHAFAL programme, supported by Switzerland in partnership with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), focuses on helping migrant families make more productive use of remittances.

The embassy highlighted the experience of a migrant worker’s wife who revived her poultry farm after receiving financial literacy and entrepreneurship training under the programme. She used remittances sent by her husband to rebuild the business and generate a livelihood at home.

The SHAFAL programme has also introduced a livestock insurance product aimed at protecting families’ cattle against risks through a small premium. The initiative also provides access to veterinary services at a substantially lower cost, according to the embassy.

The Swiss mission said the two programmes address different stages of the migration cycle—from making informed decisions before departure to managing remittances after migration.

“Every migration story has two big moments: the decision to go and what happens when money starts coming home,” the embassy said.

Switzerland reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Bangladesh government, private sector and civil society to ensure that migration generates lasting benefits for migrant workers, their families and communities across the country.

The initiatives underline Switzerland’s broader focus on safer migration practices, financial literacy and the productive use of remittances in Bangladesh.