Context
Following the suspension of international financial aid announced in January 2025, international organizations (IOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are experiencing an unprecedented crisis. This situation undermines International Geneva as a global hub of diplomacy and threatens an essential economic sector on which many jobs depend.
In response, the State of Geneva has decided to implement a temporary support scheme allowing the granting of extraordinary financial aid to cover part of the payroll costs of Geneva-based staff working in NGOs that cannot benefit from short-time work (hereafter: RHT). The scheme will come into force on 25 April 2025.
The granting of extraordinary financial aid to NGOs is considered a last resort compared to other external funding sources.
What is the nature and amount of the aid?
This extraordinary financial aid is non-repayable and calculated based on the gross payroll of employees working for the NGO in the canton of Geneva at the time the application is submitted and affected by the sudden and unpredictable decrease in external funding in 2025.
This aid is subject to the following conditions:
- It amounts to 80% of the affected payroll;
- It corresponds to the equivalent of 3 months of the considered annual payroll;
- It covers a maximum gross salary of CHF 12,350 per full-time equivalent (FTE);
- It is capped at the amount of external funding not received in 2025.
What are the eligibility conditions for the aid?
The application for extraordinary financial aid can be submitted by any NGO that:
- Is facing a sudden and unpredictable drop in external funding in 2025, making it unable to fully pay its staff salaries and social charges (e.g., unilateral termination or suspension of a contractual commitment);
- Has premises in the canton of Geneva;
- Employs staff whose activities are carried out in the canton of Geneva (Note: if a staff member's work, under a Geneva-based contract, is partially or fully performed outside the canton or abroad, this will only be considered for payroll calculation if the person contributes to Swiss unemployment insurance);
- Can demonstrate collaboration with international organizations based in Geneva;
- Is up to date with social security contributions payments;
- Operates in at least one of the five areas of activity of International Geneva (peace and security; humanitarian/migration/human rights; labor/economy/trade/science/telecommunications; health; environment/sustainable development);
- Is not listed as a company in violation of:
- Article 45 of loi sur l'inspection et les relations du travail, du 12 mars 2004;
- Article 9 of loi fédérale sur les mesures d'accompagnement applicables aux travailleurs détachés et aux contrôles des salaires minimaux prévus par les contrats-types de travail, du 8 octobre 1999;
- Article 13 of loi fédérale concernant des mesures en matière de lutte contre le travail au noir, du 17 juin 2005.
By accepting the extraordinary financial aid, the recipient NGO commits to not dismissing any of the staff members included in the payroll considered for the aid during the 3 months following the aid decision. If any such staff member is dismissed during that period, the NGO must reimburse the corresponding portion of the aid.
The application must be submitted once only and within 3 months of the law’s promulgation, using the online form provided by the competent authority. Any application submitted in multiple parts and/or after this deadline will be inadmissible.
The financial aid is granted only once and cannot be renewed. Law 13593 does not entitle anyone to financial aid.
How to proceed?
Step 1: Apply for short-time work compensation (RHT)
Due to the subsidiarity principle, applying for extraordinary financial aid requires a prior RHT application with the relevant unemployment office (in french). If the RHT request is granted, the NGO will not be eligible for the extraordinary cantonal financial aid.
Proof of this application must be included in the extraordinary aid request (Step 2). If an RHT decision has already been made, include the official document instead of the proof of application.
Step 2: Submit the extraordinary financial aid request
Use the online form below (active since 25 April). The form must be completed in one go, as it cannot be saved and resumed later.
What documents must be attached to the online form?
- Proof of the signatory's authority to represent the NGO;
- Proof of submission of the RHT request to the unemployment office, or the corresponding decision issued by the latter, where applicable;
- The 2025 budget, approved by the competent governing body, and supporting documents identifying:
- The annual payroll of staff working in the canton of Geneva at the time of the request;
- The amount of sudden and unpredictable loss of external funding impacting the Geneva office's 2025 operating budget (in CHF);
- The link between funding loss and payroll reduction for Geneva-based staff; - The NGO's statutes;
- The latest financial statements approved by the competent body;
- The funding contracts subject to suspension or sudden/unpredictable reduction in 2025;
- Documents proving sudden/unpredictable external funding suspension or reduction;
- Latest certificate of social security contributions;
- Any document proving the NGO has premises in Geneva.
Documents may be submitted in French or English.
Additional documentation may be requested by the competent authority if needed.
Tips for submitting the application successfully
- Gather documents in advance to avoid delays during submission.
- Complete the online form in one go, as it cannot be saved partway.
- Provide clear, complete, and detailed information, especially regarding your NGO’s financial situation and funding loss (please note: all the files must not exceed 70 MB).
- Respect the deadlines: submit within 3 months of the law’s effective date (April 25, 2025) to avoid ineligibility.
How and by whom is an application reviewed?
Phase 1
Eligibility Review by Directorate of International Affairs (Direction des affaires internationales - DAI), Geneva
Once the online application is submitted, the Directorate of International Affairs (DAI) reviews the form and attached documents. DAI may request additional information.
After completing the file, DAI issues a recommendation regarding the NGO’s eligibility based on:
- The NGO status as defined by law;
- The sudden/unpredictable nature of the funding loss;
- The likelihood of the funding loss having an impact on Geneva-based staff payroll;
- Compliance with legal norms (no listing for labor violations, posted workers or undeclared work).
This recommendation is forwarded to the Cantonal Office for Economy and Innovation (OCEI), the authority deciding on the application.
Phase 2
Final Decision by Cantonal Office for Economy and Employment (Office cantonal de l’économie et de l’innovation - OCEI), Geneva
If DAI’s recommendation is negative, OCEI will reject the application.
If the recommendation is positive, OCEI will request, via email, the information needed to make a decision, including:
- RHT decision from the relevant authority;
- Employment contracts and last 3 pay slips of affected Geneva-based staff;
- Any dismissal letters for staff still employed at the time the application is submitted;
- If applicable, insurance documents (health, accident, maternity, military, etc.).
OCEI may reach out to the NGO for additional information or documents.
OCEI will then issue a written decision, subject to appeal or complaint.
Phase 3
Audit/Control
OCEI may conduct checks to ensure that the extraordinary financial aid has not been wrongfully obtained.
How to get more information?
On 6th May, an information session for International Geneva NGOs organized by DAI/CAGI is planned.
For RHT compensation inquiries:
Contact the relevant unemployment office.
For Geneva: Cantonal Employment Office (Office cantonal de l’emploi - OCE)
Phone: 0800 90 90 90
Email: rht@etat.ge.ch
To submit an extraordinary financial aid application:
Directorate of International Affairs (Direction des affaires internationales - DAI), Geneva
Phone: +41 22 327 90 35
Email: affaires.internationales@etat.ge.ch
For decisions on aid approval or refusal:
Cantonal Office for Economy and Employment (Office cantonal de l’économie et de l’innovation -OCEI), Geneva
Phone: +41 22 388 50 50
Email: ocei.ong@etat.ge.ch