A growing shelf of things worth sharing.

Black Switzerland Online Archive
A digital archive for and by Black people in Switzerland. Useful for books, films, organisations, businesses, experts, memory work and historical references.

Afro Swiss Families
A community and association for African/Diaspora and European parents, caregivers and allies raising Afro-European children in Switzerland. Especially useful for families, children's programming, parenting spaces and Afro-European belonging.

Afro Swiss Families — BIPOC Organisations & Support Groups Directory
A growing directory of BIPOC-focused organisations and support groups in Switzerland. Useful as a starting point for wider mapping.

Bla*Sh — Black She
A Black feminist network from German-speaking Switzerland, with roots in Basel, Bern and Zürich. A key reference for Black women's organising, memory and feminist community work in Switzerland.

Collectif Afro-Swiss
A French-speaking Afro-feminist and anti-racist collective in Switzerland, working against anti-Black racism and creating spaces for Afro-descendant communities.

CRAN — Observatoire du Racisme anti-Noir en Suisse
A Swiss organisation and observatory focused on anti-Black racism. Useful for advocacy, research, public discourse and monitoring around anti-Black racism in Switzerland.

African Diaspora Council of Switzerland
A national platform connecting, empowering and representing people of African heritage in Switzerland through advocacy, culture, education and community exchange.

Swiss African Forum
A long-standing umbrella organisation for Africans living in Switzerland, founded in 2003. Useful for diaspora community, African cultural events and Swiss-African exchange.

African Students Association of Zurich — ASAZ
A Zurich-based student association representing African students at higher education institutions. Useful for students, early-career community, academic networks and African student life in Zürich.

African Professionals Network Switzerland — APNS
A professional network for African professionals, creatives and entrepreneurs in Switzerland. Useful for career, entrepreneurship, professional exchange and African diaspora networks.

African Professionals for Progress — APP
A network created by young graduates from the African and Caribbean diaspora to connect skilled professionals and contribute to development on the continent and in the diaspora.

FAANG — Fédération des Associations d'Afrodescendant.e.x.s et de Noir.e.x.s de Genève
A Geneva-based federation representing and supporting Afro-descendant and Black associations. Useful for French-speaking Switzerland, civic advocacy, culture, health, education and anti-racism work.

ADAN / Afro German Academics Network
A wider German-speaking BPoC and African diaspora network focused on visibility, talent, exchange and professional opportunities.

ADAN Impact
A diversity and organisational development initiative connected to the ADAN ecosystem, focused on unleashing BPoC potential and supporting organisations.

Black Artists and Cultural Workers in Switzerland
An open letter and resource created by Black artists and cultural practitioners in Switzerland, addressing anti-Black racism in Swiss arts and cultural institutions.

Vo da.
A Zurich-rooted anti-racist platform and collective voice engaging with racism, language, public space and social change in Switzerland.

INES — Institut Neue Schweiz
A post-migrant think & act tank working on democracy, belonging, diversity, participation and new narratives for Switzerland.

These links may be useful when someone needs advice, reporting options or a first point of orientation. AfroSwissters does not provide legal, psychological or emergency services. In urgent situations, contact emergency services or a specialised support organisation directly.

ZüRAS — Zürcher Anlaufstelle Rassismus
A counselling service for people in the Canton of Zürich who experience racism or discrimination. The service is confidential and independent, and counselling is free for people living in the canton.

Beratungsnetz für Rassismusopfer
A Swiss network of counselling centres for people affected by racism. Useful for finding support by region and for understanding options around racist discrimination.

Federal Commission against Racism — EKR/FCR →
The Swiss federal commission working on racism, racial discrimination, prevention, monitoring and public information.

Service for Combating Racism — SCRA / Fachstelle für Rassismusbekämpfung
The federal service responsible for promoting, coordinating and supporting measures against racism and racial discrimination at federal, cantonal and communal levels.

Report Online Racism
A Swiss reporting platform for racist online hate speech. Useful when racist content appears online and needs to be documented or reported.

Stadt Zürich — Rassismus
Information from the City of Zürich on racism, anti-discrimination and the city's work as part of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism.

Opferhilfe Schweiz / Victim Support Switzerland
Victim support services for people who have experienced physical, psychological or sexual violence. Since 1 May 2026, support across Switzerland can be reached via the national hotline 142.

Kanton Zürich — Opferberatung
Official victim counselling information for the Canton of Zürich.

BIF Beratungsstelle für Frauen gegen Gewalt
A Zurich counselling centre for women and FLINTA people affected by domestic violence in marriage, partnerships or intimate relationships. Counselling is confidential and free.

Brava
A Swiss feminist organisation working against violence against women and sexism, with counselling, education, empowerment and advocacy work.

humanrights.ch
A Swiss human rights platform with resources, information and coordination work around discrimination, racism and human rights.

Start With Yourself — Emma Grede
A practical book on self-leadership, ambition, work and building a life with intention. Part of our Grow shelf and connected to AfroSwissters' book circle and learning formats.

Afropean: Notes from Black Europe — Johny Pitts
A powerful exploration of Black life across Europe. Useful for thinking about diaspora, belonging, identity and what it means to be both Black and European.

Sister Outsider — Audre Lorde
A foundational collection of essays and speeches on Black feminism, difference, language, care, power and resistance.

Showing Our Colors: Afro-German Women Speak Out
The English translation of Farbe bekennen, edited by May Ayim, Katharina Oguntoye and Dagmar Schultz. A key text for understanding Black women's histories and self-definition in German-speaking Europe.

This Is What I Know About Art — Kimberly Drew
A short, accessible book on art, protest, access and cultural participation. Especially relevant to REMAIN and our cultural experience formats.

Black Futures — Kimberly Drew & Jenna Wortham
A wide-ranging archive of contemporary Black creativity, memory, conversation and imagination. Useful for thinking beyond survival and into possibility.

ETH Zürich — Anti-Racism Resources
A useful institutional resource page with research, terminology and anti-racism references.

Je suis Noires / Becoming a Black Woman
A Swiss documentary by Rachel M'Bon and Juliana Fanjul centring Black women in Switzerland and the realities of identity, racism, visibility and self-definition.

Je suis Noires — Swiss Films
Film information from Swiss Films, useful for synopsis, credits and festival context.

AfroSwissters SPECTRUM Podcast →
Our own conversation space for stories, nuance, identity and the many ways Afro-descendant women move through Switzerland and the world.

REMAIN Cultural Experiences →
Our cultural access and reflection format. Through museums, art fairs, theatre, film, exhibitions and conversation, we use culture as a place to gather, question and remain present.

CRAN
For work specifically focused on anti-Black racism in Switzerland.

EKR/FCR →
For federal-level information, publications and orientation around racism and racial discrimination.

Service for Combating Racism
For federal policy, project support and reporting related to racism and racial discrimination.

INES
For post-migrant perspectives on Swiss democracy, participation and belonging.

Vo da.
For anti-racist commentary, language, culture and public-space conversations rooted in Switzerland.

alliance F
A Swiss women's political umbrella organisation working on equality, representation and structural change.

Afro Swiss Families — BIPOC Organisations & Support Groups
A growing Switzerland-focused community directory.

Black Switzerland Online Archive
A strong first stop for Black Swiss organisations, cultural references, people, events and memory work.

Swiss Civil Society Platform on Migration and Development
A broader platform including African diaspora and migration-related organisations in Switzerland.

Swiss Society for African Studies
A Swiss academic society focused on research on Africa and academic exchange.

Guidelines →
How we gather, listen, protect each other and hold space with care.

Membership →
How to become part of AfroSwissters, what membership supports, and which spaces are open to members, allies and the wider public.

Events →
Upcoming circles, cultural experiences, workshops, retreats and online formats.

Partnerships →
How organisations, institutions, cultural spaces and funders can collaborate with AfroSwissters.

Life in Switzerland →
Finding your way in Swiss systems without losing yourself.

Work & Career →
Navigating Swiss working life — with clarity, and with sources.

Centre for African Studies Basel — ZASB
University of Basel
Switzerland's strongest formal African Studies hub. It coordinates Africa-related teaching and research at Uni Basel and partner institutions, and offers MA, PhD and continuing education in African Studies.
Useful for: anchor partner for speakers, researchers, event co-hosting, academic pathways, newsletters, job portal, reading lists.

Basel Graduate Network African Studies
University of Basel / ZASB
Doctoral network supporting PhD candidates across disciplines and connecting them through specialised African Studies training.
Useful for: mentorship links for Afro-descendant students considering PhD paths; early-career scholar network.

Master in African Studies
University of Geneva
Interdisciplinary 120 ECTS master's programme covering African history, environment, development economics, states, territories and societies.
Useful for: study pathways; members considering formal academic training.

Afrique Students Association / ASA Graduate Mentorship Programme
Geneva Graduate Institute
Student association and mentorship programme supporting Africans and people of African descent interested in applying for graduate study at the Institute.
Useful for: direct capacity-building: graduate school mentoring, community, African student network, Geneva events.

ARCAN — Laboratory of Archaeology of Africa & Anthropology
University of Geneva
Research and teaching lab on the archaeology of Africa and anthropology, covering African human settlement history, technical dynamics and ways of life from ancient prehistory to today.
Useful for: heritage, African history, museum and collection conversations, youth education.

Pôle pour les Études Africaines — PEALL / Focus Africa
University of Lausanne
Lausanne African Studies platform in the Faculty of Arts/Lettres, publicly referenced through PEALL and “Focus Africa” activities around African studies, literature, collections and diasporas.
Useful for: literature, culture, diaspora, Francophone Africa, arts and heritage programming.

Research Network Africa
University of Basel / ZASB
Cross-disciplinary research network connecting different departments, research groups and partner organisations working on, in, with and for Africa.
Useful for: researcher mapping, speaker sourcing, thematic panels, PhD/postdoc contacts.

Swiss Society for African Studies — SGAS/SSEA/SSAS
National Swiss network
Scholarly association founded in 1974 to advance African Studies and connect researchers and the interested public through multidisciplinary exchange. It organises Swiss Researching Africa Days and conferences.
Useful for: best national entry point to the Swiss African Studies ecosystem; events, calls, scholars, public debates.

SGAS/SSEA–VAD African Perspectives Conference 2026
Basel · hosted by ZASB Research Network Africa · 26–28 August 2026
Major African Studies conference in Basel, connecting scholars in Europe, Africa and beyond across career levels.
Useful for: track for partnerships, visibility, diaspora panels, speaker scouting.

Geneva Africa Lab
University of Geneva / Global Studies Institute
Geneva-based Africa competence and research platform linked to the Global Studies Institute; connected to African Studies expertise and programmes.
Useful for: Geneva bridge: policy, diplomacy, international organisations, development, African Studies speakers.

Initiative Afrique
University of Bern
Platform bundling Africa-related research activities and strengthening networking within and beyond the University of Bern.
Useful for: strong fit: newsletter, podcast, events, researcher visibility, diaspora voices.

Initiative Afrique Podcast
University of Bern
Podcast highlighting researchers and students who work with partners in Africa, conduct research on Africa, or have African roots.
Useful for: a good model and potential collaboration for voices from the AfroSwissters network.

All-Africa Ubuntu Association
University of Bern
Association supported by Initiative Afrique; aims include helping and integrating new African students and staff and organising academic and cultural activities.
Useful for: peer community partner for African students, researchers and staff in Bern.

Competence Center for African Research — CCAR-HSG
University of St.Gallen
HSG centre focused on Africa at the intersection of business, ethics and governance; coordinates Africa-focused research and teaching at St.Gallen.
Useful for: business, ethics, governance, entrepreneurship, responsible investment, leadership panels.

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute — Swiss TPH
Basel / global
Global health research and education institute with long-term partner institutes across sub-Saharan Africa and a Leading House Africa mandate.
Useful for: health, public health, capacity strengthening, science partnerships, African institutional links.

Namibian and Southern African Studies
University of Basel / ZASB
Regular course programme, research colloquium and Namibia Research Day focused on Namibia and Southern Africa. The colloquium also engages scholars, artists and activists and situates debates in relation to African diasporas in Switzerland and Europe.
Useful for: cultural heritage, archives, memory work, decolonial education, Southern Africa events.

SARECO — Swiss-African Research Cooperation
Swiss-African research database
Database for collaborative research between Switzerland and African countries, including funding, institutions, projects and resources.
Useful for: find partners, funding and projects — a very practical resource.

Swiss Leading House Africa
Swiss TPH, with University of Basel and CDE University of Bern
SERI-mandated structure to strengthen scientific cooperation between Switzerland and sub-Saharan African countries; includes research partnership grants.
Useful for: funding and opportunity alerts for researchers; partnership intelligence for Africa-related projects.

SUDAC / CLOC West Africa
swissuniversities
Swiss higher education cooperation cluster for West Africa; creates opportunities for Swiss and West African research and higher education institutions.
Useful for: institutional partnership route for universities, applied research, development cooperation.

SUDAC / CLOC East Africa and the Horn
swissuniversities / CDE Bern / SUPSI and partners
Cooperation cluster serving as a door opener for Swiss higher education institutions in East Africa and the Horn.
Useful for: East Africa partnerships, Agenda 2030, education and research collaboration.

Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence — CoRE
ARUA + The Guild, with Swiss participation via Bern and others
Africa-Europe research cooperation model focused on equitable research partnerships, young researchers and long-term clusters.
Useful for: advanced academic partnerships; strong for grant strategy and institutional bridge-building.

Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire — CSRS
Côte d'Ivoire / Swiss-linked
Swiss-linked research centre in Côte d'Ivoire active in biodiversity, food security, environment and health; part of the Swiss-African research cooperation ecosystem.
Useful for: West Africa science partnerships; members in health and environment fields.

ETH4D — ETH for Development — grants and scholarships for development-oriented research — full entry under Adjacent platforms below.

African Cities Lab
EPFL + African university partners / online
Digital education platform on African urban development, offering MOOCs and continuing education for urban professionals.
Useful for: very practical capacity-building: free/online learning on cities, sustainability, planning and development.

EPFL Excellence in Africa — EXAF
EPFL Lausanne
EPFL research centre focused on digitisation and excellence in research, education and innovation across Africa.
Useful for: STEM, digital transformation, African innovation, PhD opportunities, tech partnerships.

ASA Graduate Mentorship Programme — graduate-school mentoring for Africans and people of African descent — full entry under Study & Academic Pathways above.

ETH4D — ETH for Development — Research-to-Action grants supporting prototypes, entrepreneurship and practitioner engagement — full entry under Adjacent platforms below.

Basler Afrika Bibliographien / Namibia Resource Centre & Southern Africa Library
Basel
Research library, archive and publishing house focused on Namibia and Southern Africa, with extensive digital and physical collections.
Useful for: community archive visits, reading circles, history workshops, cultural heritage resources.

Namibian and Southern African Studies (ZASB) — colloquium engaging scholars, artists and activists, situated in relation to African diasporas in Switzerland and Europe — full entry under Research & Speakers above.

ARCAN — University of Geneva — archaeology of Africa and anthropology — full entry under Study & Academic Pathways above.

PEALL / Focus Africa — University of Lausanne — African studies, literature, collections and diasporas — full entry under Study & Academic Pathways above.

Not Africa-specific, but highly relevant for African diaspora, migration, development, peace, and capacity-building work.

ETH4D — ETH for Development
ETH Zurich
Offers grants and scholarships for development-oriented research, including collaborations with partners in low- and middle-income countries. Research-to-Action grants support prototypes, entrepreneurship and practitioner engagement.
Useful for: development-oriented research funding and practitioner engagement.

African Peace Processes Dataset
ETH Zurich Center for Security Studies
Dataset covering peacemaking efforts in armed conflicts in Africa from 1989–2019, with more than 2,600 negotiation rounds.
Useful for: peace, conflict, governance and policy literacy.

nccr – on the move →
University of Neuchâtel / national network
Swiss centre for migration and mobility studies.
Useful for: African diaspora, migration, belonging, policy and mobility research.

Global Migration Centre
Geneva Graduate Institute
Research and policy centre on international migration; includes student support, a doctoral affiliate programme, internships and a Migrants' Rights Law Clinic.
Useful for: migration research, student support, migrants' rights.