Strengthening communities
We are committed to responding to natural disasters sustainably, taking positive climate action, and supporting local communities.
For communities that have experienced a major natural disaster, we support sustainable community rebuilding and humanitarian projects, primarily in developing countries, to benefit those most in need following natural disasters. We donate our expertise, products, services and logistics capabilities to assist emergency relief organisations. Requests for support come from accredited, local organisations to the relevant local Roche office, who then may involve the global Roche organisation in case of more assistance. Roche has supported disaster relief efforts in a number of countries including Bosnia, Haiti, Japan, Malawi, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Turkiye, Kenya, Australia, Mozambique, Peru and the Philippines.
For more than 60 years, Roche has supported the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the leading organization in wildlife conservation and endangered species. In 1961, WWF was co-founded by Dr Lukas (Luc) Hoffmann, grandson of Roche founder Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche and his wife, Adele, and former member of the Roche Board of Directors.
As part of Roche’s ongoing commitment to improve health and education in some of the world’s developing countries, our secondment programme allows employees to share their skills through health-related projects in some of the world’s poorest countries. Additionally, a shorter version called “microsecondment” offers non-profit organisations the opportunity to submit a request for short-term, skill-specific support for health- or education-related assignments.
Originally started in 2003 as a walk for AIDS awareness, this signature global employee project has evolved into the Roche Children’s Walk, which raises awareness and funds for children’s initiatives in more than 90 communities around the world – including Malawi, one of the least developed countries. Projects supported by Roche Children’s Walk include education and health and nutrition programmes at orphan centres and children’s hospitals. Since its inception, about 300,000 Roche employees have participated in the event and raised over 22 million Swiss Francs. All funds raised by employees for the campaign are matched by Roche.