Impact report 2024 | 2024 progress and numbers | Meeting communities where they are | Harnessing global strength to change society
Harnessing global strength to change society
When partnership comes to life, incredible transformations unfold. Though collaboration, we unlock the power to drive meaningful change. Together, we can tackle today’s most pressing challenges with innovative solutions and create a brighter future for all.
When partnerships come to life
Enhancing and expanding impact through the Forge Consortium
Since 2020, the Z Zurich Foundation has collaborated closely with Forge Foundation, Zurich Insurance Group, and Zurich Santander throughout Latin America to ensure young people have fair access to quality education and sustainable employment opportunities. Our joint ambition is to reach over 1.2 million individuals across eight Latin American countries. However, our efforts won't stop there. We are working with Forge to accelerate and scale up their activities to meet increasing societal needs. To achieve this, we are entering a pivotal new phase of our collaboration with the development of a Consortium of private sector participants to support youth across LATAM to enter the labour market. Over 300 participants attended the inaugural Forge Consortium summit in July 2024, with 92% expressing their interest in joining the consortium—a promising start and a prime example of how scaling through partnerships can materialize in our funded programs. The consortium is on track to launch early 2025 with five key employers in the region.
Social transformation through education in Ecuador
By enhancing education in disadvantaged communities, we are nurturing the next generation of leaders and professionals. In 2024, we renewed our collaboration with Unidos por la Educación to transform education in Ecuador over the next three years. Together with governments and private sector partners, we will build on the success of our initial grant in 2021, focusing on two key areas:
- Ensuring the sustainability and long-term adoption of achievements from the first phase.
- Expanding the program to new regions facing increasing inequality and significant social and economic challenges.
This program will have a lasting impact on over 36,000 students, 1,000 teachers, and more than 3,900 families. Through strategic stakeholder mapping and engagement, Unidos por la Educación has successfully attracted additional public and private support in Ecuador.
Leveraging our global capabilities is essential to drive societal change. By fostering multisectoral partnerships, we can combine our resources and expertise to create impactful solutions that benefit communities internationally.
Collaborative efforts for youth emotional wellbeing in Spain
Six out of ten adolescents experienced emotional distress in the last year, according to the 2023 Youth, Health and Wellbeing Barometer. This reality highlights the urgent need to promote youth mental health.
In February 2024, the Princess of Girona Foundation, the Z Zurich Foundation, and San Juan de Dios (SJD), specifically the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona, signed a collaboration agreement to combine efforts in promoting and preventing emotional wellbeing among young people in Spain. Throughout the year, the henka program – led by SJD – participated in various platforms, showcasing its approach to promoting emotional wellbeing to multiple sectors and empowering young people with tools and resources. For instance, Zurich Spain helped bring henka to the Princess of Girona Foundation’s Talent Tour, an itinerant. event that in 2024 brought together more than 25,000 young people from all over Spain. Participants had access to workshops and mentoring to guide them in their professional futures. Zurich Spain also supported the organization of the pioneering "Viva la Vida" festival in November in Barcelona. The event offered a unique space for 2,000 attendees throughout the day to reflect, learn and share about emotional wellbeing and resilience.
In the academic course of 2023-2024, the henka program impacted 240,000+ individuals, 5,600+ education professionals and 15,000 families, in nearly 150 schools in Catalonia and expanding to other regions such as Madrid and Valencia.
Note: Collaboration between the Z Zurich Foundation, Zurich Insurance PLC – Spain Branch, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu
“Viva la Vida” festival. Photo credit: henka – Hospital Sant Joan de DéuWe seek to create meaningful opportunities that empower young people and drive positive change in our communities. Alongside the Foundation, we aim to ensure that our initiatives not only support the development of youth but also contribute to a better society.
Enhancing climate resilience in Jordan:
The "Tabeaa" project
In 2024, we collaborated closely with Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance member Mercy Corps and the Swiss embassy in Jordan to secure additional funding to build on and expand the Alliance's efforts in the country.
The "Tabeaa" (nature) project, officially initiated in early 2025, is an innovative effort aimed at improving climate resilience and disaster preparedness throughout Jordan. This initiative seeks to connect national climate policies with local implementation.
The four-year project will support the localization of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies at the national level."Tabeaa" will focus on five highly vulnerable communities: Azraq, Mlaih, Dieban, Wadi Musa, and Shobak, which were specifically chosen for their high susceptibility to compound risks such as flash floods, heat waves, and water scarcity.
Access the latest progress report of the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance here.
Shorouq Aburazzouq presenting the Tabeaa project to key stakeholders from government, civil society, international organisations and the private sector. Photo: Mercy CorpsThe Tabeaa project holds great potential for enhancing climate resilience in Jordan by connecting local implementation with global learning and influence, building on the decade-long experience of the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance.
Our collaboration with the Z Zurich Foundation was instrumental in sparking the Embassy’s interest in building on efforts already led by the Swiss private sector, ultimately paving the way for the additional support.
Harnessing unique strengths to secure investment and action to support the mental health of young people through collective calls to action, advocacy and global convening
In 2024, the UNICEF-led Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health (the Coalition) expanded its membership and impact, addressing critical mental health challenges faced by children, youth, and caregivers worldwide.
Launched in 2022 with the support of the Z Zurich Foundation, the Coalition was born out of the belief that addressing youth mental health challenges requires concerted and collective action by a range of stakeholders. The Coalition is an alliance of UNICEF partners including, as of December 2024, Jo Malone London, lululemon, Pinterest, Sony Group Corporation, Spotify, Zurich Insurance Group, and the Z Zurich Foundation.
Through collective calls to action and global convenings, the Coalition raised awareness, tackled stigma, and shaped the conversation on youth mental health. Members supported multi-sectoral programs focusing on promotion, prevention, and care. Building on this, the Coalition has set a refreshed and ambitious vision for 2025 and beyond – to reach 150 million children and young people in 150 countries by 2030.
Despite rising challenges like armed conflict, humanitarian crises, and climate emergencies, a movement advocating for better mental health support for children has emerged. This collaboration across sectors signals a global determination to act.
You can access the Coalition’s second annual report here.
Photo credit:UNICEF/UNI419763/Issa Strengthening social responsibility, community investment, and engagement to amplifying community impact
Building dreams in Colombia: Zurich Colombia Seguros S.A. was the main sponsor of the Bucaramanga Half Marathon (MMB) organized by the Cardiovascular Foundation of Colombia. More than 53,000 runners participated in this event, which received national media attention. As part of our finisher initiative, we donated USD 1 to the Cardiovascular Foundation for each of the first 15,000 finishers. In addition, Zurich Colombia significantly amplified their impact toward a cause they support, ‘Un techo para Colombia’ – an organization that builds homes for families in extreme poverty. Via our Customer and Distributor Community Engagement pilot, we provided funding to build four additional homes. This initiative mobilized over 250 volunteers from 17 partners. On top of that, three more houses were built thanks to Zurich Colombia's advocacy efforts, which encouraged customers and distributors to support the cause and fund the construction.
Contributing to equality and sustainable development in Latin America: According to the World Bank, the average poverty rate in Latin America is now 30.3%, above pre-pandemic levels, and nearly 5.8 million people could fall into extreme poverty by 2030. Alongside Universal Assistance, we launched the "1 Dollar per Download" campaign to support vulnerable communities in Latin America. This initiative aims to generate funds for projects promoting sustainable development and social equality, as part of the Transforming The Future program, which benefits over 15,000 people in 50 communities near tourist destinations in the region. This innovative approach to fundraising combines technology and solidarity, demonstrating how companies can use their platforms to promote the common good.
Building bridges in Canada: We convened one of Zurich Canada's brokerages, Marsh Canada, with charitable partners, JA Central Ontario and United Way GT, to build connection and strengthen further community support from the insurance industry. The Career and Mentorship Event brought together employees from Zurich and March to volunteer side-by-side as mentors and guides to a career in insurance. Volunteers included frontline employees to C-Suite Executives and CEOs from Marsh and Zurich.
In total, 19 Zurich Business Units participated in this customer engagement pilot program in 2024.
Teaming up with the Foundation gives our teams at Zurich the opportunity to work together with customers and distribution partners on joint community goals. Every activity we undertake as part of this initiative prioritizes social impact so that our combined efforts make a meaningful, positive difference in the communities we serve.
At Zurich, we are committed to building meaningful relationships with our customers and communities. We connect through empathy and the drive to help people. Through shared initiatives we strengthen connections, allowing us to work side by side on social impact initiatives that reflect our shared values and create brighter futures.
Creating sustainable impact through system‑level changes
Scaling community climate resilience in Greater Manchester
Through the Resilience for Communities (R4C) initiative—part of our Urban Climate Resilience Program (UCRP)—we’re embedding resilience thinking into Greater Manchester’s public sector, community infrastructure, and governance systems. In Stockport and Wigan, the program has catalyzed cross-sector collaboration, strengthened trust between local authorities and residents, and is leading to tangible changes in how climate resilience is planned and delivered.
In Wigan’s Higher Folds community, resilience planning has informed local government action, including new policies to aerate land ahead of winter and enhanced watercourse monitoring by the Environment Agency. These measures are reducing flood risk and unlocking future options like retrofitting Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS)—a first for Wigan Council.
Katie and Evelyn, two community members from Edgeley, taking part in a community gardening activity at the What If? Café.
Community members in Higher Folds share their experiences and co-create solutions for their neighbourhoodMeanwhile, the Stockport Climate Action Now Strategy, which will be refreshed in 2025, is drawing on the UCRP’s data-driven, equity- methodology to scale resilience planning across the borough. A community action plan is being co-developed in Higher Folds, and in Edgeley, over 700 residents have already participated in a community activation initiative, transforming a disused building into a hub for resilience, through working between local developers, local government and the community, with lots more action on the ground planned for 2025!
Lastly, to support future scale, the “watching with interest” approach has helped inform all ten Greater Manchester councils, sparking citywide conversations about expanding this model, and leveraging the learning to inform city-region strategy and policy.
Click here to find out how we are working with communities towards a better, climate-resilient future
Note: Collaboration between the Z Zurich Foundation, Resilient City Network, and Zurich UK
Legacy: National adoption of the Municipal Disaster Risk Governance Assessment Tool in Nepal
In a landmark move, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) in Nepal officially endorsed the Municipal Disaster Risk Governance Assessment (MDRGA) tool in March 2024. This endorsement marks a significant step forward in disaster risk management for municipalities nationwide.
The journey of the MDRGA tool began in 2017 when Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance member IFRC, alongside the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) identified a critical knowledge and capacity gap among municipalities newly tasked with disaster risk management (DRM) responsibilities following Nepal's shift to a federal system.
To bridge this gap, the IFRC and the NRCS, and in collaboration other Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance members such Practical Action and Mercy Corps Nepal, developed and piloted the MDRGA tool.
This innovative tool was designed to help municipalities understand their DRM responsibilities and take action to enhance governance
The March 2024 endorsement by MoFAGA provides institutional recognition and generates credibility and momentum for the widespread adoption of the MDRGA tool across Nepal. This endorsement is a testament to the collaborative efforts and dedication of the IFRC, Practical Action, Mercy Corps, and the municipalities involved, paving the way for a more resilient and well-governed Nepal.
Learn more via this recent case study: A catalyst for strengthening local governance in Nepal – Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance
Meeting of the Community-based Disaster Risk Management Platform (CBDRM) in August 2024. Photo credit: Nepal Red Cross Society
Launching a “mental health game plan” in Australia
In close collaboration with the AFL Players’ and Coaches Association driving our Tackle Your Feelings program in Australia (TYF Australia), the Victorian Amateur Football Association has launched a Member Assistance Program (MAP), a pioneering initiative for community sporting leagues in the country. This builds on TYF Australia's "mental health game plan," a roadmap that ensures clubs meet specific criteria to integrate mental wellbeing components into their operations. In 2024, more than 60% of clubs participating in TYF Australia have implemented a mental health game plan, positively impacting thousands of additional lives. This marks a significant improvement since the program's inception in 2019.
Jessica Case, Vice President Drysdale Football Netball Club is the 2024 Winner of the Tackle Your Feelings Community Champion Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to mental health and wellbeing initiatives.
TYF Ambassadors Nathan Buckley (left) and Dylan Buckley (right) at Melbourne's iconic Victoria Park football ground. Photo credit: Dan Soderstrom
Note: Collaboration between the Z Zurich Foundation, Zurich Financial Services Australia Limited, AFL Coaches Association, AFL Players’ Association
Integrating children’s rights in national law in Switzerland
Our support to the Ombuds Office for Children's Rights Switzerland (OOCR CH) has helped establish a nationwide service across all cantons to help children and young people up to age 18 understand and exercise their rights. This service provides age-appropriate legal information and intermediates between children, courts, authorities, and organizations involved in their care.
From 2021 to 2024, OOCR CH reached over 100,000 children through its activities. In 2024, OOCR CH spearheaded an initiative to create a federal law for the Ombuds Office, aiming to sustainably establish and anchor the Ombuds Office and children's rights in Switzerland, supported by a joint letter signed by 120 organizations, including the Z Zurich Foundation.
Driving global change for a better society
While we report on our impact in 2024,
we cannot ignore current global trends and the recent decisions from donor nations to redirect some of their development funding into other areas. While this change presents a challenge to adapt, it also presents a strategic opportunity to further harness the power of multi-sector partnerships.
Leading the movement in promoting mental health and wellbeing for every young person – The first annual Global Mental Health Financing Insights report, 'The Power of Giving,' underscores the vital role of private philanthropy in global mental health and wellbeing. In their report, Prospira Global, an organization that provides strategic mental health advice and solutions to businesses, philanthropists, and investors worldwide, highlights trends, challenges, and opportunities, explores funders' motivations and priorities, and celebrates influential contributors. While we are proud to be among the top three philanthropic organizations promoting mental wellbeing, we recognize that system change requires a collective effort. A unified approach from funders, governments, practitioners, caregivers, and young people is essential for a lasting global impact in improving mental wellbeing.
Access the report here: The Power of Giving – Prospira Global Mental Health Financing Insights 2024 — Prospira Global
A multi-faceted approach to drive climate change adaptation
Our Adapting to Climate Change pillar focuses on creating systemic change at local, sub-national, and national levels. This involves addressing underlying barriers to resilience building, and transforming behaviors, systems, and ways of life to protect communities on the front lines of natural hazards. A key element of our approach is community-centered action.
Through the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance and Urban Climate Resilience Programs globally, we drive positive change by combining on-the-ground interventions with policy influencing. We support vulnerable communities in implementing their own solutions and advocating for their needs. Capturing learnings from customized resilience building actions and best practices enables us to scale up our efforts.
The Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance focuses primarily on driving specific, targeted systemic changes. Each country program has granular actions across five core themes:
- Early Warning Systems
- Adaptation Governance
- Resilience to Extreme Heat
- Nature-Based Solutions
- Urban Resilience
Our Urban Climate Resilience Programs, running in nine countries in collaboration with the local Zurich Business Units, share the ambition for systemic change. These programs focus on scaling through city stakeholders and private sector partnerships. By leveraging the financial and in-kind resources of like-minded institutions, we enable cities and communities to achieve their climate priorities.
City of Milan has been placing communities at the heart of extreme heat resilience. As part of our collaboration with C40 Cities in Milan, schoolyards are redesigned to create cool spaces during heatwaves.
What kind of world should we aspire to leave for future generations?
The discussions at the United Nations General Assembly and the New York Climate Week highlight the importance of all our strategic areas: Adapting to Climate Change, Improving Mental Wellbeing, Enabling Social Equity, and Responding to Crisis. These themes were central to the ongoing conversations in New York in September, providing a valuable opportunity to engage with key decision-makers in the community-investment space. In light of these discussions, it is evident that unprecedented challenges are having a profound impact on billions of people worldwide. However, there are encouraging signs of an increased willingness and capability to respond, particularly in the realms of climate adaptation and youth mental wellbeing. Despite the significant efforts required, more contributors are beginning to act collectively and collaboratively.
September proved a pivotal month for advancing our agenda to move from will to action. Alongside charitable organizations we work with, we convened actors across sectors to accelerate their positive social impact by engaging with some of our current programs, such as Junior Achievement USA.
One example of collaboration in action is our work with Junior Achievement USA. We have been collaborating with Junior Achievement USA since 2023 to update its K-5 curriculum. Through this collaboration, the curriculum, which has a strong emphasis on financial literacy, will be redesigned with enhanced digital components and to be more reflective of the communities Junior Achievement serves. In September 2024, Z Zurich Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved a proposal to scale support to JA experiences in grades 6-12, which will further deepen our commitment to American youth and create a profound legacy for millions of young people by transforming the educational landscape.
Note: Collaboration between the Z Zurich Foundation, Zurich American Insurance Company and Junior Achievement USAInvesting in education is crucial for shaping the future. By transforming the educational system, we empower young people with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive, fostering innovation and progress in our communities.
Supporting young changemakers to attend and engage in the One Young World platform
We trialled investing in young changemakers in 2019 with our collaboration with One Young World. To date, over 100 young talents from more than 40 countries – some among the most vulnerable countries in the world – have participated in our program. These leaders, each with unique stories of exclusion, personal loss, or failure, demonstrate that remarkable achievements are possible with passion, courage, and resilience, even with limited resources. Supporting young changemakers is crucial for developing future leaders and also pilots new ways for us to create brighter futures for vulnerable people. This initiative showcases our commitment to long-term change and youth empowerment.
Aligned with our goal to scale impact through partnerships and system-level changes, we have been exploring innovative ways to deliver strong and sustainable impact. To do so, we are looking to our network of talented and passionate young individuals from previous OYW scholar cohorts, some of whom live and work in countries where the ecosystem may not be able to fully support their potential impact. In 2024, we developed our Changemaker pilot program to provide holistic capacity-building support to these young leaders, in line with our strategic priorities. This program, launched in 2025, also offers Zurich employees the opportunity to engage more deeply in social impact work.
Through our Changemaker pilot program, we support young leaders in shaping sustainable solutions rooted in their lived experiences and community needs. From vertical gardens enhancing elderly wellbeing in Paraguay to youth-led initiatives promoting mental wellbeing in Laos, we are not just investing in innovative ideas and grassroots approaches – we are actively learning from these young leaders and drawing on their insights to rethink and strengthen how we engage with communities.
Hear from young changemakers
Supporting young changemakers isn’t just about unlocking potential and opportunities; it’s about trusting young people to lead and forge new pathways. When we listen, recognize their leadership, and help create the conditions for it to flourish, we begin to rethink and reshape the systems we seek to change.
The life of advocates and activists is difficult, but through our collective effort, we can overcome these challenges, says
We are changing the perceptions of the abilities of young people to lead and inspire change in their communities and globally. We are showing that we can do things. And we can do things effectively. Just trust us and give us the platform to do that above and beyond.
Everyday, we look around and we see things in the world that aren't the way that they ought to be. But if we sit in silence or merely grumble but do nothing, that’s how they will continue to be. I want to be a good leader and use my voice, my platform, and my life to bring the world a little closer to the way it ought to be; where people can access dignified opportunities, no matter their circumstances, which is what my team and I work towards daily at EqualReach.
Listen, unite, inspire. That’s exactly what we strive to do in everything. We create platforms for young people to share their stories, for us to listen and appreciate where they’re at. It’s not about trying to fix each other or judge each other. It’s about understanding and uniting around the feeling we all have about the kind of lives we envision and want to realize. And then, how do we inspire others to prioritize their mental wellbeing and also inspire our leaders and policy makers to create change.
