Mercy Hands Europe (MHEU) is a women-led international non-
profit organization, registered in Geneva, Switzerland, since 2019.
MHEU develops and supports humanitarian and development projects in collaboration with local partners, with active operations currently in Iraq, Syria, and Ethiopia. Our work spans a variety of sectors, including education, livelihoods (such as agriculture and beekeeping), protection and justice, emergency response, access to water and sanitation (WASH), and health. Working across these diverse sectors enriches our approach, fosters holistic solutions, and enhances our ability to address complex challenges effectively.
By working closely with trusted local partners, MHEU ensures that all interventions are tailored to the specific needs and realities of each community. Our approach is rooted in a strategic combination of local partners’ on-the-ground presence, cultural knowledge, and field expertise, along with MHEU’s thematic specialization, programmatic know-how, and strong connections with Swiss, European, and international institutions.
Together, these assets form a powerful and unique alliance that enables us to design and implement sustainable, impactful, and context-sensitive projects that address both urgent humanitarian needs and long-term development challenges.
At Mercy Hands Europe, our mission is to provide vital humanitarian aid and protection to individuals and communities affected by
conflict, displacement, and disasters—both natural and man-made.
We strive to uphold human dignity and promote lasting change
through advocacy, development, and cooperation.
In line with our founding statutes (Art. 3), we pursue the following objectives:
We are committed to bridging the gap between donors and the field, ensuring that every contribution has a tangible, positive impact on the ground.
We envision a just and inclusive world where human rights are upheld, diversity is celebrated, and communities are empowered to shape their futures in peace and dignity. A world where:
At Mercy Hands Europe, our name reflects what we strive to do every day: extend helping hands to local organizations working on the frontlines of humanitarian and development action. We believe lasting impact happens when local actors are empowered to lead. Our role is to walk alongside them—supporting capacity-building, quality standards, and greater autonomy.
We don’t implement for others—we enable others to implement better, faster, and stronger.
Our journey began with the generous support of Mercy Hands for Humanitarian Aid in Iraq—the organization that inspired our name. They reached out to us with a clear request: to represent Iraq’s humanitarian needs in Europe and Switzerland. In response, and with their steadfast support, we first established ourselves in France to engage with European stakeholders. As our advocacy and coordination efforts expanded, Geneva—the global capital of humanitarian action—naturally became our operational base.
As our work gained visibility, other local organizations began seeking our support. This marked our evolution into an independent entity—still rooted in solidarity, but now serving a wider range of partners across multiple regions.
This was the case with our second local partner outside Iraq:
IACO, which we met during one of our international advocacy
meetings.
From that moment on, our work began to grow organically.
We formalized our presence in Switzerland, proudly retaining the name Mercy Hands—a symbol of our unwavering commitment to offering meaningful support where it matters most. We began building a network of local organizations across different countries and sectors, all united by a shared goal: to enable truly local leadership in humanitarian and development efforts.
Localization, in this sense, is not simply a technical priority—it is an ethical and human one. Cultural context, local knowledge, and lived experience are invaluable assets in any humanitarian response.
Today, our work continues to grow—reaching more people, supporting more partners, expanding into more countries, and sharing more skills. But our mission remains unchanged: to offer a helping hand where it’s needed most and to ensure that local voices lead the way.
Development work must meet the needs of the present while enhancing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We believe that the ultimate goal of any project is to enable people to lead safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives with dignity.
We promote full equality for all, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics. Everyone deserves to enjoy their fundamental rights in safety and freedom.
We invest in strengthening local capacities and leadership, ensuring that communities are the driving force behind their own development and recovery.
We believe that diversity is a strength and that all voices should be heard. We respect and value each other and rely on cross-cultural collaboration and team efforts to build sustainable change.
We believe that all individuals should be free to exercise their freedom of thought, religion, and conscience in civil, political, and social life without harming others. Freedom is an inherent condition of our humanity, and any attempt to restrict it must be abolished.
We are committed to fairness, transparency, and the protection of rights. We oppose all forms of violence, coercion, and discrimination, and advocate for equitable access to opportunities and services.
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