When international funding shifts, Geneva adjusts
In Geneva, international mobility is shaped as much by economic balances as by human realities. Since 2024–2025, a deep structural shift has been reshaping the landscape of global mobility: significant cuts in U.S. public funding — along with reductions from several major donors — are weakening the stability of international organizations, their programmes… and, indirectly, mobility trends and relocation dynamics.
Far from being theoretical, this shift is already generating tangible effects on the ground. It is influencing mobility files, institutional expectations, the types of housing requested and the profiles of professionals relocating to Switzerland.
A fragile ecosystem in Geneva
The Geneva international ecosystem includes more than 40 major international organizations employing nearly 29,000 people in 2024. Most of these entities rely heavily on U.S. financial contributions.
For example, in 2025, the U.S. administration cut more than 80% of its contribution to the United Nations’ regular budget, affecting over 40 agencies worldwide.
As a result, several hundred positions have already been impacted in Geneva, and some estimates suggest up to 2,500 jobs could be affected in the medium term across international organizations and NGOs in the region.
For talent mobility, this translates into:
● postponed or cancelled recruitments
● shorter assignments
● more volatile housing requests
The Geneva market — long characterised by a stable flow of long-term expatriate assignments — is now seeing its patterns shift.
Direct consequences for relocation
For mobility and relocation actors such as Welcome Service, this transformation calls for fine-tuned and continuous adaptation. Three concrete effects have already emerged:
Fewer “large mandates”, more flexibility
In a tighter budget environment, organizations favour shorter and more adaptable solutions.
This often means relocation packages become lighter — temporary housing, reduced duration, adjusted budgets.
Increased pressure on premium international housing
According to recent analysis, international expatriates occupy over 9,500 apartments in the canton of Geneva, often at rental levels significantly higher than local averages.
If only 20% of these residents were to leave the region, up to 2,500 units could theoretically become available — yet even in this scenario, the market imbalance would remain.
For now, these potential housing impacts are theoretical: no concrete change has been observed in 2025.
The first effects — including a gradual release of apartments previously occupied by international staff — could materialize from Q1–Q2 2026.
The human factor: more central than ever
In this shifting landscape, the human dimension becomes crucial.
Support now extends beyond housing search to include navigating uncertainty, building new routines and providing close follow-up.
For talents and their families, “settling in” carries more weight today than simply “arriving”.
Institutional response
In response to the situation, both the Canton and City of Geneva have already taken measures. To prevent massive staff departures and preserve the region’s attractiveness, support funds have been allocated:
● CHF 10 million from the Canton
● CHF 2 million from the City
to assist impacted NGOs.
In addition, the Swiss Confederation has announced an investment plan of CHF 269 million (≈ USD 329 million) for 2026–2029 to strengthen Geneva’s role as a global diplomatic hub.
These measures reflect the strategic importance of the region and confirm that international mobility — including hosting and relocation — has become a major economic issue.
In practice: how to anticipate effectively
For companies and mobility teams, several recommendations stand out:
● anticipate assignment flexibility: a shorter mandate does not mean reduced support, but a different structure
● favour scalable housing: short-term options or convertible leases
● strengthen post-arrival support: more than the move itself, daily life and local anchoring drive long-term success
Conclusion
When international funding shifts, Geneva does not remain on the sidelines — it adapts.
While a potential impact on housing supply may emerge, especially by Q1–Q2 2026, it remains unobservable for now.
Instead of undergoing these changes passively, this moment offers organisations the opportunity to rethink mobility: moving from a simple “transfer” to a true “sustainable settlement”.
In this transition, the role of personalised support, attentive listening and strong local presence is more essential than ever.
For talents, families and institutions, it is precisely during these adjustment phases that the value of high-quality assistance becomes clear.
On the ground, Welcome Service sees every day how stable, human, locally anchored support can turn an uncertain transition into a successful relocation.
Interested in learning more about our relocation services, temporary housing solutions or administrative support?
Sources
[1] Swissinfo – Analysis of the impact of U.S. budget cuts on NGOs and international organizations
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/geneva-organisations/in-geneva-the-ripple-effect-of-aid-freeze-becomes-real/89871296
[2] Le Monde – Geneva’s international ecosystem shaken by the halt in U.S. funding
https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/03/28/a-geneve-l-ecosysteme-international-sonne-par-l-arret-du-financement-americain_6587137_3210.html
[3] Reuters – Job cuts linked to U.S. contribution reductions and the impact on UN agencies
https://www.reuters.com/world/more-than-200-jobs-cut-international-labour-organization-us-slashes-funding-2025-05-28/
[4] GlobalChallenges.ch – Official statistics on international organizations, employees and expatriates in the Geneva region
https://globalchallenges.ch/issue/17/figure/box-3-international-geneva-in-figures/
[5] Reuters – Swiss investment plan to strengthen Geneva as a global diplomatic hub
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/swiss-spend-329-million-support-geneva-diplomatic-hub-2025-06-20/
[6] Official releases from the Canton of Geneva (NGO support funds)
https://www.ge.ch/actualite