2013 Annual Report on Switzerland's International Cooperation
Bern, 23.06.2014 - The 2013 Annual Report on Switzerland's International Cooperation has been published. Published jointly by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the annual report presents the main results of Switzerland's efforts to combat poverty and global risks. The report is for the first time structured around the five strategic goals of Switzerland's international cooperation.
The five chapters of the report reflect the goals set out in the Federal Council Dispatch on Switzerland's International Cooperation for 2013–2016: crisis prevention and emergency aid, access to resources and services, sustainable economic development, democracy and the market economy, and globalisation that promotes development. The latest annual report contains articles written by project beneficiaries, interviews with employees and project descriptions, providing a direct insight into Switzerland's international cooperation work. The statistical brochure inserted in the report also contains information about the use of funds.
Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA) increased slightly from the previous year, totalling CHF 2.963 billion in 2013, i.e. 0.47% of gross national income (GNI). Switzerland thus ranks eighth among the 29 member states of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC). ODA is to be increased to 0.5% of GNI by 2015 in accordance with the Parliament's decision.
In 2013, Switzerland's international cooperation focused more strongly on fragile contexts where institutions are weak or unstable, and where the population has to endure great poverty, violence, corruption and despotic rule. During the year under review, global risks became one of the focal points of Switzerland's commitment. Phenomena such as climate change, water scarcity and a lack of food security threaten the livelihoods of millions of people. Switzerland is therefore developing innovative, cross-border solutions, taking an active part in multilateral policy dialogue, and promoting the dissemination of knowledge.
Switzerland's international cooperation work was examined and praised by the OECD last year. The findings of the OECD Development Assistance Committee's report show that the work of the SDC and SECO is bearing fruit and is contributing to the fight against poverty and the constructive handling of global risks.
In the preface of the report, SDC Director-General Martin Dahinden and State Secretary Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch note that in view of changing challenges, development cooperation will not become any easier in the future. Flexibility, tenacity and a long-term, comprehensive commitment are needed to make a contribution to resolving these complex problems.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
http://www.seco.admin.ch
