Switzerland's official development assistance in 2015

Bern, 13.04.2016 - With an official development assistance (ODA) rate of 0.52% of its gross national income (GNI), Switzerland remained in 2015 in the top third of donor countries according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Switzerland ranks 8th among the 29 member states of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which will publish its ranking this Wednesday. Switzerland spends over 13% of its ODA on hosting asylum seekers during their first year in Switzerland.

In 2015, Switzerland spent CHF 3.404 billion on ODA (0.52% of GNI), an increase of CHF 182 million from 2014. This increase was made possible by additional funds made available in recent years by Parliament.

ODA contributions are calculated on the basis on common guidelines drawn up by the DAC which allow an international comparison. According to the press release published on Wednesday by the OECD (see link), 22 of the 29 CAD member states, including Switzerland, increased their ODA commitments in 2015.

Switzerland's ODA/GNI ratio went from 0.50% in 2014 to 0.52% in 2015. Switzerland has therefore retained the 8th place in the ranking of CAD member states. The share of GNI spent on official development assistance is an internationally recognised indicator that allows comparisons of the level of ODA contributions made by different countries. In absolute money figures, Switzerland ranks 11th in ODA spending.

Switzerland's official development assistance is mainly allocated by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs acting through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and by the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) acting through the Economic Cooperation and Development Division of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Besides expenditure on humanitarian aid, development cooperation, and economic cooperation and transition cooperation in the countries of Eastern Europe allocated by the SDC and SECO, the ODA figures include other public spending eligible to be designated as ODA, in particular expenditure in the areas of peacebuilding, human rights and asylum . In 2015, Switzerland spent 13.4% of its ODA on receiving asylum seekers from developing countries during their first year in Switzerland.

The annual report on Switzerland's development cooperation published jointly by the SDC and SECO in June will contain detailed information on the utilisation of funds allocated to ODA in 2015.


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State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
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https://www.admin.ch/content/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-61330.html