The ODA/GNI ratio in 2022 reached a record high of 0.56% (2021: 0.50%). This increase is attributable to Switzerland's participation in efforts by the international community to respond to needs created by the war in Ukraine.

Two specific Ukraine action plans have brought the total figure for aid provided on the ground to over CHF 200 million. In addition, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) paid CHF 702 million in subsidies to the cantons for hosting refugees from Ukraine, which represents just under 60% of ODA-eligible asylum costs and 16% of total ODA.

Asylum costs in Switzerland accounted for 28% of ODA in 2022, which is an all-time high. Excluding asylum costs, ODA spending was down CHF 171 million compared to 2021. The ODA/GNI ratio, excluding asylum costs, was 0.40% in 2022, compared to 0.45% in 2021. This decrease can be explained in particular by a strong increase in GNI (+6.6%) and by the supplementary efforts made in 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Role of Swiss international cooperation

Through its international cooperation, Switzerland helps to reduce poverty and responds to global challenges such as peacebuilding, human rights, pandemics and climate change, and mitigate the causes of forced displacement and irregular migration. Switzerland also plays a role in establishing sustainable, environmentally-friendly development worldwide, with a focus on the sustainable management of natural resources.

Swiss international cooperation is primarily implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the FDFA, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the FDFA's Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD). In addition to international cooperation activities, expenditures (including asylum-related costs) incurred by other federal offices are also counted as ODA in accordance with the OECD directives, as are contributions by Swiss cantons and communes.

Calculating ODA and cross-country comparison

ODA is calculated on the basis of the directives issued by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This allows a statistical comparison of the international commitments of the 31 DAC member states, based on the share of GNI each country spends on ODA.

In its press release the OECD stated that the amount spent on aid in 2022 increased in 26 DAC donor countries, in many cases because of rising asylum costs. In 2022, Switzerland ranked 9th among OECD DAC donor countries, as in 2021.

Swiss Official Development Aid (ODA) in 2022 reaches record high of 0.56% of Gross National Income (GNI) due to war in Ukraine