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Framework credits 2013–2016
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Humanitarian Aid  Humanitarian Aid 

Cooperation with developing countries Cooperation with developing countries

Economic and trade policy measures Economic and trade policy measures

Cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe and the CIS Cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe and the CIS

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Project examples of three global programmes

Water
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Scarcity of water is threatening millions of hectares of rice fields. The International Rice Research Consortium supported by the SDC has trained over 125,000 farmers in South and East Asia in the use of an irrigation technique that requires up to 30% less water for the same crop yield.


Climate change
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China is one of the three largest producers of greenhouse gases. Consequently, its climate policy is a matter of importance for the world as a whole. The SDC is helping China draw up new national climate legislation. In addition, as part of the “Low Carbon Cities China” initiative, Switzerland has entered into partnership with five Chinese cities with a population of over a million. The goal is to promote the introduction of climate-friendly energy management based on the model of the Swiss Energy City and the “European Energy Award”.
 More information on this project

Finance and Trade
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Taxation is indispensable for financing public services and reducing dependency on external support. With the help of SECO, countries such as Ghana and Mozambique have initiated both fiscal and administrative reforms. In Ghana this resulted in an increase in tax revenue relative to gross domestic product from 12.7% to 18.8% between 2002 and 2010, enabling the country to provide a higher level of internal financing in the fight against poverty.

Focus on global risks and fragile states

Programmes globaux

Switzerland’s International Cooperation is focusing more strongly on global challenges and cross-border risks, who damage development opportunities, particularly for poor countries :

  • climate change
  • lack of food security
  • water shortages
  • inadequate access to healthcare
  • migration
  • economic and financial instability

Switzerland is developing innovative solutions in these areas as part of its “global programmes”. This will enable Switzerland to exert a targeted influence on international policy and the negotiation of global regulations.

Switzerland is strengthening its commitment in fragile states: inadequate state structures further heighten the problem of poverty. Weak governance, a lack of legal security and corruption can all nullify the successes achieved through development. According to the World Bank, per capita income increases threefold in countries in which governance is improved.

Switzerland is committed to democracy, the rule of law and human rights and promotes effective state and civil society institutions. As a neutral country with no colonial baggage, Switzerland is well placed to work in this difficult field and achieve good results.

Examples of projects in fragile states

Afghanistan Afghanistan: As part of the justice and police reforms in Afghanistan, the SDC is assisting in the recruitment of female police officers. By the beginning of 2011, 1241 women had been trained for the national police. Their work focuses primarily on investigating crimes against women and children, one effect of which is that women are better able to assert their rights in criminal prosecutions.

Nepal Nepal: Since the end of the civil war, Nepal has been going through a period of upheaval, which has weakened administrative effectiveness. The SDC is working together with local authorities to improve administrative accountability to the population and to facilitate greater access to state services for disadvantaged population groups. As a result, administrative effectiveness has considerably improved thanks to public consultations and citizens meetings. In addition, the budget earmarked for the reduction of disadvantages was doubled from 2010 to 2011. 

Sud Soudan South Sudan: In the Republic of South Sudan, the SDC has supported the establishment of an independent, multilingual radio station which has been broadcasting 168 hours of programmes per month since 2006. The journalists are professional and independent and have covered the implementation of the peace agreements, the referendum and the general elections.

Additional Information and Documents