Partnerships + alliances - the key roles of some participants

The SDC works with a variety of partners, carefully manages its network and favors certain forms of partnerships:

Always with an eye on effectiveness, the SDC supports those countries where government and civil society, at their own initiative, make specific efforts to further their development
In countries where the political will exists, but which are unable to fulfill certain preconditions, the SDC provides support for the establishment and strengthening of institutional capacities of governments and civil society so that these countries can better make their own efforts.
In countries where the preconditions for cooperation based on partnership with the government or civil society are absent, a federal government edict can suspend or break off existing relations or not establish relations
Humanitarian aid activities are exempt from these conditions.

For cooperation with partner organizations inside and outside Switzerland the following criteria apply: effectiveness, credibility and plurality. Partnerships are entered into with governmental, non-governmental and multilateral organizations. Where the SDC awards contracts, it adheres to the principle of transparence and, in cases of agreements with partners, these are based on the following principles:

Cooperation builds on transparent and reciprocal performance agreements.
The cooperation period is set down and subject to a deadline.
Both sides monitor the effectiveness of the cooperation work.

The SDC enters into alliances and reinforces existing alliances with opinion makers in civil society and the private sector.

Within the federal administration, the SDC is in charge of coordinating Switzerland's international cooperation efforts. It implements this task in close cooperation with other federal offices such as the Directorate of Political Affairs in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco) in the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL) in the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), the Federal Office for Migration (FOM) in the Federal Office for Justice and Police (DJP), the Federal office for Agriculture (FOAG) in the DEA, the Federal Finance Administration (FFA) of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) as well as the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS).