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25.1.2013–1.6.2013, Bern KäfigturmEgypt
The popular uprisings in
Egypt at the beginning of 2011 shook Egyptian society and state structures. In order to ensure that conditions were as favourable as possible for a successful transition to democracy, the Federal
Council reacted rapidly and on 11 March 2011 it decided to considerably increase Switzerland's activity in the medium term.
The Swiss programme for North Africa for the period 2011–2016 responds to the priorities on the ground and concentrates on three key areas:
| Swiss International Cooperation | 2011 |
2012 |
2013* |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDC | |||
| Bilateral development cooperation | 2.63 | 7.19 | 6.00 |
| Humanitarian aid | 0.52 | 0.40 | – |
| State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) | |||
| Economic Cooperation and Development | 6.33 | 4.38 | 7.91 |
| Total SDC/SECO | 9.48 | 11.97 | 13.91 |
| Other Federal Offices | |||
| FDFA Human Security Division and Directorate of International Law | 0.60 | 1.07 | 1.30 |
| The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) | 0.07 | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| Total other Federal Offices | 0.67 | 1.17 | 1.40 |
| Cantons and municipalities | 0.04 | .. | .. |
| Total | 10.19 | 13.14 | 15.31 |
SDC figures excluding program contributions to NGOs
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
Switzerland's activity
The Swiss programme for Egypt is to be implemented in a coordinated, coherent and complementary manner by the various units of the Swiss government, i.e., the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO); the FDFA’s Directorate of Political Affairs (PD), Directorate of Public International Law (DPIL), and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); and the Federal Office for Migration (FOM).
Switzerland’s support is based on a focused and sustainable partnership that responds to needs. Equality of treatment for men and women is an integral part of all projects. For the purpose of implementation, a programme office has been incorporated into the Swiss Embassy in Cairo. The current status of operational activities is as follows (status of October 2012):
Domaine 1: Transition vers la démocratie et droits humains
Electoral process and political dialogue:
- Support for strengthening the electoral and elections-observation commission/international evaluation of parliamentary and presidential elections in Egypt in partnership with the UNDP and the Carter Center – SDC
- Support for activities in Egypt in the framework of the regional programme of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), an independent centre that enjoys worldwide recognition – SDC
- Support for exchange and dialogue forums for the purpose of formulating concrete recommendations and drafting new laws and a constitution that could be presented to all segments of Egyptian society and defended as appropriate – PD
- Inclusive dialogue between different political forces – DP
Security Sector Reform:
- Support in relation to Security Sector Reform as currently under discussion, in partnership with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) – SDC
Specific project
Recovery of illicit assets and efforts to combat corruption:
- Technical assistance and focused support of the authorities concerned, in the framework of legal assistance, with a view to the possible recovery of any illicit assets deposited in Switzerland –
DPIL and PD
Specific project (de) - Training for judges at the Court of Appeals on how to deal with cases of high level corruption – SDC
Strengthening civil society, human rights and a dealing with the past approach:
- Analytical study of the role of women’s associations in post-revolutionary Egypt – SDC
- Support for organisations for the defence of human rights and for prevention and assistance to the victims of torture – PD
Specific project - Strengthening of the role of civil society and young people in the transition process and in the realisation of the principles of equality and citizenship; support for an inclusive process of promoting the participation of women in the democratic process – DP
- Support for the establishment of a regional office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Egypt – SDC/PD
- In preparation: various initiatives on dealing with the past and on the fight against impunity (rights of victims to know, right to justice, right to reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and the duties of States), notably awareness raising in civil society and protection of archives – PD
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In preparation: support for civil society organisations in the implementation of their cooperation projects with the Constituent Assembly and its elected members – DP
Domaine 2: Economic development and employment
Job creation and strengthening of the private sector:
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Job creation programme, through development of the production, distribution and sale of farmed fish. This project would also help to improve the nutrition of poorer segments of the population, fish being the cheapest source of animal protein – SDC
Specific project -
Development and support of a value added chain in the medicinal and aromatic plants sector. The aim of the project is to improve quality at various levels, from growers to processors and exporters, in accordance with international standards, adding value so as to gain easier access to the market – SECO
Specific project -
Switzerland has already given support to SMEs and job creation in Egypt through the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM), and will continue this programme – SECO
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Support for the Egyptian National Cleaner Production Centre (ENCPC) with a view to improving the competitiveness of local industries through in-house production processes. Strengthening private sector social responsibility practices. Implementation of management systems with respect to the environment, safety and health – SECO
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A business plan drafting project to establish an open and transparent service platform to encourage competition and innovation in the area of micro-insurances is in preparation – SECO
- Establishment of a finance structure for projects on financial inclusion for marginal populations by developing micro-finance and micro-insurance products and services – SDC
Improvement of the climate for investment and competitiveness
- Support for the Egyptian system of intellectual property rights as a means of increasing the international competitiveness of the Egyptian economy, encouraging trade and investment. This cooperation will support Egypt in its efforts to establish a system of intellectual property rights which will improve the business environment, encourage the transfer of technological know-how, facilitate exports and contribute to the country's economic development – SECO
- Introduction of commercial mediation in Egypt as a means of settling commercial disputes more rapidly and more cheaply in order to improve the business environment in the country – SECO.
Specific project - Establishment of a program focusing on the investment climate and access to financing, the aim being to reduce regulations that hamper business during their life cycle. This programme completes the previous activities of SECO, in particular the business start-up facilitation project - SECO(Business Start-up Simplification) – SECO
- Establishment of a site for micro, small and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) in the MENA zone to improve framework conditions for their finance, to develop the capacities of financial institutions for sustainable micro-financing and to support the business development services of the MSMEs (in preparation) – SECO
Improvement of access to basic public infrastructures and services:
- Programme for the governorate of Aswan designed to improve the quality of drinking water, reduce the amount of water consumed and provide more efficient and profitable irrigation systems. Water consumers associations are to be created in parallel, and technical support will be provided to Aswan regional institutions – SDC
- Participation in a project for the construction of sewage treatment plants and sewage systems in the three governorates of the Nile Delta and, in parallel, a pilot project for the installation by EAWAG of innovative sewage systems – SECO
- Participation in a project for the construction of water supply installations as well as sewage treatment plant and sewage systems in four governorates of Upper Egypt – SECO
- The last mixed credit line for Egypt was opened in 1997 for a total of CHF 100 million. The remainder of this sum is being used to finance the modernisation and centralisation of blood transfusion services and the modernisation of radiology services in Egyptian hospitals – SECO.
- Other projects for the financing of infrastructure in the areas of water treatment and sewage and of the treatment of garbage are also in preparation – SECO
Public Financial Management
- Strengthening of debt management capacities, sustainable contribution to public finance and improvement of macro-economic stability (Debt Management and Financial Analysis System) – SECO
- Support for the reform agenda and modernisation of the Egyptian Tax Authority. Improvement of fiscal compliance and facilitation of the launch of VAT – SECO.
- Strengthening of capacities of fiscal management in order to support reforms of public finance management – SECO
Domaine 3: Migration and protection
- Support for a pilot project of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) that aims to improve access to medical services for vulnerable migrants in detention on the Sinai Peninsula, to strengthen the capacities of the authorities (police, detention centre) and the medical centres to meet their needs, and to promote the rights of migrants in general – SDC
- A discussion panel was organised in the autumn of 2011 on the new migration challenges facing Egypt and the region following the «Arab Spring», with the participation of international experts including from Egypt and Switzerland. A follow-up mission for the identification of operational paths is under consideration – FOM, PD, SDC
- Financing by the EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative JMDI/UNDP of a regional project for local migration administration, the purpose being to take greater advantage of the migration-related potential for local economic development, in partnership with civil society – SDC
Information about Egypt
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| Source: World Bank's World Development Indicators 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Local SDC contact address:
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Egypt (Cairo) |
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Programme Office Egypt |
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| Phone | +20 (0) 2 2795 1536 +20 (0) 2 2794 3638 |
| Fax | +20 (0) 2 2795 9413 |
| cairo@sdc.net | |
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Additional Information and Documents Here, you will find more publications, links, documents and articles about Swiss development cooperation and humanitarian aid in this country. |