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A close partnership lasting more than 50 years
Swiss development cooperation with Nepal over the past fifty years has focused on subjects as diverse as cheese, trail bridges, road building, professional training, seed production, protection of human rights, peace promotion and promotion of democracy.
Retrospective
Brochure: 50 Years Nepal-Swiss Development Partnership (en)Nepal
Website of the SDC in Nepal: www.swiss-cooperation.admin.ch/nepal/
 Nepal is a priority country for Swiss
development cooperation. Switzerland’s presence there goes back to the 1950s, and it currently contributes to promoting the peace process, respect for human rights and better living conditions for
disadvantaged population groups in that country. Whereas Switzerland’s aid at the outset was almost exclusively concentrated on rural and forestry projects in the Himalayan foothills, greater
importance was attributed in the 1990s to bridge and road construction, the sustainable management of natural resources, technical training and the promotion of small enterprises. With the escalation
of the conflict between the Maoist rebels and the monarchical state, Switzerland’s work in Nepal has since 1998 increasingly focused on peace promotion and the strengthening of governance. The Swiss
cooperation strategy for Nepal for 2009-2012, formulated together with FDFA Directorate of Political Affairs, defines the present strategic conditions for the SDC’s engagement in Nepal. |
| The Swiss Government's bilateral commitment | 2009 |
2010 |
2011* |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDC | |||
| Bilateral development cooperation | 22.95 | 25.70 | 25.50 |
| Humanitarian aid | 1.16 | 0.50 | 0.10 |
| State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) | |||
| Economic Cooperation and Development | – | – | – |
| Total SDC/SECO commitment | 24.11 | 26.20 | 25.60 |
| Other Federal Offices | |||
| Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA (Political Affairs Division IV and other) | 1.14 | 0.97 | 1.43 |
| Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) | 0.35 | 0.68 | 0.60 |
| State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Total other Federal Offices | 1.50 | 1.67 | 2.05 |
| Total | 25.61 | 27.87 | 27.65 |
Bilateral development cooperation excluding program contributions to NGOs
– = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
Development Cooperation: Priorities
The intent of Switzerland in Nepal is to make an effective contribution to the attainment of selected UN Millennium Goals and to the implementation of poverty reduction strategies. Thus, it supports the peace process, democratisation and the active inclusion of disadvantaged population groups. It coordinates the use of its instruments and harmonises its activities with those of other development organisations.
Switzerland is primarily active in the following areas:
- Promoting the peace process and rule of law: Support for decentralisation; promotion of democracy; respect for human rights; reduction of and coping with potential conflicts; support for peace-promotion activities. After the abolition of the monarchy, the proclamation of a republic in June 2008, and the resignation of the Maoist government in May 2009, the political situation in Nepal continues to remain fragile. The drafting of a new Constitution, a lack of legal security and frequent exemption from punishment, integration of the Maoist troops, and the ownership of confiscated land are just some of the challenges that need to be dealt with in the near future. The SDC fosters the peace process, namely by financially contributing to the Government’s fund for peace, by supporting the organizations defending human rights, and by informing the Nepali actors concerned as to the federal structures available for them to consider (including the Swiss model).
- Rural infrastructure: Renovation and maintenance of the national road network; development of rural districts through road construction; construction and maintenance of suspension bridges; rural infrastructure (irrigation, markets).
- Vocational training: Providing socially disadvantaged groups with access to vocational education and training and broadening their employment prospects both in their own country as well as in other countries.
- Sustainable management of natural resources: Community forestry; sustainable land management; preservation of bio-diversity; augmentation of income through the marketing of agricultural and forest products.
- Health care: Support for district and communal authorities in providing services for the people.
The SDC contributes to harmonisation and coordination among donor countries, thereby encouraging the development efforts of the Nepalese people. Primarily, it works together with:
- the Nepalese government, for example with the Ministries of Transportation, Education, Agriculture and Forestry;
- district and community authorities (to the extent that they are once again functioning after the conflict);
- Nepalese non-governmental organisations;
- Swiss and international relief agencies and private firms;
- international organisations (including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank).
Humanitarian Aid: Priorities
In spite of the end of the Maoist rebellion and the signing of the peace agreement, the consequences of the ten-year conflict between the Maoist rebels and the government – forced displacement,
destruction of the infrastructure and destabilisation of the country – are present everywhere. In addition, although it seems there has been a change for the better, some 90,000 refugees from Bhutan
are still living in camps. With government approval, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) counted and registered the refugees in 2007. In the meantime, several countries (the
USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, and The Netherlands) have accepted more than 25,000 Bhutanese refugees into their territory (status: end 2009). Nepal is also endangered by
natural hazards, especially by flooding and landslides during the monsoon period and by earthquakes and drought.
The Cooperation Office in Kathmandu monitors humanitarian conditions and, together with bilateral partners and multilateral organisations, implements humanitarian activities. Financial contributions
and, in the case of necessity, experts from the Humanitarian Aid Department and the SHA have been place at the disposal of the Cooperation Office (for small-scale operations), international
organizations (the WFP, ICRC), and NGOs (Terre des Hommes) in order to assist the victims of the conflict and the natural disasters plaguing the country, as well as to help the refugees from
Bhutan.
Background information
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| Source: World Bank's World Development Indicators 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background information Nepal (BBC)
Local SDC contact address:
Nepal (Kathmandu)
Swiss Cooperation Office Nepal
Jawalakhel, Ekantakuna
P.O. Box - 113
Kathmandu - Nepal
Phone +977 155 24927
Fax +977 155 25358
Email kathmandu@sdc.net
Website www.swiss-cooperation.admin.ch/nepal/
Additional Information and Documents
Here, you will find more publications, links, documents and articles about Swiss development cooperation and humanitarian aid in this country.
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation - SDC
Contact | Legal matters | Publication Details
Local SDC contact address:
|
Nepal (Kathmandu) |
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|
Swiss Cooperation Office Nepal |
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| Phone | +977 155 24927 |
| Fax | +977 155 25358 |
| kathmandu@sdc.net | |
| Website | www.swiss-cooperation.admin.ch/nepal/ |
 |
Additional Information and Documents Here, you will find more publications, links, documents and articles about Swiss development cooperation and humanitarian aid in this country. |