Print page

Cooperation programme

Peace, social cohesion and prosperity constitute an essential aim of Swiss foreign policy in Central Asia, Switzerland’s engagement in the region began in the 1990s when Uzbekistan and three other Central Asian States joined the Swiss-led voting groups at the World Bank (WB), international Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This marked the beginning of Switzerland’s engagement in the region, which has expanded ever since.

The new Swiss Cooperation Programme 2022–2025 for Central Asia was jointly elaborated by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It reaffirms Switzerland’s continued commitment to Central Asia. Switzerland will build on its past achievements and wants to make an effective contribution to the region’s development pathways.

The programme 2022–2025 is focusing on three areas:

  1. Water, Infrastructure, and Climate Change
  2. Governance, Human Rights, and Service Delivery
  3. Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development

Looking back: Swiss Results and Lessons learnt from 2017 to 2021

Looking forward: Perspectives for the new Programme 2022–25

Objectives of the Swiss Cooperation Programme in Uzbekistan 2022–2025

The overall goal of the Swiss Cooperation Programme Central Asia 2022–2025 is to contribute to peace and social cohesion as well as to responsive and strengthened institutions and sustainable development in order to improve the resilience of the population in Central Asia. The Swiss programme will strongly emphasise regional coherence and synergies.

The Swiss programme will build on past interventions in the region to support the sustainable and equitable management of (sub-) river basins at regional and transboundary levels.

More specific aims for these regional and national outcomes are to:

  • Support the development of national legal and policy frameworks for the implementation of integrated water resource management IWRM
  • Improve data collection and sharing to support the use of evidence to inform water management, adaption to climate change, and policy dialogue
  • Improve the capacity of water management institutions at national and regional levels.
  • Support the implementation of basin plans in selected basins.
  • Promote climate-resilient urban planning in selected secondary cities.
  • Facilitate collaboration and dialogue towards more climate-resilient water management by building up a community of practice through policy dialogue, scientific evidence and targeted communication/dialogue.

Results framework for Uzbekistan:
The legal framework for the implementation of IWRM is approved and implemented at national level.
People access quality, sustainable and affordable public services.
Rural communities are better prepared to manage the effects of climate change.

Switzerland’s programme objective is to foster inclusive and accountable governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights for the benefit of all.

Results framework for Uzbekistan:
People have access to information, know their rights and are able to freely express their views and opinions.
The capacity of authorities’ governance systems at all levels is enhanced in regard to transparency and accountability.

The Central Asian region faces major challenges in managing its post COVID-19 recovery and in overcoming structural constraints. In response, the Swiss cooperation programme will foster economic recovery, resilience, and reform. It will also stimulate the creation of sound macroeconomic conditions; a conducive business environment; improved access to less risky, more affordable, value-adding finance and markets; strengthened value chains; and a skilled workforce.

The Swiss programme will support the management of labour migration, including fostering fair and ethical recruitment, skills matching and recognition between countries of origin and destination, and decent working conditions on the Central Asian – Russian Federation corridor. The support to migration related projects will be coordinated with the activities conducted under the economic pillar such as private sector development, remittance facilitation, VET.

Results framework for Uzbekistan:
The employers (MSMEs, government and others) have better access to a higher-skilled workforce that meets their requirements.
MSMEs and individuals have affordable access to responsible financial services (incl. environmentally friendly and digital ones) in a stable and inclusive financial sector.

Programme Management and Implementation

At regional level, Switzerland will work with the Central Asia Regional Environmental Centre (CAREC) and potentially with the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). Both institutions require substantial strengthening to play their regional role. Switzerland will also continue to use the diplomatic channels of the Blue Peace Initiative to conduct a dialogue on regional water and climate change issues with concerned governments. It will carry on working with the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, which pursues a regional approach.

At national level, Switzerland will continue to work at all levels (macro, meso, and micro) and strengthen its partnerships with governmental agencies, development partners and civil society. Switzerland will cooperate with a mix of modalities, including mandates, and contributions to multilateral agencies, bilateral projects with Swiss, international and local NGOs, and support for civil society and the private sector.

Switzerland will pay particular attention to the complementarity of its activities with like-minded development partners as well as with multilateral organisations. 

Start of page
Last update 19.07.2022