All news (849)
Switzerland to participate in the first impact investment in the humanitarian sector
08.09.2017
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Press release
EDA
The ICRC, with the support of Switzerland and other donor countries, is today launching an innovative model for financing humanitarian aid. The Programme for Humanitarian Impact Investments (PHII) is inspired by the concept of social impact bonds. This is a novel approach in the humanitarian field, with private investment helping to bring physical rehabilitation services to more people in need of such care. The PHII offers the ICRC a means to diversify and grow its funding base while limiting the financial risk incurred by public donors.
Switzerland's priorities at the 72nd UN General Assembly
06.09.2017
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Press release
EDA
Building peace and security, especially by stepping up mediation capacity and conflict prevention, and strengthening the role of human rights are just two of the foreign policy priorities that Switzerland aims to implement during the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter and FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl will represent Switzerland in New York from 18 September 2017 during the high-level week that coincides with the opening of the UN General Assembly.
Sports diplomacy: 20 young Colombian athletes visit Switzerland
01.09.2017
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Press release
EDA
Twenty young Colombians are currently in Switzerland as part of a visit organised jointly by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aim of the visit is to allow these young people – who come from a region mired in conflict – to learn more about training techniques while discovering popular Swiss sports, and to use sport to give them hope for a better life away from crime and violence.
“Eine Welt/Un seul monde” – edition on water and conflict
30.08.2017
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Local news
DEZA
The increasing demand for energy from the world’s ever-growing population, food production and climate change make water a scarce and contested resource. But transborder cooperation defuses tensions and can benefit everyone.
Satellite technology protects smallholder farmers against crop losses
25.08.2017
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Article
DEZA
Following a drought, 203,000 smallholders in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu were paid compensation by the national crop insurance scheme in July 2017. The extent of the damage was determined quickly and accurately using satellite measurement technology. Those affected were thus promptly compensated for their lost rice crops. A special project lies behind this success: RIICE.
Switzerland renews its commitment to fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
23.08.2017
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Council has approved a budget of CHF 57 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) for the period from 2017 to 2019. As host country and one of the founding members, Switzerland has been an important partner for the Global Fund since it was created in 2002. Over the past 15 years, the Global Fund has helped save millions of lives and made great strides in combating these diseases. As ongoing pandemics, however, they still pose a major public health problem in middle and low-income countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, millions of deaths could still be avoided each year.
Fires in Portugal: Switzerland sends helicopters to help tackle blazes
19.08.2017
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Press release
EDA
Wildfires are currently raging across several regions of Portugal. Responding to a call for assistance by Portuguese authorities, Switzerland is dispatching three helicopters and crews to help contain the fires.
Montenegro wildfires: Switzerland deploys a helicopter and sends a detachment
19.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
Fires have been raging in Montenegro for several days, devastating a number of areas. The scale of the situation has led the country's authorities to ask for international assistance. Today, Switzerland is dispatching a Swiss army helicopter from the KFOR base in Kosovo and a humanitarian team from Bern.
Switzerland an active participant at the 2017 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
19.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
On Wednesday, 19 July 2017, the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at UN headquarters in New York comes to an end. The forum is an annual event held for the purpose of reviewing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015. One year ago, 22 countries, including Switzerland, reported to the forum on their initial measures for implementation of the 2030 Agenda; this year, national implementation reports were presented by double that number of countries. In addition, thematic evaluations focusing on specific SDGs were conducted, with Switzerland playing an active role in the deliberations.
Ambassador Thomas Greminger appointed OSCE Secretary General: Switzerland now with a renewed stake in Europe's cooperative security
18.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland welcomes the appointment of Ambassador Thomas Greminger as Secretary General of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). "This new OSCE appointment reflects our desire to make a tangible long-term contribution to the security of Europe through cooperation," said Federal Councillor and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Didier Burkhalter. Mr Burkhalter thanked the Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE and all the participating states for arriving at the consensus in the Ministerial Council so essential to ensuring the efficient functioning of this institution built on dialogue and joint action.
Kooperationsstrategie Schweiz-Benin auf Präsidialebene lanciert
13.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
Bundespräsidentin Doris Leuthard hat am Donnerstag, 13. Juli 2017, in Benins Hauptstadt Cotonou Präsident Patrice Talon getroffen. Im Zentrum des Besuchs standen die Vertiefung der bilateralen Beziehungen sowie die gemeinsamen Ziele auf internationaler Ebene. Benin ist seit 1981 ein Schwerpunktland der Direktion für Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit (DEZA). Anlässlich des Besuchs wurde auf Präsidialebene die Schweizer Kooperationsstrategie für Benin 2017-2020 lanciert.
Switzerland welcomes approval of UN resolution regarding the Statistical Commission’s work on 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
06.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
On 6 July 2017 the UN General Assembly approved the statistical resolution entitled “Work of the UN Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. Switzerland made a decisive contribution to the approval of this resolution and was actively involved in its elaboration.