All news (849)
"Through perseverance and with real willpower, we can win the fight against poverty."
27.08.2015
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Article
DEZA
Hans Rosling is an internationally renowned professor of public health. In his presentation he wanted to break away from some of our preconceived ideas about the future of the world and offer a glimmer of hope, steering clear of naive optimism.
Human rights at the centre of the SDC's work in Honduras
25.08.2015
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Article
DEZA
During the visit of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein to Bern on 25 August 2015, FDFA State Secretary Yves Rossier formalised SDC financing for a new office of the High Commissioner in Honduras. The new structure will further the efforts Switzerland has made in the country since 2011 in the field of human rights.
Health, a human right
21.08.2015
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Press release
DEZA
At the Annual Development Cooperation Conference of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, the focus was on healthcare – a priority theme for Swiss development cooperation, given the key contribution it makes to peace, security and economic stability. In his opening speech, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter also looked ahead to the future, setting out both the principal points covered by the new Dispatch on Switzerland's International Cooperation in 2017-2020 and the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which will take on next year from where the Millennium Development Goals have left off.
«Eine Welt / Un seul monde» – dossier on health
20.08.2015
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Article
DEZA
World Humanitarian Day comes to Expo Milano 2015
19.08.2015
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Article
DEZA
In conflict situations, the food security of victims goes hand in hand with the safety of aid workers. This in a nutshell is the message that Switzerland and the United Nations wanted to get across at the event they co-organised at Expo Milano on Wednesday 19 August 2015. A "humanitarian parade" was the highlight of the day.
Background report on commodities: implementation of recommendations well on the way
19.08.2015
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Press release
EDA
During its meeting today, the Federal Council approved the second status report on the implementation of the recommendations made in the background report on commodities. The report shows that real progress has been made in many areas and that legislative processes have been initiated or completed. The Federal Council wishes to rigorously pursue the implementation of the recommendations in order to strengthen the framework conditions and reduce the risks.
Flooding in Myanmar: Switzerland commits an extra CHF 500,000
17.08.2015
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Press release
EDA
In Myanmar over a million people continue to suffer the consequences of the severe flooding that has affected the country since late July. Given the scale of the disaster, Swiss Humanitarian Aid has decided to commit an additional CHF 500,000. This brings the Swiss Confederation's emergency aid contribution to over CHF 600,000.
Switzerland strengthens commitment to gender equality and food security
12.08.2015
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Council is strengthening Switzerland's commitment to UN Women, the United Nations organisation dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, and to IFAD, the International Fund for Agricultural Development. The aim is to contribute even more effectively in future to improving both the situation of disadvantaged women and girls, and global food security. To this end, Switzerland is raising its general annual contributions to UN Women to CHF 16 million for 2015-2017, and to IFAD to CHF 15 million for the 2016-2018 period.
Development as seen by young people
05.08.2015
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Article
DEZA
International Youth Day has been celebrated globally since 2000. It provides an opportunity to hear what the young men and women who benefit from and partner the SDC have to say. In Lebanon, Central America, Zimbabwe and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, young people are committed to bringing about a better, more equitable and more secure world.
"Addis Ababa has left me confident with regard to the post-2015 agenda"
29.07.2015
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Article
DEZA
The Third International Conference on Financing for Development took place in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa from 13 to 16 July 2015. The international community agreed on a framework to implement and finance sustainable development. Ambassador Michael Gerber was chief negotiator in the Swiss delegation. In an interview he describes the negotiations and their results.
New framework to implement and finance sustainable development: Switzerland welcomes outcome of Addis Ababa conference
16.07.2015
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Press release
EDA
The Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, attended by some 30 heads of government, over 100 ministers and around 7,000 representatives from politics, civil society, the private sector and academia, has come to a close. After tough negotiations, the international community has agreed on a new framework to implement and finance sustainable development. The framework opens the way for adoption at the United Nations Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda in September of the new goals to replace the Millennium Development Goals, which expire at the end of this year. The Swiss delegation qualified the outcome of the Addis Ababa conference as a "groundbreaking" success.
Humanitarian, technical and financial cooperation: Switzerland and Ethiopia sign a framework agreement
15.07.2015
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Press release
EDA
Today in Addis Ababa, the Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Manuel Sager and the Minister of State for Finance and Economic Development of Ethiopia, Ahmed Shide, have signed a framework agreement on humanitarian aid and technical and financial cooperation, which enters into force with its signing. The agreement provides for strengthened cooperation between Switzerland and Ethiopia in the areas of food security, managing natural resources, social development and the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons.