All news (849)
"Humans must remain at the centre of the fight against desertification"
11.06.2014
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Article
DEZA
On 17 June 2014, the SDC will co-organise a public conference in Geneva to mark World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. The speakers will address the role of ecosystems in this context. Yves Guinand, programme officer within the Food Security Section of the SDC, will present Switzerland's position at the event.
Federal Council report on Switzerland
30.05.2014
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Council has adopted a report about Switzerland’s efforts to promote health and sex education in developing countries to combat HIV/AIDS and the boom in demographic growth in response to a postulate submitted by National Councillor Doris Fiala in 2013. The report sets out Switzerland's contribution to sexual and reproductive health, especially in the context of the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Federal Council report on Switzerland
28.05.2014
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Council has adopted a report about Switzerland’s efforts to promote health and sex education in developing countries to combat HIV/AIDS and the boom in demographic growth in response to a postulate submitted by National Councillor Doris Fiala in 2013. The report sets out Switzerland's contribution to sexual and reproductive health, especially in the context of the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Federal Council submits to Parliament dispatch on enlargement contribution to Croatia
28.05.2014
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Council has submitted to Parliament its dispatch on the approval of a framework credit for an enlargement contribution of CHF 45 million to Croatia. Switzerland's commitment in Croatia is in keeping with the policy it has pursued in recent years with regard to the countries of Eastern Europe to support them in their modernisation efforts. This policy is in Switzerland's economic interests, and not only strengthens relations with these countries, but also helps to create jobs. The Federal Council had announced the framework credit on 30 April 2014, when a corresponding addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the EU was adopted. Parliament has yet to approve the contribution. The money should then be committed to specific projects in Croatia by the end of May 2017.
Switzerland and China intensify cooperation in the area of water management
27.05.2014
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland and China are particularly severely affected by the impacts of climate change on water management. For this reason, they are extending their cooperation in this area. Representatives of both countries have signed a corresponding agreement at a high-level meeting in Crans- Montana. Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard and the Chinese Vice Minister of Water Resources Hu Siyi highlighted the importance of this cooperation.
Switzerland sends more experts to flooded areas of Serbia and of Bosnia and Herzegovina
25.05.2014
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Press release
EDA
To help deal with the consequences of the devastating floods in the Balkans, Swiss Humanitarian Aid has deployed additional experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) to the affected regions. Moreover, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has allocated an additional CHF 300,000 for immediate action.
Switzerland sends relief aid to Serbia and to Bosnia and Herzegovina
23.05.2014
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Press release
EDA
In response to the severe flooding in various regions of the Western Balkans, Switzerland is sending an initial delivery of relief aid comprising instruments for treating and distributing drinking water to the disaster zone. In addition, the teams of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA), which have been in Serbia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the beginning of this week, will be reinforced with additional personnel.
Insights into Switzerland
21.05.2014
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Press release
EDA
As a mountainous country, Switzerland has a long tradition of coping with natural hazards such as floods, avalanches and landslides. As part of the Economic and Environmental Forum of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP), the government of the Canton of Valais organised two field visits that offered around 120 OSCE representatives insights into Switzerland's integrated risk management and promoted cooperation among states.
Switzerland commits an additional CHF 4.5 million for South Sudan
20.05.2014
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland has allocated an additional CHF 4.5 million for the victims of the crisis in South Sudan. This was announced on Tuesday at a conference of donor countries held in Oslo. Switzerland’s overall financial commitment to humanitarian aid for this country in the Horn of Africa will amount to CHF 18 million in 2014.
«Over time, we have progressed towards an integrated risk management.»
19.05.2014
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Article
DEZA
At the invitation of Switzerland's OSCE Chairmanship, around 150 delegates from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will meet in Montreux on 20 May to discuss the prevention of natural disasters. The next day, they will undertake two field visits in the Canton of Valais to learn about Switzerland's expertise in this field. A member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA), Eric Bardou also works in Valais as a water engineer for the Research Centre on Alpine Environment (CREALP). Because of this dual role, he played a key part in the organisation of the field visits.
50 years of diplomatic relations, 10 years of development cooperation: Switzerland and Mongolia celebrate a double jubilee
19.05.2014
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Press release
EDA
In 2014, Switzerland and Mongolia celebrate their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of Swiss development cooperation in Mongolia. To mark this occasion SDC director Martin Dahinden will travel to Ulaanbaatar from 20 to 22 May where he will meet high-level government representatives and represent Switzerland at the official celebrations.
«We do whatever is possible»
16.05.2014
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Article
DEZA
An engineer by profession, Henri Stalder has been a member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) since 2002. He has taken part in SHA missions in several countries in this capacity. Since January 2014 has Henri Stalder been made available to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria where he runs the shelter sector. This sector provides emergency accommodation to displaced persons and reconstructs damaged buildings. Henri Stalder embodies the various types of support Switzerland provides to the victims of the conflict. Interview performed in May 2014.