All news (850)
Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation: first high-level meeting on progress since Busan
15.04.2014
—
Press release
EDA
From 15 to 16 April 2014, a Swiss delegation headed by the SDC director-general, Martin Dahinden, will take part in the first high-level meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. The participants will discuss progress achieved in the implementation of the measures determined in 2011 in the South Korean city of Busan to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of development cooperation. At the meeting Switzerland will advocate in particular for greater ownership on the part of the individual partner countries, a more results-oriented approach, comprehensive partnerships, transparency, and mutual accountability.
«Changes must take place in both donor and recipient states»
14.04.2014
—
Article
DEZA
Donor states in the field of international development cooperation want to improve the effectiveness of the aid they offer. To this end, representatives of these states are to meet in Mexico from 15 to 16 April 2014 to attend the first High Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. SDC director-general Martin Dahinden will lead the Swiss delegation in Mexico. In this interview he explains what the meeting will be about and what changes have been made in international and Swiss development cooperation over recent years.
Yves Rossier meets the Bolivian foreign minister, David Choquehuanca Céspedes
11.04.2014
—
Article
DEZA
The SDC at the Geneva Health Forum
11.04.2014
—
Article
DEZA
The Geneva Health Forum will take place in Geneva from 15–17 April. The SDC is supporting the international conference and will be actively involved through a number of activities. Health-care professionals will be discussing «Global health: interconnected challenges, integrated solutions».
Optimising transit container control implies a strong regional police cooperation
08.04.2014
—
Article
DEZA
Interview with Besnik Murrani, Albanian customs officer
Since 2006, Besnik Murrani has been working as a customs officer at the port of Durrës, situated 30km from Tirana, the capital of Albania. He and his team are receiving training financed by the SDC as part of an inter-regional police cooperation project in the Western Balkans. Established by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Customs Organisation, the “Container Control Programme” is helping Balkan countries to fight organised crime in a more coordinated manner.
Switzerland
08.04.2014
—
Press release
EDA
Switzerland spent CHF 2.964 billion on official development assistance (ODA) in 2013, an increase of 3.4% compared with 2012. With an ODA of 0.47% of gross national income (GNI) in 2013, Switzerland ranks 8th among the 29 member states of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which is publishing its ODA rankings this Tuesday.
The SDC maintains its efforts for the reconstruction of Rwanda
07.04.2014
—
Article
DEZA
Twenty years since Rwanda was devastated by war in 1994, a certain amount of stability has returned in the country. Together with other donors, Switzerland has made major contributions to the ongoing reconstruction efforts. The current SDC operations in Rwanda seek to further improve the working of institutions to give the population access to good quality basic services and an environment conducive to employment.
Ambassador Manuel Sager appointed new head of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
02.04.2014
—
Press release
EDA
The Federal Council has appointed the current Swiss ambassador in Washington, Manuel Sager, as the new head of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Manuel Sager has long experience in the international, financial policy and economic fields and in particular gained a very solid understanding of the challenges of development policy during his posting at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He will take up his new post on 1 November 2014, succeeding Martin Dahinden, who will become the new ambassador in Washington.
Switzerland-Nigeria: a migration partnership that has evolved in three years
01.04.2014
—
Press release
EDA
Over three years after Switzerland and Nigeria signed their migration partnership agreement, the delegations of these two countries met today in Abuja for the 5th technical committee meeting. One of the main points of discussion was Switzerland's recently launched regional migration and development programme in West Africa, for which Nigeria is one of the main beneficiaries. The meeting also enabled follow-up of the June 2013 joint action plan to counter irregular migration, improve police cooperation and assess progress made in various projects.
World Water Day – Switzerland calls for a comprehensive water goal in the post-2015 agenda
21.03.2014
—
Article
DEZA
World Water Day is on 22 March. The conservation of global water resources is a priority for Switzerland. Numerous global issues and challenges are connected with water security – for example, food security, energy production, environmental protection and the health of the world population. Switzerland is calling for a comprehensive water goal to be set on the agenda of the post-2015 development and sustainability objectives with a strategy consisting of four key areas of action.
Strengthening national health systems: a priority for the SDC
14.03.2014
—
Article
DEZA
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) devotes 10% of its budget to promoting and improving health care around the world. Debora Kern, health sector policy adviser with the SDC, believes Switzerland has a big part to play in reminding states of their crucial role in the provision of health care.
Swiss Humanitarian Aid Annual Conference: new instruments for more complex crises
14.03.2014
—
Press release
EDA
"Living Humanitarian Responsibility" is the title of this year's Annual Conference of Swiss Humanitarian Aid. At the annual conference on 14 March, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr Didier Burkhalter, and SDC Director-General Martin Dahinden spoke about Switzerland's humanitarian actors. Swiss experts gave presentations on the response by Swiss Humanitarian Aid to current crises.