Europe, Middle East and North Africa

The year 2022 was replete with major challenges: climate disasters, the war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as energy and food crises. Switzerland's engagement made an important contribution to efforts to overcome these pressing issues. The Swiss International Cooperation – Annual Report 2022 has compiled the key stories, facts and figures from this year.

Together with Ambassador Maya Tissafi, SDC Director General Patricia Danzi has visited Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The focus of the visit was on Switzerland's humanitarian work.

The SDC has been working in Egypt since 2017 to improve drinking water management and make water distribution more equitable in disadvantaged neighbourhoods of the Aswan Governorate. Egypt, where COP27 is being held in early November, is among the African countries with the highest water stress.

Sandro Didebashvili is one of seven students from the Swiss Agricultural School Caucasus in Georgia who visited Switzerland for two weeks, learning about animal husbandry, fodder and cheesemaking. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supports Georgia in agricultural education and training.

The Zürcher Theater Spektakel will welcome international artists from the Global South and East from 18 August to 4 September 2022. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has a long-standing partnership with the festival aimed at supporting artists from the Global South and East. The stage lights come on and we are instantly transported to Kenya with theatre maker Wanjikũ Mwawuganga.

In addition to the urgent humanitarian action needed in Ukraine, the Global Programme Food Security (GPFS) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) also emphasises the need to strengthen systemic approaches to healthy and sustainable food systems. In certain regions, hunger and malnutrition are increasing exponentially because of crises. Alessandra Roversi of the GPFS answers our questions.