Programme Development North Africa

Project completed

Originally conceived to support the development of activities under the Swiss North Africa Programme launched from scratch in 2011, the 5th phase with a much reduced budget allows deepening relevant thematic and context knowledge, developing and formulating future strategic priorities and setting-up adapted or new projects for SDC in a fragile and complex environment. For 2015-16 the focus is on preparatory work for the Swiss North Africa programme 2017-20.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Maghreb
MENA Regional
Employment & economic development
Climate change and environment
Governance
Migration
Other
Rule of Law - Democracy - Human rights
Rural development
Environmental policy
Decentralisation
Migration generally (development aspects and partnerships)
Public sector policy
01.07.2015 - 30.06.2020
CHF  200’000
Background
  •  
  • North Africa is a fragile and complex transition context, marked by often unforeseen developments.
  • Under the Swiss North Africa Programme 2011-2016, Switzerland engages in the region with an annual budget of around CHF 60 million. SDC’s humanitarian and development budget amounts to approximately CHF 23 Mio. for 2015.
  • SDC is active in all three domains of the North Africa Programme, namely (1) democratic transition and human rights (2) economic development and jobs (3) protection and migration.
  • In 2015/16 the new North Africa Programme will be elaborated.
  • The North African contexts remain highly fragile, demanding flexible and adaptable programming.
Objectives

To support the development of future strategic priorities in North Africa and the subsequent development of adapted or new projects for SDC.

Medium-term outcomes
  1. Deepen relevant context and thematic knowledge
  2. Develop and formulate new strategic priorities, including adaptation strategies that respond to context challenges
  3. Develop new or adapted projects in-line with strategic priorities
Results

Expected results:  

  1. Research papers
  2. Knowledge sharing events
  3. Mission reports
  4. Project concepts


Results from previous phases:  

  • The credit-line has been instrumental in the development and networking activity that accompanied the (re-)launch of SDC activities in North Africa in 2011.
  • A number of projects launched in 2011 are coming to an end and their continuation and/or possible reorientation needs to be discussed. In some cases, alternative projects will be sought.
  • Project identification missions have proved to be highly useful in assessing strategic engagement opportunities.
  • The current Swiss strategy for North Africa will end in 2016; the mid-term review of the strategy and context developments have yielded points that need further analysis as a basis for the next Swiss strategy North Africa, i.e. on fragility or radicalisation.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
Private sector
  • Foreign private sector North
  • Foreign private sector South/East


Other partners

Synergies are a priority when discussing the continuation / reorientation / replacement of ending projects.

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    200’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    149’952 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   1’650’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   1’850’000
Project phases

Phase 5 01.07.2015 - 30.06.2020   (Completed)

Phase 3 01.01.2013 - 31.12.2014   (Completed) Phase 2 01.01.2012 - 31.10.2013   (Completed)