Promoting democratic values is essential to inclusive governance. The equal participation of all population groups increases the likelihood of fair and balanced development that benefits everyone. Efforts are made to curb corruption and the abuse of power, minimising the risk of frustration and political confrontation. Promoting democracy is one of Switzerland's foreign policy priorities.
Democratisation is a key concern for the SDC, which aims to promote community involvement and responsible government action. By enabling different population groups to have an equal say in political life and determine issues that affect their daily lives, diverse interests can be represented, supporting broad-based decision-making. This lends greater legitimacy to political processes and creates a climate of shared responsibility for implementation. Other key democratic principles include power-sharing, checks on power, accountability, the rule of law and equality before the law.
Switzerland supports both democratic institutions and democratic processes, promoting interaction between the mutually reinforcing democratic forces that shape the political system. Promoting gender equality and equal participation and protecting disadvantaged communities are key priorities for Switzerland. In meeting its commitments, Switzerland works from a politically informed perspective, supports solutions that are appropriate in the context and builds on existing structures. It works on the basis of democratic values rather than any specific model.
Democratisation is crucial to inclusive, sustainable development, but it is also an end in itself, ensuring that civil and political rights are upheld and other fundamental social, economic and cultural rights are respected. Democratisation can also contribute to the de-escalation of violent conflicts.
The SDC seeks to raise public awareness of citizens' rights and duties, the legal framework that facilitates citizen participation, and the support available for a range of citizens' initiatives. It empowers organisations to mobilise support for particular issues, represent groups effectively, consolidate structures, and build alliances.
Free media ensure that the public have access to independent sources of information. Free media can scrutinise the actions of the government and provide impartial platforms for public debate. Switzerland supports training courses for media professionals, for example, and encourages fair and balanced reporting that is properly researched. It also supports efforts to create a legislative framework to protect media freedom and raise public awareness on dealing with the media. The activities of the SDC are increasingly focused on social media channels, given the enormous influence that these now exert.
The activities of the SDC include providing training and advice to members of parliament on developing laws, serving on committees, overseeing budgets and administrative actions and implementing effective public outreach. The SDC also provides assistance in establishing effective parliamentary and secretariat services, working in cooperation with Swiss Parliamentary Services and other parties.
Switzerland promotes professional and independent electoral administrations, the dissemination of impartial, objective information to the public, and peaceful public debate. It encourages women and members of disadvantaged groups to take part in elections. Switzerland also provides assistance in undertaking electoral reforms and independent election monitoring.
The SDC works to ensure compliance with and implementation of laws and regulations and the imposition of appropriate penalties in respect of wrongdoing. It promotes training programmes for judges and lawyers and supports various forms of mediation to facilitate responsible, fair and efficient dispute resolution. The SDC also supports legal services that advise individuals and groups on their rights and on taking legal action.
Switzerland supports independent bodies set up to oversee government agencies and impose sanctions where malpractice is identified. Such bodies may include state auditors, anti-corruption agencies, ombudsperson institutions overseeing a range of matters and human rights commissions. The SDC provides assistance in the form of training, advice, organisational development and, in some cases, funding. The SDC also provides expertise in defining legislation governing the remit, independence and funding of such bodies.
Links
Current projects
Water and Comprehensive Sanitation Project in Rural Areas (ASIR – SABA), Phase III
01.06.2020
- 31.07.2022
The ASIR-SABA Project aims to contribute to the sustainable management and governance of water and sanitation, as well as public health, as a contribution to the consolidation of peace in rural areas of the country. To achieve its objective, the project promotes dialogue between the different actors of the WASH sector in Colombia. It also aims to strengthen the capacities at the community and institutional level (national, departmental and municipal) for the co-management of water and sanitation in rural areas of the country. Based on the achievements capitalized by the project in its first and second phases and the challenges and opportunities identified with the different governmental actors of the WASH sector in Colombia, the SDC implements the third and final phase of the ASIR-SABA project.
Programme de renforcement de la résilience des ménages pastoraux et agropastoraux face aux crises climatiques et à l'insécurité (RESILIA) Phase 1
01.06.2020
- 31.12.2024
la DDC contribue au renforcement de la résilience de plus de 700’000 personnes dont les déplacées internes, affectées par la crise sécuritaire et les changements climatiques au Burkina Faso. Se basant sur la riche expérience de la Suisse dans l’élevage pastoral au Sahel, le programme va soutenir les pasteurs et agropasteurs pour que leur pratique d’élevage et moyens de subsistance s’adaptent aux défis climatiques et améliorent leurs conditions de vie tout en favorisant la paix au Burkina Faso.
Programme Redevabilité
01.06.2020
- 31.05.2024
Dans un contexte politico-social de plus en plus tendu, la Suisse mettra à profit sa valeur ajoutée en termes d’engagement sur la durée, de discrétion, de fiabilité et de transparence pour contribuer, lors de la 2ème phase du programme, à renforcer les capacités d’interpellation de la société civile et les efforts des autorités pour lutter contre la corruption et l’impunité, ce qui leur permettra de pouvoir mieux assumer leurs responsabilités dans la délivrance de services publics de qualité à la population.
Strengthening the Role of Local Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina
01.05.2020
- 31.03.2024
The Project will enhance community governance in BiH by empowering local communities (MZs) as modern and effective structures for pro-active citizens’ participation. A new functional and organizational set up of MZs in BiH will be created and standardized countrywide. In turn, women and men will benefit from more people-centred local service delivery, better accountability and transparency of municipalities.
Kyrgyzstan Electoral Support Programme (KESP)
01.05.2020
- 31.12.2021
The programme aims at promoting fair, inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections in Kyrgyzstan by building technical capacities and expertise of key institutions responsible for administering elections and by empowering Kyrgyz citizens, including underrepresented groups like women, youth, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities, to participate and exercise their electoral rights.
UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Trust Fund (MPTF)
01.05.2020
- 31.12.2022
The MPTF provides the opportunity to alleviate the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on the poorest countries. It complements Switzerland’s support to the UN’s humanitarian response beyond the immediate sanitary response. It is an opportunity for a coherent and coordinated UN COVID-19 response. It is an expression of Swiss solidarity to avoid that people fall into poverty and that inequalities between people and countries grow as a result of COVID-19.
Governance and Decentralisation Programme Exit Phase (GDP Exit Phase)
01.01.2020
- 31.12.2022
The Exit Phase of the Governance and Decentralisation Programme will consolidate achievements of previous two phases to support decentralisation and democratisation reforms. It will focus on institutionalisation and ensuring sustainability of results to contribute to equitable and sustainable development through decentralized service delivery and enhanced citizen engagement in public affairs, including in the urban areas. Swiss expertise and Swiss decentralisation model will be used.
PARIS21 Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century - Contribution 2020-2022
01.01.2020
- 31.12.2022
The Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21) is a global partnership of national, regional and international statisticians, development professionals and policy makers seeking to improve evidence-based decision making mainly in low-income developing countries. The main accent of PARIS21’s activities is to stimulate the dialogue between data producers and users and act as a knowledge hub in the field of statistical capacity building.
Civil Registry System Reform Project in Tajikistan (CRR)
01.01.2020
- 31.12.2023
SDC assists the Ministry of Justice in its efforts to replace the paper-based civil registry system with a more efficient electronic civil registry system. This new system and the planned outreach activities will help people across the country in obtaining their vital documents faster and in better quality from the civil registry offices; this will help them to protect and claim their rights in relation to schooling, alimonies, migration, healthcare and even voting. Moreover, the new civil registry system will also help the government to better plan and monitor its services provided to the population including in the education, health and labor sector.
Fonds d’Appui au Développement des Communes (FADeC)
01.01.2020
- 31.12.2023
Le Fonds d’Appui au Développement des Communes (FADeC) est un mécanisme efficace de transfert de ressources financières aux collectivités locales du Bénin. La contribution de la DDC au fonds permet aux communes de réaliser sur l’ensemble du territoire national d’importants investissements dans les infrastructures et services de base au profit de la population. En phase 2, la DDC renforcera notamment son appui aux structures de gestion, pilotage et contrôle du fonds.
Trail Bridge Sub-Sector Program
01.12.2019
- 30.11.2023
The project supports the Government of Nepal to institutionalize trail bridge building under the new federal structure. Due to the ongoing state restructuring process, Swiss support is required for a last phase to ensure the transfer of the institutional and human capacity built-up in trail bridges over the past four decades to the new state and local governments. Walking remains a major mode of travel in Nepal, and trail bridges are still essential for people to access basic public services
Myanmar: Support to the 2020 Elections
01.12.2019
- 31.03.2022
Switzerland contributes to credible, transparent, inclusive and free of violence or intimidation national elections in 2020 through a partnership with International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). Swiss support will facilitate inclusive reform of the electoral framework, strengthen the capacities of the Union Election Commission as well as increase information and access to electoral process with a focus on women and marginalized groups