Economic and fiscal development - At the service of governance

For the SDC, local economic development is not just an economic matter but a cooperative approach which provides an excellent tool for bringing together different interest groups to agree on local cooperation that can help create jobs and income, in addition to improving governance.

SDC focus

Moreover, local economic development can also strengthen governance at national level. In countries like Kosovo or Burkina Faso, the SDC conducts local economic development activities which have been implemented simultaneously in several towns. This has enabled municipalities (or rather territories, because each town has close links with its peri-urban and rural hinterland) to exchange information and experience that are specific to them. This has led to better cooperation among local authorities and thus added weight to the local dimension in dialogue with central government.

Background

Local economic development brings together various stakeholders from civil society, as well as the public and private sectors. Its goal is to promote cooperation so as to develop a given area. Cooperation is a key factor in governance. Local economic development (LED) triggers a political process in which the protagonists have to negotiate the priorities bearing in mind the limited human and financial resources at their disposal.

Forces that drive the economy

Economic considerations drive the private sector. Cooperation on creating public goods, such as improved framework conditions for investment, calls for a private-public collaboration that is built into concrete projects ("We'll build the road, and you'll build the factory. You tell us what's not right about the investment climate, and we'll put it right."). In this way, combined LED efforts create new business prospects. The public sector needs the private sector for local economic development.

In virtually every country, it is the private sector that creates most jobs and generates income, and jobs and income are a priority for the public sector's customers and voters. Poverty reduction and – perhaps more important for a civil servant – re-election of the mayor and his staff depend on the generation of income.

Governance as a process

Civil society, like local associations, should also be part of planning and implementing development projects in which the economic dimension is obviously not the only issue at stake. The State and local government do not cover all the ground. So the three stakeholder groups – the public and private sectors and civil society – negotiate and cooperate on the basis of concrete information derived from evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the local economy, as well as the opportunities and risks involved. This dynamic exchange between partners improves governance at local level.

Current projects

Object 697 – 708 of 971

Gendermainstreaming in SDC to support the implementation of the gender goals in the Agenda 2030 and the new message 2017-2020

01.01.2017 - 30.06.2022

Mit dem strategischen Ziel 7 in der Botschaft 2017-2020 bekräftigt die DEZA die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter als Schlüssel für Armutsreduktion und leistet einen Beitrag zur Umsetzung der Genderziele der Agenda 2030. Thematische Prioritäten sind die Geschlechtergleichstellung in fragilen Kontexten sowie die Stärkung der ökonomischen und politischen Partizipation von Frauen. Wichtigste Massnahmen sind ein strategischer Politikdialog, Investition in Wissens-management und Gender Expertise sowie Capacity Building und Qualitätssicherung für verstärkte Wirkungsorientierung.  


Croatian Swiss Research Programme (CSRP)

01.01.2017 - 31.07.2023

Through the Croatian Swiss Research Programme, Switzerland contributes to enhancing the Croatian scientific competitiveness. By strengthening capacities in research, the Croatian academic partners shall increasingly be interlinked in the international research community. Further, the joint research activities provide findings that are beneficial for society and politics.


Junior Professional Officer Programme

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2022

The programme aims at increasing Switzerland's presence within the UN development and humanitarian system, including the UN secretariat. It also meets the more general aim of strengthening the influence and quality of Switzerland's political dialogue with the target agencies and units. The Junior Professional Officer programme shall serve to nurture that dialogue and increase Switzerland's capacity to monitor and strengthen the work of agencies and secretariat units.


Strengthening Human Rights institutions in Bangladesh

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2021

People in Bangladesh repeatedly suffer from human rights violations which especially affect poor and marginalised people with limited remedy and widespread impunity. The project strengthens (i) the National Human Rights Commission to more effectively promote and protect human rights and (ii) civil society to promote and monitor Human Rights and provide legal aid.


Better training to facilitate the integration of youngsters in rural areas into the labour market

Three young Nigerien men walking through a plantation.

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2021

The SDC is committed to improving the education and vocational training system in Niger. Over 1.5 million young people living in rural areas currently have no access to education or vocational training. Their future ability to enter the labour market depends on good-quality basic education and vocational training tailored to their needs.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Niger

Dosso and Maradi

Vocational training
Employment & economic development
Education
Vocational training
Employment creation
Primary education

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2021


CHF 14'796'530



Scaling up Nutrition Multi-Partner Fund (SUN – MPTF)

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2025

800 million people still do not get enough food and 2 billion people suffer of micronutrient deficiency. Sound nutrition relevant policies and strategies are a prerequisite to eliminate malnutrition. The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement brings together governments, civil society, donors, UN agencies, researchers and private sector actors to collaborate in support of country-led, multi-sectoral strategies to combat malnutrition. SDC participates in the SUN Multi-Partner-Trust-Fund, which strengthens multi-stakeholder platforms and their capacities in SUN countries.


Programme d’Hydraulique Rurale – Appui Au Secteur Eau et Assainissement (PHRASEA) Phase 2

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2021

Moins de 50% des nigériens ont accès à l’eau potable et seuls 7% disposent de conditions d'assainissement de base. La croissance démographique galopante, la dispersion de la population sur le territoire et la précarité des finances publiques sont des contraintes empêchant l'accès des populations à ces services de base. Le PHRASEA vient en appui aux efforts du gouvernement, en misant sur la maitrise d’ouvrage des communes.


Diakonia International Humanitarian Law Resource Center (IHLRC) “Closing the Compliance Gap”

01.01.2017 - 30.11.2021

The Swiss contribution supports Diakonia’s International Humanitarian Law Resource Centre (IHLRC) to respond to the demand for accurate and principled legal analysis on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law in the oPt, and to make it accessible to States and relevant organizations to ensure that their policies and international aid are not in contradiction with international law. This intervention is in line with the Swiss Foreign Policy in the Region and SDC Cooperation Strategy 2015-2018 that aims to promote respect for International Law, to ensure protection by all duty-bearers of the rights of the Palestinian population.


Contribution 2017 to WFP Refugee Operations in Kenya

01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017

Rational and relevance of the intervention and summary of overall goal:

In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises. SDC funding to WFP operations allows the World Food Programme (WFP) to respond proactively and to provide immediate food assistance in life-threatening situations.

Amidst funding shortfalls and consequent cuts of food ratios for refugees in Kenya, Switzerland contributes to the food assistance for refugees living in Dadaab and Kakuma camps.



Advancement of priority topic SGBV in SDC/HA

01.01.2017 - 30.11.2021

Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) is a serious, life-threatening issue in humanitarian settings and a new priority topic of SDC/HA. The intervention aims at promoting this new priority topic within SDC/HA through targeted, strategic interventions and on the basis of the operational concept on SGBV approved by SDC/HA in 2016. While this credit proposal sets the framework and criteria for such strategic interventions the individual actions will be administered by partial actions.


Projet Oriental Protection Migrants Maroc

01.01.2017 - 31.03.2018

Morocco is a country of transit and destination for migrants and refugees, 20’000 of which live on the margins of society, despite the 2014 adopted first ever migration strategy, promising the respect of human rights and access to public services. The “Projet Oriental” facilitates access to health care and provides humanitarian support to 5’600 vulnerable migrants per year and coaches public and civil society service providers to care for the specific needs of the migrants.

Object 697 – 708 of 971