News overview Development and Cooperation

In this interview, Dominik Stillhart, the Federal Council's delegate for humanitarian aid, talks about the changes, challenges and future facing humanitarian aid.

One year after the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan, millions of people are dependent on humanitarian aid. Switzerland is responding.

New laws drafted with Swiss support and aimed at making water management more efficient will come into force in Uzbekistan on 31 October 2025.

Hanspeter Mock: "Brazil presents major challenges but also opportunities."

The City of Lugano will host SDG Flag Day 2025 on 17 October. Interview with Michele Foletti, mayor of Lugano.

GPW 2025: We've interviewed Tim Enderlin and Patricia Danzi about the importance of conflict prevention and international cooperation for peace and security.

Climate change is aggravating the risk of conflict in Africa. Switzerland is therefore participating in an African Union conference on addressing climate impacts.

Together with Qatar and the ILO, Switzerland is co-hosting a side event focusing on sustainable economic growth and decent work.

As an observer on the Arctic Council, Switzerland is committed to environmental protection and the sustainable and peaceful development of the Arctic.

In 2025, Switzerland will hold the chairmanship of International IDEA. The commitment to strengthening democratic systems is more important than ever.

Switzerland is hosting the second Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building, which brings together stakeholders from the cybersecurity sector.

Assets returned from Switzerland are funding upgrades to maternity units in Uzbekistan.

Due to the precarious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, as of March 2025 Switzerland is once again present on the ground with a humanitarian office in Kabul.

Switzerland had a seat on the UN Security Council in 2023 and 2024. Its priorities were peace, climate security and the protection of civilians.

The 2025 IC Forum, hosted by ETH Zurich, demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary scientific collaboration to drive innovation and economic development.

This year's IC Forum 2025 will explore innovative programmes and projects of the kind implemented by the SDC and SECO. Registration is open now.

The fourth International Cooperation Forum will be held this year on 27 and 28 February 2025 at ETH Zurich.

Under a mandate from the PHRD, a group of specialists from the ESC travelled to Serbia and Kosovo in October to examine the use of new technologies in the search for missing persons.

All those involved in humanitarian demining must remain at the cutting edge of technological developments (drones, ground-penetrating radar, etc.).

Humanitarian demining aims to allow farmers to return to their land.

Markus Reubi, Federal Council Delegate for the 2030 Agenda, outlines the challenges and priorities for implementing the SDGs over the next two years.

On 17-18 October 2024, Switzerland and Ukraine are jointly organizing the Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024 in Lausanne. In the run-up to the Conference, the Swiss activities in humanitarian demining in Ukraine are presented, starting with one of its closest partners, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). The GICHD supports the Ukrainian authorities in adapting its mine action programme to the new realities and planning ahead.

The subject of peace is at the heart of this third edition of the IC Forum. Five examples of Switzerland's commitment to promoting peace.

The consequences of climate change, for example on the food security of societies, can exacerbate conflicts. Switzerland is committed.

Switzerland supports the peace process in Colombia and co-organised the Security Council's trip to this South American country.

Switzerland lends its international cooperation expertise to the UN Security Council, as demonstrated by examples from the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.

Ukraine, Kosovo and the Middle East are among Switzerland's priority countries and regions for its support in the field of missing persons.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis took part in the Moldova Support Platform in Chisinau on 17 October 2023.

The FDFA is closely monitoring the situation in Niger following the military coup. Switzerland condemns the seizure of power by the army.

How far have we got in implementing the 17 sustainable goals the world set eight years ago?

From 26 May 2023, concours for transferable careers in the FDFA are open. A look at the international cooperation career.

The FDFA and the DDPS are launching the new 2023–2026 Action Plan on Mine Action.

Switzerland's 2022 annual report on mine action (FDFA, DDPS)

The UN Water Conference will take place in New York from 22 to 24 March 2023. A Swiss delegation is participating.

FDFA head Ignazio Cassis explains why it is important for Switzerland to organise the Forum for International Cooperation (IC Forum).

One year after the Taliban's abrupt return to power, the SDC remains active in Afghanistan in order to help people whose living conditions have deteriorated under the new regime.

At the beginning of July, the priorities for the recovery of Ukraine were discussed in Lugano. Questions and answers on the objectives and the organisation of the international conference.

Switzerland promotes compliance with international humanitarian law, which includes the right to clean water for people caught up in armed conflicts and is essential for survival.

Federal Council adopts Switzerland's second voluntary national review on the 2030 Agenda. A wide range of stakeholders are making contributions and driving the processes involved.

At the International Cooperation Forum Switzerland in Geneva at the end of March, the SDC and SECO will award the 'Together we're better' prize.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact, especially in developing countries. In the context of its international cooperation efforts, the FDFA has responded swiftly and effectively to the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Switzerland has made a political commitment to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which establishes social, economic and environmental goals. All UN member states are called upon to regularly evaluate their progress and publish the results. In 2022 Switzerland will present its second voluntary comprehensive country report. FDFA IT and the FDFA State Secretariat developed a customised tool specially for the report.

On 2 November, Switzerland and Indonesia celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations. Batik culture, an economic partnership agreement that came into force on 1 November, Swiss vocational education and training in Indonesia, traditional shadow theatre, gamelan music, a hand-made road and Swiss disaster relief – the stories behind an excellent partnership.

On 29 October 2021, Federal Councillor Cassis launches the process ‹On the Road to Lugano› in preparation for the Ukraine Reform Conference 2022, to be held in Switzerland. Increasing responsibility at local level, lowering the cost of heating, contributing towards conflict prevention – Switzerland has been supporting Ukraine for more than 20 years in the areas of international cooperation, peacebuilding and humanitarian aid. Thanks to this long-standing engagement and its chairmanship of the conference, Switzerland will be able to make a lasting contribution in 2022 to stability and prosperity in Ukraine.

The latest news on Afghanistan from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, including information on the security situation, repatriations, etc.

SEEIIST is a project of a new scientific research centre in the Balkans that promotes peace through scientific diplomacy.

The latest news on Afghanistan from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, including information on the security situation, repatriations, etc.

The SDC and SECO are launching another youth competition to advance sustainable development in the Global South.

COVID-19 has an impact on our lives in Switzerland and abroad. The FDFA summarises the most important information regarding life abroad in its news ticker.

Switzerland maintains long-standing bilateral relations with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. They are also important regional partners through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Ambassador Siri Walt is leading a delegation to Khartoum to sound out how Switzerland can leverage its support for the democratisation process in Sudan.

World Africa Day is celebrated every 25 May. The FDFA has taken this as an occasion to stress the importance of relations with this continent. The FDFA's Africa Strategy 2021–24 aims to develop mutually beneficial relations.

Switzerland is one of the ten largest donors to humanitarian demining efforts worldwide.

Carl Emery is a member of the FDFA's Swiss Expert Pool for Civilian Peacebuilding and runs projects that aim to reform Mali's national security institutions.

The survey of Federal Administration employees and the FDFA's survey of local personnel provided much positive feedback on the work situation of staff at the FDFA.

The Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, launched on 25 January 2021, has the potential to create long-term prospects for children and youth affected by humanitarian crises.

24 January is the International Day of Education – Switzerland stresses the importance of education for sustainable development.

The administrative freeze of possible illegal assets of deposed Tunisian President Ben Ali expires on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Switzerland's new Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy focuses on four key thematic areas: peace, security and human rights; prosperity; sustainability; and digitalisation.

Ambassador and Director of the DIL, Corinne Cicéron Bühler ensures that Switzerland plays a pioneering role in the recovery of illicit assets.

Switzerland and Luxembourg return 26 million USD to Peru. Vladimiro Montesinos had illegally invested this amount in these countries.

International Mountain Day 2020: Switzerland is committed to the sustainable development of mountain regions

Development cooperation: example of a vocational education and training project in Ukraine run by Swiss international cooperation.

This World AIDS Day we take a close look at Switzerland's multilateral commitment and the projects carried out on the ground.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women takes place on 25 November. Switzerland is committed to securing respect and equal rights for women.

Two members of Swiss Humanitarian Aid tell their experiences in Sudan, including emergency missions and projects to help the population.

The world's nations have committed to eradicating poverty by 2030. Switzerland is playing a very active role. The UNDP is a key partner.

The 2020 Geneva Health Forum confirms the city on Lake Geneva as an international and multidisciplinary platform for health and digitisation.

Switzerland is providing CHF 700,000 in emergency aid to help people in Central America affected by hurricane Eta.

Ambassador Monika Schmutz Kirgöz talks about the actions taken in Lebanon to provide decent working conditions for less qualified workers.

In many countries no statistics and consequently no data – such as on the situation of vulnerable populations – exist. This makes it difficult to measure the effectiveness and progress of sustainable development globally. This is why Switzerland and the UN are holding the World Data Forum. Jacques Ducrest, one of the Federal Council's delegates for the 2030 Agenda, believes globally applicable standards for data and statistics can also help to combat pandemics.

On the occasion of the “Rendez-vous Bundesplatz”, an in-depth look at SDC projects in various countries that address sustainable development objectives.

Switzerland puts words into action: face masks, medicines and water purification equipment cross the only checkpoint still open – although the journey to Eastern Ukraine is extremely perilous.

In its MENA strategy, the Federal Council sets out its foreign policy priorities for the Middle East and North Africa for the period 2021–24.

An interview with Constance Jaillet of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit on disaster risk reduction projects in Haiti.

The SDC's partner organisation, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Interview with the Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid Manuel Bessler during an official visit to the migrant and refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos on Tuesday 29 September.

Switzerland's new international cooperation strategy is clearer, more measurable and more transparent, says Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick.

LI Yong, Director-General of UNIDO, praises the Swiss development cooperation strategy.

Why development cooperation is not a one-way street and Switzerland is working to strengthen African economies and helping to harness the dynamism of young people in Africa.

Over the last few years, the SDC has implemented projects with aid agency Islamic Relief Worldwide, which has publicly distanced itself from any form of antisemitic rhetoric.

During a media conference, Patricia Danzi reviews her first 100 days as Director of the SDC and stresses the importance of providing support on site.

As part of its foreign policy strategy, Switzerland is working on its first sub-Saharan Africa strategy and is hosting an international workshop in Bern.

The FDFA supports the ETH Zurich in the production of affordable ventilators in the Ukraine.

The ABC Fund provides smallholders with capital to grow their business and increase production – a goal shared by the SDC.

Call for Action: Switzerland calls for education to be strengthened in emergencies.

The Federal Council passed the IC Strategy 2021-2024 in February. Now, the National Council is discussing the dossier.

Reliable, comprehensive and accessible data is essential for making decisions that benefit communities locally and worldwide and for achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda. The SDC is working to strengthen data systems.

Switzerland's international cooperation in 2019 focused on environmental issues, vocational education and training, and closer cooperation with the private sector. Activities in the health sector were also a priority.

Switzerland also relies on working together with the private sector to make an impact in its international development cooperation work.

The use of water across borders presents potential for conflict. Switzerland adopts a preventative approach by defusing potential conflicts through water diplomacy with the Blue Peace initiative.

Support to build adequate healthcare systems and a concerted, supportive response have proven successful in the fight against malaria. For Olivier Praz of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the lessons learned can provide inputs for the fight against COVID–19.

The SDC is running awareness campaigns and promoting the use of handwashing stations in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussions on how to mitigate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income countries have gained considerable momentum in recent months. Remittances from migrants and wider diaspora communities to their countries of origin are a key issue in this respect. Switzerland is therefore launching an appeal to keep remittance channels open and give the poorest communities continued access to these vital sources of income.

Reacting quickly, but with a long-term perspective: this is how the Swiss ambassador to Nepal, Elisabeth von Capeller, sees the role of development cooperation - especially in the fight against COVID-19.

8 May is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day – and an occasion to highlight the FDFA's cooperation with the world's leading humanitarian actor.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having an especially severe impact on developing countries. Switzerland is responding quickly and effectively through its international cooperation in the spirit of solidarity.

The work in Nepal after the earthquake serves as an example of successful interaction between various types of support provided by Switzerland and, more specifically, by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The UN has declared 24 April as the International Day of Multilateralism. Switzerland is also actively engaged in the multilateral response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes World Bank efforts. .

In its repatriation operation, the FDFA can count on experienced partners in the form of the airlines Swiss, Edelweiss and Helvetic, which are breaking new ground with these special flights.

The global COVID-19 pandemic is now affecting the day-to-day work of everyone at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)

The SDC pursues innovative approaches to poverty reduction. The expertise of private companies can help here, says Deputy Director-General Thomas Gass.

The 'Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights' have been in place for 20 years. In March 2020, Switzerland will complete its second term as chair of this initiative.

Twenty-five years after the Beijing Conference, the 64th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women is taking place in New York. Switzerland will be presenting its work to promote women's rights to the commission.

Heba Hage-Felder, responsible for cultural projects supported by Switzerland in North Africa, explains the value of culture in the context of development assistance. Based in Beirut, Heba Hage-Felder is responsible for the cultural projects supported by Switzerland in North Africa. She explains the value of culture in the context of development assistance.

Back to the current news feed about COVID-19

The Federal Council has adopted the new strategy for Switzerland's international cooperation work. Its purpose is to alleviate need and poverty, to foster respect for human rights, to promote democracy and to conserve the environment.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has donated CHF 1 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to combat the upsurge in desert locusts in East Africa.

At an international donors' conference in Brussels on 17 February, Switzerland pledged some CHF 10.2 million to help Albania rebuild after the 2019 earthquake.