Switzerland to provide, in fewer countries, development aid

The Federal government wants to focus its development aid on fewer countries in order to achieve more effect. In the case of financial resources, it is lagging behind the promise.

The rough alignment of international cooperation for the coming years set by the Federal Council last autumn. Now the Outer and the Department of Economic Affairs (FDFA and the eaer) have prepared the strategy. For the first time, you carry out a consultation. On Thursday this was opened.

For the years 2021 to 2024 is provided, a total amount of LP held 11.37 billion francs. This is slightly more than the 11,11 billion Swiss francs for the current period. As measured by the gross national income (GNI) will no longer have to spend but Switzerland's development assistance.

The development aid expenditure is likely to amount in accordance with the report submitted for consultation to approximately 0.45 per cent of GNI. In 2011, the Parliament had decided that the rate should be 0.5 percent – a goal that is not achieved in the current period. The development assistance Committee of the OECD has urged Switzerland recently to fulfil their promise of 2011.

Geographic focus

Geographically, focus Switzerland focus on four regions: 1. North Africa and the Middle East, 2. Sub-Saharan Africa, 3. Asia (Central, South and Southeast Asia) and 4. Eastern Europe. In international comparison, Switzerland is today present in many countries, what is the risk of Distraction to bring, it says in the report.

Step back Switzerland wants to withdraw from Latin America. The Department of Economic Affairs will be involved, however, remain in some Latin American emerging countries, in which Switzerland's foreign economic policy interests.

The number of priority countries of the Swiss Agency for development and cooperation (SDC) from 46 to 34 to be reduced. From the exit, Bolivia, Haiti, Honduras, Cuba, Nicaragua, Swaziland, Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, Mongolia, Pakistan and Azerbaijan are affected.

More funds to fight climate change

As the criteria for a commitment to the needs of the affected population in the first place, second, the interests of Switzerland and to third parties, the added value of the Swiss aid in international comparison. The best results were in the average range of these three criteria, achieve, write the two departments.

The thematic priorities of job creation, the fight against climate change and the causes of irregular Migration and forced migration, as well as the commitment to peace and the rule of law.

On climate change, it is said in the report, by 2050, and 143 million people were threatened to be climate migrants. The funds in this area should be increased from 300 million in the current period on 350 million Swiss francs per year. At the same time, Switzerland will strive increasingly to attract private sector climate-friendly investments in developing countries.

link with migration policy

The strategic link between development assistance and migration policy, to strengthen the FDFA and the eaer, in particular by combating the cause of Flight. For specific projects, in connection with the migration policy 60 million Swiss francs are reserved.

In the past years, the political demand was to become loud, to make development aid more in the service of the migration policy. A strict conditionality of the Covenant rejects, but still. The link does not mean that the development will be set help if a country refuses, for example, rejected asylum-seekers to take back.

The development assistance is not appropriate as a lever to exert pressure, it is said in the report. The experience has shown that this can generate is rarely the desired effect. Threats had often counterproductive. In addition, the development is intended to help the population.

Every four years

The Federal Council intends to submit to the Parliament the message at the beginning of 2020. The Parliament decides every four years on the means for international cooperation in the Form of several credit lines. The exact payment loans are determined annually in the context of the estimate.

From the LP held 11.37 billion francs for the years 2021 to 2024 are allocated around 6.7 billion for bilateral and multilateral development cooperation. 2.2 billion will be invested in humanitarian aid, 1.2 billion in economic and development cooperation and 1 billion in the cooperation with the countries of the East.

a framework credit for peace and human security in the amount of around 260 million Swiss francs. Interested parties have until 23 December to. August. (ij/sda)

Created: 02.05.2019, 13:06 Uhr