All news (103)
Colombian peace deal to be deposited in Switzerland
19.05.2016
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Press release
EDA
The Colombian government and FARC rebels have issued a joint statement stipulating that the final agreement on ending the conflict and building sustainable and long lasting peace in Colombia is to be deposited in Switzerland. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) welcomes this statement. The FDFA has been providing specialised expertise for the negotiations between the Colombian government and FARC rebels.
Implementation of foreign policy strategy: Federal Councillor Burkhalter travels to Turkey, Lebanon and South America
19.05.2016
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Press release
EDA
On 23 and 24 May 2016, the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, will attend the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul and travel on to Lebanon to visit projects supported by Switzerland to provide Syrian refugees with concrete help. On 26 and 27 May, Mr Burkhalter will travel to Argentina and Uruguay for bilateral talks and will meet the descendants of Swiss emigrants in Nueva Helvecia in Uruguay.
Food vouchers to ensure free choice for beneficiaries and a dynamic local economy
18.05.2016
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Article
DEZA
The World Food Programme is assisting four million people in Syria – the vast majority of them internally displaced – who are struggling to find enough food to feed themselves and their families. The SDC is supporting the WFP in Syria with CHF 1.3 million in 2016 and through the secondment of technical experts, one of whom is coordinating the cash transfer programmes devised by the WFP as an alternative to the direct distribution of food.
World Malaria Day: The SDC reaffirms its commitment to fight malaria
25.04.2016
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Press release
EDA
There has been some success in the fight against malaria since the turn of the millennium – not least thanks to Switzerland's activities in this field. Nevertheless, more than 400,000 people still die from the disease every year, mostly children under five. At the event to mark World Malaria Day on 25 April 2016, SDC Director General Manuel Sager therefore appealed to all partners involved to continue the fight against malaria with the same shared determination. Only in this way can the goal of the international community be achieved to reduce the incidence of this deadly disease by 90% by 2030, he said.
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter receives UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl
14.04.2016
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Press release
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter received the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Pierre Krähenbühl, on Thursday in Bern. They discussed developments in the Middle East and Switzerland's support for UNRWA.
Dual vocational education and training, a key instrument for development cooperation
14.04.2016
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Press release
EDA
Today in Lucerne, in order to enhance its work in vocational education and training – always a priority of Swiss aid – Switzerland, through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), created a donor committee with Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. The four countries will pool their expertise and support projects in developing countries to improve economic prospects for young people and enable them to access local labour markets.
Engagement in fragile states: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter calls for sustainable measures to eliminate the root causes of conflicts
05.04.2016
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Press release
EDA
At the 5th Global Meeting of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS) in Stockholm, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter stressed that a long-term commitment by all the actors is the only way to eliminate the causes of fragility and violent conflict. The participants at the meeting agreed to continue the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, a reform agenda designed to promote both peacebuilding and the development of state structures and institutions. Switzerland is already strongly committed in fragile contexts and is going to expand its aid programmes in line with the Federal Council's Dispatch on International Cooperation 2017-2020. The aim is also to prevent young people in particular from succumbing to the temptations of violent extremism.
Switzerland underscores the importance of the private sector in achieving gender equality
17.03.2016
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Article
EDA
Gender equality is one of Switzerland's priority areas in its international cooperation. Switzerland believes the private sector has a key role to play in fostering equality. "Smart economics means empowering women, promoting girls and bringing about gender equality". These were the words of Benno Bättig, Secretary General of the FDFA, in his speech opening a panel discussion with business representatives from all over the world. The event on the role of business in achieving gender equality, which was organised by the UN Global Compact and UN Women as a side event at the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), focused on the multiplier effect of women's economic empowerment for sustainable development.
Federal Council adopts new strategy on sustainable development 2016–2019 (de)
27.01.2016
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Press release
Agenda2030
Der Bundesrat hat heute die «Strategie Nachhaltige Entwicklung 2016-2019» verabschiedet. Die Strategie beinhaltet Visionen für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung der Schweiz, nennt konkrete Ziele bis 2030 sowie die entsprechenden Massnahmen. Die Strategie, die Teil der Botschaft zur Legislaturplanung 2015-2019 ist, zeigt zudem auf, was die Schweiz in der laufenden Legislaturperiode zur neuen globalen «Agenda 2030 für nachhaltige Entwicklung» beiträgt.
«L’eau est un immense paradoxe au Tchad»
22.01.2016
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Press release
Agenda2030
Rémadji Mani est chargée de programme national au Tchad pour la DDC depuis 2014. Elle est l’invitée de la Conférence annuelle 2015 sur le thème de l’Agenda 2030. Elle s’exprime dans le cadre de la table ronde sur l’universalité dans la pratique de la gestion de l’eau en Tchad et en Suisse. Nous l’avons rencontrée en prémisse de la conférence.
"The SDC has a key role to play in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda worldwide"
22.01.2016
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Article
Agenda2030
Ambassador Michael Gerber is the special representative of the Federal Council for global sustainable development and represented Switzerland during the intergovernmental negotiations on the 2030 Agenda at the UN. In this interview he explains what the next steps are in terms of implementation and what role the SDC has to play in this.
"The Sustainable Development Goals are the basis of a new social contract"
22.01.2016
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Article
Agenda2030
The 17 goals for sustainable development and 169 targets form the core of the UN's 2030 Agenda. Thomas Gass, speaker at the Annual Swiss Development Cooperation Conference 2016 and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, explains what the Agenda actually means and why it is necessary.
