The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) will now focus on four priority regions for bilateral development cooperation.
FDFA’s bilateral development cooperation will progressively withdraw from Latin America by end 2024. In addition, the total number of priority countries of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) will be reduced from 46 to 35. These resources will be transferred to the four priority regions, in particular Sub-Saharan Africa where the needs will be the greatest.
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) will continue its economic development work in a limited number of countries within the four regions and its engagement in certain emerging countries in Latin America.
Humanitarian aid, the promotion of peace and human rights, as well as action to tackle global challenges (climate and the environment, water, migration, food security and health) will maintain their global mandate.
Close cooperation with multilateral organisations like the UN enables Switzerland to put its expertise and experience to good use and to increase the effectiveness of its engagement.