Mensurabilidad de la cooperación internacional (en)

Ensuring the effectiveness of its work is a high priority for the SDC. It regularly carries out critical assessments of its activities in order to ensure that its programmes achieve the expected results and that resources are being used sustainably.

That is why it is also one of the SDC's tasks to demonstrate that its various projects are carried out properly and to explain the extent to which they have improved the situation of beneficiary population groups. In order to demonstrate the projects' effectiveness and to find out why some have a greater impact than others, measuring effectiveness is an integral part of the SDC's and its partners' work. The aim is show both the short- and the long-term impact of the projects in question. The term 'impact' is used to refer to concrete changes brought about by individual projects. These concrete changes provide information about the effectiveness of the SDC's development cooperation work. 

The SDC focuses its activities and investments on results and effectiveness. It publishes an annual report on effectiveness in a specific area (employment in 2016, health in 2015 and climate in 2014). Over 100 projects are evaluated every year by independent external consultants.

Development cooperation focuses mainly on the causes of poverty. It therefore also aims to bring about structural changes and seeks to improve democratic processes and compliance with rule-of-law principles. It is difficult to quantify progress at national and international level. It is easier to measure the effectiveness of local projects, as these produce quantifiable goods and outputs. 

But even in local projects, development cooperation does not take place in laboratory conditions but rather in dynamic environments characterised by diverse social, political and economic variables that influence results. This makes it difficult, though not impossible, to assess the effectiveness of cooperation programmes. How projects are run is a key factor in determining whether they can subsequently be assessed. Sound planning and professional monitoring and support are essential.

Results and impact

Development cooperation is an instrument of Swiss foreign policy. According to the Federal Constitution the goal of Swiss foreign policy is to safeguard Switzerland's interests, independence, prosperity and security. Switzerland's foreign policy contributes to the alleviation of need and poverty in the world, and promotes respect for human rights and democracy, the peaceful coexistence of peoples as well as the conservation of natural resources. 

A world with less poverty, less inequality and less conflict is also a world that is better for the Swiss economy. The markets of the future for Swiss companies – which are largely-export oriented – are not only the industrialised countries but increasingly also the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America as well as transition countries in Eastern Europe. If these regions continue to make developmental strides, opportunities will open up for Swiss businesses.

Every franc spent on development cooperation yields an average economic return of CHF 1.19 for Switzerland (most recent available figure, from 2014). 

Successful international cooperation also contributes to internal security and promotes sustainable economic growth, orderly migration and cultural exchanges. Furthermore, Switzerland's international engagement also improves the country's image, facilitating political and economic exchanges.

Difference: International, development and transition cooperation