Swiss Official Development Assistance in 2009

The increase of 11.9% (or CHF 265 mln) in relation to 2008 is primarily due to debt-relief measures for Togo and Congo-Brazzaville, along with a strong increase in expenditures on asylum-seekers from developing countries.  

According to the guidelines published by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the costs engendered by asylum-seekers from developing countries can, in the first year of their stay in Switzerland, be charged to the account of official development assistance. In 2009, these disbursements altogether represented 15% of Switzerland’s official development assistance. 

The Development Assistance Committee of the OECD will publish the statistical information it has compiled on all its Member States along with their rank in international comparison, at the close of the High-Level Meeting scheduled to be held on 14 and 15 April 2010. In 2008, Switzerland held a mid-range ranking among the donor countries.  

Within the framework of the Annual Report on Switzerland’s International Cooperation to be published in the summer, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA) will provide detailed information on the utilization of the funds earmarked for ODA. 

Further information:
Information FDFA, +41 31 322 31 53

Address for enquiries:

Information FDFA
Bundeshaus West
CH-3003 Bern
Tel.: (+41) 031 322 31 53
Fax: (+41) 031 324 90 47
E-Mail: info@eda.admin.ch

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs