27.03.2017

Introductory Remarks by Manuel Sager

Ambassador and Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) 

Rednerin/Redner: Manuel Sager

Excellencies,
Dear Arab Coordination Group members,
Dear OECD-Development Assistance Committee members
Dear colleagues, 

It’s my great pleasure to welcome you in Bern to the 2017 Arab-DAC Dialogue on Development as well as the Arab-Swiss Water Day that is taking place tomorrow. 

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is particularly pleased to host the Arab-DAC Dialogue this year. This annual gathering has established itself as an important platform for exchanging ideas and expertise, as well as promoting joint action among DAC members and the institutions of the Arab Coordination Group. 

Yet, this year this Dialogue takes on an even greater significance: since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015, a series of important global events have brought the international community together to discuss how to collectively tackle the world’s challenges (such as the Paris Climate Conference in December 2015 and the first ever World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016). 

All these efforts were further advanced by the record time in which the Paris Agreement entered into force in November 2016 – only 11 months after its adoption. To date, 133 countries have ratified it. 

These milestones in international diplomacy give a significant boost to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, which is the main topic of discussion at this year’s Arab-DAC Dialogue and the Arab-Swiss Water Day. 

“A world without poverty and in peace for sustainable development” – this is the motto guiding Switzerland’s strategy for International Cooperation 2017-2020. The 2030 Agenda serves as our frame of reference. Our expertise and experience, coupled with a long-established commitment to humanitarian values, give the SDC a unique vantage point for pursuing the priorities defined in our strategy. 

They include maintaining our support in fragile contexts and promoting the resolution of violent conflicts by peaceful means; strengthening partnerships, including those with the private sector; promoting economic growth for the benefit of all; increasing funding for basic education and vocational training as well as addressing today’s main global challenges such as food security, climate change, water, migration and health. The 2017 Arab-DAC Dialogue and the Arab-Swiss Water Day have dedicated several sessions on a number of these crucially important issues. 

As we all know, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and institutions are among the most significant sources for development finance outside of the OECD-DAC and have traditionally provided various forms of assistance to countries in need. The Official Development Assistance (ODA) figures for these countries and their contributions at various pledging conferences speak for themselves. Most of the GCC countries, like the DAC-member countries, including Switzerland, have endorsed the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, which is concerned with promoting dialogue and concerted efforts to make development assistance more effective. 

In this regard, Switzerland engages in an institutional dialogue with key donors from the GCC Member States in order to jointly multiply our efforts and enhance our Aid Effectiveness. Having a Regional Advisor for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid on location in Abu Dhabi greatly facilitates our collaboration. 

The fact that the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has been invited by the DAC to host this important event is testimony not only to the complementary efforts of both institutions in their engagement with Arab donor countries but also to the SDC’s contributions in the MENA and GCC region. Let me just highlight a few:  

  • Switzerland engages in knowledge exchange with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on how to achieve private sector cooperation for the SDGs. Involving the private sector in SDG financing and implementation is a key priority for both our countries; Switzerland already supports over 30 public-private development partnerships (PPDPs) and plans to double this in line with its strategic goals. Moreover, we hosted a very successful side-event on this topic together with H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, then Minister of International Cooperation and Development, during the 70th United Nations General Assembly in 2015. The event led to a number of follow-up discussions and further collaboration between our countries on this and other topics of mutual interest.
  • “Food Security in the Arab region” was a topic suggested by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development for a workshop of experts from the Fund and SDC, which was held in December 2015. That led to a Memorandum of Understanding outlining key areas of collaboration between our two institutions. Discussions are now underway with both the Kuwait Fund and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development to work together to improve the health system in Tanzania (SDG 3) through co-financing of initiatives led by the Tanzanian Ministry of Health.
  • The SDC and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) – which is currently in the process of developing its international cooperation strategy – have an ongoing dialogue to exchange views, knowledge and experience on how to best promote “economic empowerment” in international cooperation (SDG 8). Furthermore, SDC and QFFD are currently discussing in-depth collaboration in setting up the Fund’s Monitoring and Evaluation Department and developing M&E and reporting policies.
  • The SDC and the Humanitarian Affairs Department of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) cooperate closely in the area of “Results-based Management in International Cooperation.” Its aim is to support organizations of OIC member states in achieving measurable and sustainable results, thereby improving aid effectiveness. A three-day workshop (the first of a series) took place in November 2016 and positively contributed to a closer working relationship between Switzerland and the OIC. Establishing a similar relationship with the King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid and Relief is also among the goals that SDC is currently striving for.
  • Lastly, we are happy to receive officials from some of the aforementioned institutions – such as the King Salman Center (last year) and the Qatar Fund for Development soon in May – who have been invited to participate in the Humanitarian Aid Course that is offered biennially by SDC’s Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit. 

To sum up, Ladies and Gentlemen: the SDGs give us a clear mandate to help an estimated 57 million children get enrolled in primary schools; to create 600 million new jobs for young people; to tackle climate change and its adverse effects; and to address water scarcity problems to prevent future conflicts. To succeed it will be critical for all of us to work together efficiently, effectively and in a timely manner.

The Arab-DAC Dialogue and Arab-Swiss Water Day present an ideal opportunity to bring together numerous experts whose collective ideas and efforts will undoubtedly contribute to innovative solutions to our most pressing challenges. I wish you interesting and inspiring discussions over the next few days and an enjoyable stay here in Bern.

Thank you.

 


Dernière mise à jour 29.01.2022

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