Directorate for Development and Cooperation

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Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
"Corporate Design Federation" - logo of the federal authorities of the Swiss Confederation
Headquarters Bern
Director Patricia Danzi
At sight Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Website eda.admin.ch

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC ( French Direction du développement et de la coopération DDC , Italian Direzione dello sviluppo e della cooperazione DSC ) is responsible for the implementation of the Swiss Confederation's foreign policy strategy in the areas of humanitarian aid , global and regional development and Eastern cooperation . It is one of six directorates of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA , the Swiss Foreign Ministry, and the Swiss competence center for development cooperation.

The SDC supports some victims of crises and conflicts and, through the Swiss Corps for Humanitarian Aid, SHA provides emergency and reconstruction aid after natural disasters and violent conflicts. In regions suffering from extreme poverty or conflict, the SDC supports rural development, state and administrative reforms or programs and projects that improve people's access to education and health or increase employment and income. In cooperation with Eastern Europe, she accompanies political and economic reforms in accordance with the mandate of the Federal Council and Parliament. On a multilateral basis, the SDC is involved in international organizations and, as part of its global programs, specifically supports innovations and projects in the areas of climate change, water, food security, migration and health. Since 2019, the SDC has come under increasing public criticism because its new orientation provides for increased cooperation with international multinationals and aims to privatize public goods such as water in developing countries.

history

The SDC goes back to the “Service for Technical Assistance” founded by the Federal Council in 1960, which was renamed “Service for Technical Cooperation” (DftZ) in 1961 under the leadership of the diplomat Hans Keller . In 1976 the DftZ merged with the “Section for Disaster Aid and International Aid Agencies” under the new name “Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid” (DEH). In 1995 the “Office for Cooperation with Eastern Europe” (BZO) of the FDFA was integrated into DEH and the office was renamed “Directorate for Development Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Technical Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe” (DEHZO). In the following year, the name was finally changed to the current name «Directorate for Development and Cooperation» (SDC).

Development cooperation

Development cooperation - in collaboration with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO  - focuses on 17 priority countries and eight special programs in Africa , Asia and Latin America . Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Peru and North Korea have ceased to be priority countries or special programs since 2012. There are currently around 750 projects in progress. In multilateral matters, the SDC works primarily with the United Nations , the World Bank and regional development banks .

The aim of development cooperation is to fight poverty by helping people to help themselves. This promotes economic and state independence, improving production conditions, coping with environmental problems, better access to education, basic health care and culture.

Humanitarian aid

The aim of humanitarian aid is to save lives and alleviate hardship in acute situations, for example caused by an environmental disaster. For this purpose, the Swiss Corps for Humanitarian Aid (SHA; comparable to the German Technical Relief Organization ) is deployed and humanitarian partner organizations are given material and financial support. Humanitarian aid is primarily provided in the areas of prevention, emergency and survival aid, reconstruction and advocacy. In 2005, humanitarian aid was provided in ten regions, including the Southeast Asian tsunami areas and in Pakistan after the earthquake disaster.

Cooperation with Eastern Europe

In cooperation with Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS; Eastern Cooperation), the focus is particularly on the development of a pluralistic democracy and a social market economy. Central points are the sustainable management of natural resources as well as reforms in the health and social sectors. The geographic focus is on Southeastern Europe (around 70 percent of the funds) and the CIS (30 percent of the funds). 200 projects in 14 countries are currently in progress. The projects are implemented in close cooperation with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.

corruption

In January 2016 it became known that corruption had occurred as part of an aid project in Nepal. The cooperation with the local partner was terminated, but continued until July 2016. This led to criticism of the SDC and an immediate termination of cooperation with local employees was demanded.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Lukas Lippert: Deza : Collection of signatures against Christian Frutiger. In: observer.ch . October 24, 2019, accessed October 26, 2019 .
  2. ^ History of the SDC In: EDA website.
  3. ↑ Corruption in Swiss aid project in Nepal. In: 20 minutes . February 1, 2016.

Coordinates: 46 ° 56 '38.6 "  N , 7 ° 24' 27.7"  E ; CH1903:  597645  /  one hundred and ninety-nine thousand two hundred twenty