19.12.2022 - SECO will provide CHF 5 million in funding for the Nature Finance project (PDF, 191 kB, 19.12.2022). This will enable financial institutions in developing countries to give biological diversity more consideration when financing economic activities. This should increase financial flows to sustainable sectors and companies. The project will also contribute to the alignment of finance with the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
16.10.2022 - SECO has signed the contracts for its winter aid package to Ukraine: 14 million will be spent to improve the Ukrainian railway system. 10 million to help Ukraine repair damaged energy infrastructure. In total 2022, SECO supported Ukraine with around CHF 58 million.
09.11.2022 - SECO Economic Cooperation and Development is now on Instagram. Check out the channel and support SECO by following, liking and commenting its posts.
14.10.2022 - At the annual meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG), the impact of the war in Ukraine, the global food and energy crisis and climate finance were discussed. Switzerland reaffirmed its support for the WBG's continued commitment to providing financial, political and technical support to Ukraine. Moreover, on the food and energy crisis, the importance of expanding renewable energy and promoting sustainable agriculture were stressed.
06.10.2022 - At the Building Bridges Summit in Geneva, State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda made a plea for an integrated view on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) aspects in economic policy and investment decisions. SECO also co-organized a session on innovative blended finance solutions and gave an update on the SDG Impact Finance Initiative since its launch in 2021.
27.09.2022 - The Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), among them Switzerland, are meeting at the Annual Meeting in Manila to discuss avenues for sustainable green growth post-Covid-19 in the Asia and Pacific region. The emerging food crisis and the Bank’s role in scaling up climate finance are at the heart of the discussions. In particular, Switzerland is committed to strong partnerships and combating climate change.
20.09.2022 - At the partnership meeting in Bern, SECO and the International Finance Corporation exchanged views on strategic and operational cooperation. Both are committed to a productive private sector, the creation of good investment conditions and sustainable economic development worldwide.
31.08.2022 - The Federal Council approved the bilateral implementation agreements for the Swiss contribution to cohesion in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Malta and Poland. Now Switzerland can move into the operational stage.
17.08.2022 - SECO supports developing countries in the transition to a low-carbon and resilient economy. It systematically considers climate risk and ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its activities. Together with its partners, SECO mobilizes private sector investment in climate-friendly projects.
07.07.2022 - Integrated urban development in Tunisia, better gold in South America or global environmental impact investing. Such issues shaped the Swiss economic development cooperation. The annual report 2021 tells stories about how Switzerland reduces poverty and mitigates global risks.
28.06.2022 - SECO has launched a Call for Proposals for the implementation of the Sustainable Landscape Program in Indonesia. The program addresses multifaceted challenges of Indonesian commodity producers in a holistic way. Submission deadline is the 21st of August 2022.
10.06.2022 - Ukraine is a priority country in terms of Swiss transition cooperation with Eastern Europe. The majority of Swiss projects are able to continue despite the war. They are continually being adapted to the difficult conditions. As a result of the war, Switzerland is also supporting Ukraine at the multilateral level.
22.05.11.2022 – SECO and the SDC have renewed their cooperation programmes with Albania, Kosovo and Serbia. Through the new programmes, Switzerland is helping to shape a sustainable economy, strengthen democratic governance and respond to the challenges of climate change in these three countries.
11.05.2022 - At the 2022 Annual Meeting of EBRD Governors in Marrakech, Switzerland welcomed the measures being undertaken by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to support Ukraine. Switzerland is contributing CHF10 million to these measures. Switzerland also calls on the EBRD to concentrate its activities on Ukraine and the existing countries of operations.
22.04.2022 – At the World Bank Group Spring Meetings, the development committee discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine, digitalisation and the global debt situation. Switzerland welcomed the measures taken by the World Bank Group to support Ukraine.
12.04.2022 - In 2021, Swiss official development assistance (ODA) amounted to CHF 3.589 billion, CHF 243 million more than in 2020. As a share of gross national income, Swiss ODA totalled 0.51%.
28.03.2022 - The severe effects of climate change have hit the poorest countries particulary hard. SECO supports developing countries in emitting fewer greenhouse gases and adapting to climate change.
22.03.2022 - The SDG Impact Finance Initiative, announced its first call for proposals, preparing to award grants for innovative impact finance solutions. The launch comes three months after SECO, UBS Optimus Foundation, Credit Suisse Foundation and SDC launched the Initiative. It aims to mobilize up to one billion Swiss francs in private capital by 2030 to advance measurable impact in developing countries.
International Cooperation Forum
The Youth and Future Prize "Together we're better"
01.03.2022 - The Youth and Future Prize "Together we're better", launched for the second time by SECO and the SDC, sparked great interest. A total of 62 entries from young people were received. Their goal: to contribute to sustainable development and the reduction of poverty in a country where Switzerland is engaged in international cooperation. The prizes will be presented on 31 March 2022 at the International Cooperation Forum.
