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Switzerland and UNDP in action
Our partnership with Switzerland is a powerful force for global progress. Together, we are tackling some of the world's most pressing challenges: from poverty and unstable governance to the urgent need for climate-smart finance and digital innovation.
This collaboration, firmly aligned with Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy, delivers tangible results. With Swiss support, UNDP is helping to build robust institutions and rule of law—the very foundations of economic resilience. We are creating environments that attract investment, generate jobs, and foster conditions for fair trade.
Our joint work is also a lifeline for communities on the brink. By working hand-in-hand to mitigate conflicts, support early recovery and build resilience, we are saving lives, preserving dignity, and reducing long-term humanitarian needs. A single dollar invested in prevention and development can save up to $103 in future conflict costs.
The Swiss financial support to UNDP acts as multiplier by attracting additional funding from other public and private partners: in 2023 every $1 in “core” funding leveraged $11 in other resources.
UNDP is also an active part of the International Geneva ecosystem, to ensure integrated, collaborative, and coherent support to countries and partners.
Swiss Contributions to UNDP (2022 - 2025)
UNDP’s Ukraine Resilience Building and Recovery Programme
Switzerland’s partnership with UNDP has been instrumental in enabling the Ukrainian people to reclaim their future. With Swiss core funding, UNDP has been able to maintain a robust operational presence with 470 staff on the ground, supporting national and local institutions and communities in advancing recovery and enabling better provision of essential services. UNDP supports the Government of Ukraine in fostering inclusive economic recovery, demining, governance, and digital innovation.
Switzerland/UNDP's partnership has yielded tangible results:
- By enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of Ukrainian micro-, small and medium
enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to inclusive economic recovery and sustainable development, UNDP has supported a total of 24,499 MSMEs in 2024; - Ukraine faces a huge challenge, with an estimated 138,500 square kilometres of land and 14,000 square kilometres of water potentially contaminated with explosive ordnance (EO). In 2024, some 4 million square metres of war-affected land has been returned to it to productive use for agriculture and residential purposes. 202 demining teams have been equipped, and specialists trained in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and underwater demolition. Over 5,575 professionals, including social workers and healthcare providers, have been trained to support EO survivors.
See more UNDP's results: https://www.undp.org/ukraine
All around the world, Switzerland’s support to UNDP is making a concrete difference to people’s lives:
Albania - Improving local governance
In Albania, UNDP and Switzerland are driving forward decentralization by promoting more efficient, transparent, and accountable local governance. The focus has been on strengthening municipal planning, budgeting, and service delivery, ensuring that local governments are better equipped to meet citizens’ needs. From waste management and water supply to social care, municipalities are now more capable and responsive, supported by the introduction of digital tools that improve efficiency and transparency.
The impact of the decentralization reform was clear: Transparency of the local municipal decisions, better public services and increased trust among fellow citizens.
North Macedonia - Supporting effective, accountable, and inclusive governance
To sustain progress, effective, accountable, and inclusive governance at all levels, is essential. It is a precondition for trust, inclusive growth, and eventually best return on investment to spearhead sustainable development.
UNDP supported a fiscal transparency dashboard, available on the Ministry of Finance website, that lets citizens track how public money is spent. More than 50 out of 80 municipalities regularly update their budget data, making local spending more open and accessible than ever before.
Moldova - Enabling SMES to thrive
UNDP supported the development of the National Industrialization Program and the creation of 17 economic clusters in sectors like livestock, horticulture, and tourism. Deregulation packages simplified procedures and generated annual savings of over 838 million MDL for businesses. The project supported 52 private companies in modernizing their infrastructure and processes, which helped create, improve, or sustain 533 jobs. Furthermore, it strengthened economic and social cohesion in 24 localities and over 60 000 citizens, enhanced the skills of over 300 individuals, and boosted the clusters' global competitiveness, as evidenced by nine of them achieving an international "Bronze Label" certification for cluster excellence.
Myanmar - Boosting resilience in crisis setting
UNDP and Switzerland are fostering resilience and opportunity in Myanmar in areas affected by conflict, climate disasters, and economic instability. Projects focus on improving livelihoods, infrastructure and social cohesion.
UNDP helped over two million people by earning income through "cash-for-work", accessing better public services such as improved roads, water systems and rural infrastructure, supporting women led businesses.
Mozambique - Deepening decentralization
With Swiss funding, UNDP’s decentralization projects in Mozambique have strengthened local governance by enhancing institutional capacities, improving public service delivery, and increasing citizen engagement in decision making.
Key achievements include more transparent municipal administrations, better local revenue collection systems, and empowered communities—particularly marginalized groups—participating in development planning. These efforts supported policy and legal reforms, and promoted accountable and inclusive governance.
Peru/Indonesia - Securing Sustainable Commodities Value Chains
In partnership with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the UNDP Green Commodities Programme (GCP) tackles sustainability issues in the Indonesian palm oil and the Peruvian coffee and cocoa sectors, through innovative multi-stakeholder approaches.
With the support of SECO, the Green Commodities Programme work in Peru led to the development of the National Plan for the Cocoa and Chocolate Value Chain by 2030 to increase cocoa production from 150,000 to 250,000 metric tons without expanding agricultural land.
See more on the GCP: https://www.undp.org/foodsystems/green-commodities-programme
Top Recipients of Switzerland's Contributions in 2024
