Integrated development solutions driven by country priorities and UNDP’s new Strategic Plan.

Switzerland is a vital partner in UNDP’s mission to end extreme poverty and accelerate structural transformations to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As our 5th largest contributor to regular resources, Switzerland’s investment in UNDP is making a concrete difference to people’s lives and enables us to help countries address new development challenges.

On the ground in 170 countries, UNDP works hand-in-hand with Swiss actors to prevent conflict, strengthen democratic governance and the rule of law, fight climate change, create opportunities for women and youth, and attract additional investments for sustainable development, in line with the priorities of the new Swiss International Cooperation Strategy 2021-2024.

In June 2022, the Federal Council renewed its partnership, committing CHF 147.8 million ($155 million over three years) in predictable financing to help UNDP deliver on its new Strategic Plan 2022-2025, a strong sign of Swiss support to multilateralism and global solidarity.

Through core funding and thanks to Switzerland contribution, UNDP achieved in 2021 the following results:

• 81 countries implemented new inclusive COVID-19 recovery policies based on UNDP’s socio-economic impact assessments.
• 92 countries supported by UNDP’s Climate Promise - the world’s largest source of support for climate action plans/NDCs - have submitted enhanced their climate goals
• 71 million people in 36 countries gained access to essential services, such as water, housing and health care (2018-2021)
• US$3.8 billion mobilized in innovative SDG bonds.
• 32 MILLION people in 34 countries gained access to justice.
• 50 countries received support on anti-corruption and protection of human rights.

Switzerland’s support is making a concrete difference to people’s lives by helping to stabilize societies and strengthen institutions. In 2021-2022:

• Bangladesh: In addition to upgrading disaster risk management capacities in this disaster-prone country, UNDP and Switzerland are strengthening the capacities of local governments to improve and provide pro-poor, effective and accountable services. The joint project notably covers 251 unions under 9 districts, fostering participatory local development.
• Burkina Faso: Through the Global Programme on Rule of Law and Human Rights co-funded by SDC, UNDP supported the national and local justice systems to enable them to better fight impunity. In 2021, UNDP notably supported the organization of 27 criminal and correctional mobile courts in 10 Tribunals of Grande Instance, enabling the trial of 924 people. UNDP also contributed to improved monitoring and reporting of human rights violations in the country.
• Sudan: In the spirit of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, UNDP and Switzerland are joining forces to enhance the resilience of conflict-affected communities in Darfur, through activities improving livelihoods and economic recovery as key drivers for peace and social cohesion. The initiative is implemented in 30 communities targeting 15,000 households.
• Palestine: In the face of socio-economic hardships and the COVID-19 pandemic, the “Economic Stimulus in Gaza” programme supported cash-for-work and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) projects yielding new economic opportunities for vulnerable youth and the establishment of 140+ start-ups. Switzerland also joined efforts to assist Palestinian stakeholders in the journey towards digital transformation that benefits all parts of society.
• Peru/Indonesia: Through a partnership with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the UNDP Green Commodities Programme (GCP) strives to tackle the deep-rooted problems in the Indonesian palm oil sector and the Peruvian coffee and cocoa sectors through innovative multi-stakeholder approaches. In Peru, the joint technical assistance notably supported new measures promoting the sustainable national coffee cultivation in 450 districts.
• Moldova: In 2022, UNDP and Switzerland teamed up to support the socio-economic inclusion of refugees from Ukraine and the capacities of host communities accommodating people fleeing the war, under the framework of a joint “Migration and local development” project.
• Georgia: Switzerland and UNDP are promoting high-quality professional training in agriculture (through a new “Swiss Agriculture School- Caucasus”) and helping the Georgia’s Skills Agency to launch a nationwide discussion on the skills ecosystem to ensure that vocational schools supply skills needed in the local labour markets, contributing to employment and economic growth.

Cooperation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Overall, Switzerland is the 2nd largest government partner to UNDP’s work in the region, with close country-level collaboration to help improve systems of governance at national and local levels and promote greener and more inclusive economies that leave no-one behind. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the partnership aims to contribute to the democratisation of local governance and more equitable, effective, and efficient public services for the citizens, particularly for water supply and wastewater management services. In North Macedonia, a flagship collaboration ($12 million for 2017-23) aims to address the growing flood-related challenges in the Polog Region and country-wide.