The visit underscored the strength of the longstanding partnership between Switzerland and UNDP at a critical time for multilateral cooperation. Susan Brown expressed UNDP’s appreciation for Switzerland’s recently confirmed multi-year core contribution of USD 120 million for 2026-2028 (CHF 95 million), highlighting it as a strong vote of confidence in UNDP’s mandate and results.  Discussions with the Swiss agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) focused on shared priorities in democratic governance, poverty reduction, crisis response and effective institutions, as well as the importance of flexible funding to address increasingly complex global challenges.

Exchanges with Swiss counterparts also emphasized UNDP’s role within the UN development system, including ongoing reform efforts and its contributions to the Geneva multilateral ecosystem — bridging development, humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts, and addressing the root causes of crises.

Climate action and digital cooperation also featured prominently in meetings with the Swiss Federal Office for Environment (FOEN) and with the Swiss Permanent Mission to the UN , including opportunities linked to emerging technologies and preparations for the World AI Summit to be hosted in Geneva in 2027.

During the mission, Susan Brown also engaged with academic and policy partners, contributing to the “Geneva Policy Outlook” event on the future of international development cooperation and reaffirming Geneva’s strategic role as a hub for global governance and innovation.