Through its development cooperation, the SDC supports important change processes in partner countries and promotes the rule of law. Its activities are rooted in the principles of gender equality and the inclusion of marginalised groups.
Priorities for development cooperation with the South
Guiding principles
In all of its projects, the SDC encourages change in areas of importance to its partner countries and promotes the rule of law. Its efforts prioritise gender equality and the inclusion of marginalised demographic groups. The SDC places public and private development actors at the centre and encourages them to take ownership of solutions in accordance with the principles of democratic governance and sustainability. Thanks to Switzerland's long-term commitment and the trust it enjoys in partner countries, the SDC can work systematically to remove significant obstacles to development.
Priority countries and regions
Switzerland concentrates its development cooperation activities with the South in more than 20 of the poorest and structurally weakest countries and regions of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. It has stepped up efforts in countries and regions considered fragile while continuing to work with other more stable partner countries. Following a development policy decision, the SDC will gradually phase out its engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2024. In the final phase of the programmes, care will be taken to ensure the sustainability of the progress achieved to date.
Priority countries and regions for development cooperation with the South:
- North Africa and the Middle East
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Central, South and South East Asia
- Latin America and the Caribbean (until end 2024)
Thematic priorities
Thematic priorities for development cooperation with the South:
- improving basic services (education, health, access to water)
- local economic development through private sector development, access to financial services and job creation, particularly through labour market-oriented vocational skills development
- strengthening the rule of law and national and local institutions, transparent, accountable and inclusive public administration, mobilising local resources, strengthening civil society and fighting corruption
- crisis prevention and conflict transformation, respect for human rights, gender equality
- disaster risk reduction, climate change mitigation and adaptation, improving food security and livelihoods, good water management
