Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA

FDFA policy documents

The different federal government departments are free to adopt their own implementation documents to ensure that Federal Council strategies are properly implemented at departmental level. These can take the form of guidelines, general guidance or action plans, for example. They form the third level of the cascading process.

Rice fields in the Niger River in Mali.
Because water makes the difference: Switzerland is increasing the coherence of its commitment with the Water Guidelines. © George Steinmetz – National Geographic

The FDFA adopts its own implementation documents to ensure that Federal Council strategies are properly implemented at departmental level.  Such documents are the following:

Guidelines on Water 2022-2025

FDFA activities in the water sector address a variety of issues including access to basic sanitation and hygiene and mediation between riparian states for the peaceful, sustainable use of transboundary waters.

The Guidelines on Water set out principles, themes and priorities to ensure good coordination of a wide range of measures in humanitarian aid, development cooperation and peacebuilding – the three instruments of Switzerland's international cooperation.

  • Press release
    22.03.2022 – World Water Day 2022: FDFA launches new water guidelines

OSCE Action Plan 2022–25

Through its 2022–25 action plan for the OSCE, Switzerland seeks to identify measures which will help strengthen the organisation and rebuild European security. The action plan does not aim to cover Switzerland's entire policy within the OSCE; instead, it highlights those areas in which Switzerland can make a significant contribution by 2025.

  • Press release
    13.01.2022 - Switzerland presents action plan for a more effective OSCE by 2025

Guidelines on Human Rights 2021−24

Switzerland is actively involved in the Human Rights Council, raises human rights issues in political talks, and supports projects to strengthen human rights. These are just three examples of the instruments that Switzerland uses to promote the universal protection of human rights. This objective is articulated in the Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23; the FDFA's Guidelines on Human Rights 2021−24 set out how it is to be achieved.

  • Press release
    03.06.2021– FDFA launches Human Rights Guidelines 2021–24

General Guidance on the Private Sector in the context of the International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24

The General Guidance on the Private Sector in the context of the International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24 defines the parameters for activities by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in relation to the private sector. It explains the various forms of collaboration with private sector actors and outlines the opportunities and challenges associated with this form of engagement.

Action Plan on Mine Action for 2023–26

Switzerland is continuing its long-standing commitment to humanitarian mine action. In the new action plan, the FDFA and DDPS jointly set out three fields of action with goals and measures for the years 2023–26. The plan focuses not only on implementing the relevant conventions and support for the clearance of contaminated areas, but also on innovative approaches. In addition, Switzerland will provide targeted support to Ukraine in the coming years.

Links

Documents

Last update 26.07.2023

Contact

Policy Planning Division

Federal Palace West
3003 Bern

Phone

+41 58 481 85 65

sts.policy.planning@eda.admin.ch

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