SECO Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung

Switzerland increases its support to repair Ukraine’s damaged infrastructure   Following its contribution of CHF 10 million, Switzerland has provided an additional contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund of CHF 8 million to help repair the severe damage inflicted to Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Through the Fund, acutely needed energy equipment is procured under international standards.   The Fund, supported by contributions from governments, international organisations, and corporate donors, plays a crucial role in providing immediate assistance to repair critical energy infrastructure. Administered by the Energy Community Secretariat in cooperation with Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy, the UESF has attracted approximately EUR 1 billion from over 20 international donors.   #Switzerland #Ukraine #EnergySupport #RebuildingUkraine

SECO was pleased to join the recent Wilton Park conference on "Evidence-led and impact-driven development." Key takeaways include: ☝ The importance of networks for addressing shared challenges in evidence-led programming. ☝ The need for a compelling narrative to showcase the impact of evidence-based approaches. ☝Advancing quality standards for diverse evidence methodologies. We thank Wilton Park and its partners for fostering these important discussions. SECO remains committed to advancing evidence-based programming. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, DEval - German Institute for Development Evaluation, Coopération Globale, Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie)

Le projet "Destination Sud-Est Tunisie" a officiellement clôturé ses activités lors d’une cérémonie organisée à Djerba. Le projet a contribué à valoriser le potentiel unique de la région à travers des approches innovantes et inclusives en matière de tourisme durable, intégrant pleinement les ressources locales et les spécificités culturelles et naturelles.   Le projet a été financé par SECO Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung et mis en œuvre entre 2019 et 2024 par Swisscontact en partenariat avec le Ministère du Tourisme et de l'Artisanat et l’Office National du Tourisme Tunisien.   DMO Djerba DMO Dahar https://lnkd.in/e6dYF-AD Témoignages des partenaires du projet : https://lnkd.in/ehuGhjPp

🌍 Supporting local governments to deliver for their communities We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the Government of Ghana to strengthen local governance and empower Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to deliver essential services to their communities. This week, our Ambassador, Simone Giger, and Ghana's Minister of Finance, Mohammed Amin Adam, PhD., signed Switzerland's contribution to decentralization for two cycles. The fiscal transfer to the MMDAs, managed by the Government of Ghana, is performance-based, ensuring accountability and efficiency in delivering impactful results for citizens.   By supporting this initiative, we reaffirm our shared commitment to decentralisation and to improving the quality of life for people at the local level. Together, we are building stronger, more resilient communities.

In the Polog region in North Macedonia, where floods have caused significant hardships, Switzerland has stood in solidarity with affected communities. Over the past seven years, we have invested 12 million CHF in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, UNDP, and local stakeholders to enhance flood resilience.   The joint efforts led to significant achievements: improved coordination, strengthened institutional capacities, critical infrastructure development, and raised public awareness. Yet, ensuring sustainability requires ongoing action from all—citizens, institutions, civil society, and the private sector.   At the closing event for the project Improving Resilience to Floods in the Polog Region the Swiss Ambassador Véronique Hulmann joined the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Izet Mexhiti and emphasised that prevention is more cost-effective than repairs, and it demands commitment of all stakeholders.   Switzerland remains committed to supporting North Macedonia in environmental protection, and water and waste management. 

Successful workshop on local currency solution at #BuildingBridges24. Scaling local currency financing is key to sustainable growth and financial resilience, therefore: 💵 Create Trust in Local Currency: Ensure sound and prudent policies. 💶 Build Strong Markets: Develop capital markets and capacity. 💷 De-Risk Investments: Expand hedging tools and guarantees. 💵 Mobilize Capital: Leverage Development Finance Institutions and private sector.   Karen Hitschke Ugo Panizza Sara Velco, CFA Catiana Garcia-Kilroy Nathan Sussman Axel van Nederveen Martin Habel Roland Dominicé Thomas Venon Christopher Olobo Philip Skinner Christian Brändli Christine Sete (Lewis) Franziska Spörri Ronald Gindrat

"Resilience cannot be built on exclusion" – a clear message from SECO’s Ivo Germann during his opening words on financial inclusion at the #BuildingBridges24 Summit. Ivo emphasized that when done well, financial inclusion strengthens the very systems it seeks to expand and contributes to financial stability. He elaborated on SECO’s long-standing experience in enhancing financial inclusion in developing countries. 

Switzerland welcomes the successful outcome of the #IDA21 #replenishment, marking the largest in IDA’s history. The World Bank, in partnership with the donor community, has raised nearly $24 billion. These funds will be leveraged to generate an unprecedented $100 billion, supporting the Bank’s mission to end poverty on a livable planet in the world’s poorest countries. https://lnkd.in/eaj45M2u

Switzerland and South Africa exchange on public financial governance A delegation from the Budget Office of the National Treasury of South Africa recently visited Switzerland for a two-day workshop on financial governance. The workshop provided technical background on the Swiss multi-party system, the fiscal federalism as well as the concept of the debt break, including its historical background and challenges in implementation. The President of the Swiss Council of States, Ms Eva Herzog, as well as the former President of the Finance Commission of the Swiss National Council, Mr Roland Fischer provided practical insights into the Swiss budget process.

🎉 2024 marque les 20 ans de #REPIC, plateforme clé du #DéveloppementDurable global! REPIC (Renewable Energy, Energy and Resource Efficiency Promotion in Developing and Transition Countries) soutient des initiatives en matière d’#ÉnergiesRenouvelables, d’efficacité énergétique et de gestion #durable des ressources dans des pays à basse et moyenne économies. 🤝 Cette plateforme interdépartementale réunit le SECO Coopération et développement économiques , la DDC, l'Office fédéral de l'environnement OFEV et l'Office fédéral de l'énergie OFEN.  🗺️ Au cours des deux dernières décennies, REPIC a soutenu plus de 200 projets dans 60 pays, bénéficiant à 2,3 millions de personnes. REPIC encourage des projets ayant un impact durable, tant sur le plan écologique, économique que social, pour le plus grand nombre possible de personnes. En apportant les ressources et l'expertise nécessaires aux projets, REPIC contribue à la transition vers une économie à faible émission de carbone, tout en favorisant la résilience et la prospérité dans les marchés émergents. 📰 Pour en savoir plus, lisez l’article complet sur REPIC ici 👇