The Annual Report on Swiss international cooperation in 2011 has just been published. As a joint publication of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), it presents the most significant results of Switzerland’s commitment to combating poverty as well as its contribution to the reduction of global risks in a year distinguished above all by popular uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East.

The Annual Report for 2011 presents a cross section of results and shows how Switzerland is helping to resolve local, regional and global problems. It includes first hand accounts that bring to life the Swiss commitment to international cooperation. Information on the funding and its use is provided in a statistical brochure inserted in the Report.

Following a reduction in 2010, Swiss official development assistance (ODA) increased in 2011, and for the first time amounted to 0.46% of gross national income (GNI), or CHF 2.726 billion. This increase is mainly due to additional funding provided to the SDC and SECO following Parliament’s decision to increase ODA to 0.5% of GNI by 2015.

Swiss bilateral ODA continues to go primarily to low-income countries and regions. In 2011, most aid went to Africa and Asia (36% of bilateral ODA). Developing countries and those in transition in Latin America and Eastern Europe received 13%.

Alongside efforts to combat poverty, Swiss cooperation has increasingly focused in recent years on meeting the challenges presented by global risks. As pointed out in the preface to the 2011 Report by Martin Dahinden, SDC director-general, and Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, state secretary and director of SECO, the livelihoods of millions of people are being undermined by climate change, increased water shortages and progressive degradation of the environment. The results presented in the Report show that the SDC and SECO are managing the funds available efficiently, and meeting the challenges with real benefits.

For further information Information FDFA: +41 31 322 31 53 FDEA: Information SECO: +41 31 324 09 10