Attachments
Switzerland presents Country Strategy Kosovo 2013 - 2016
Today Switzerland presented the Country Strategy Kosovo 2013 to 2016 of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). In her opening remarks, the Swiss Ambassador Krystyna Marty highlighted the strong relations between the two countries and underlined the continuing commitment of Switzerland towards Kosovo’s successful transition.
On behalf of the Government of Kosovo, Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi thanked the citizens and Government of Switzerland for their continued commitment and support. The Deputy Prime Minister appreciated Switzerland’s alignment to Kosovo’s priorities and expressed the commitment of the Government of Kosovo to cooperate even closer with the donors in the implementation of their programmes for a better future of Kosovo citizens.
The Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office, Markus Baechler highlighted the main points of the Country Strategy. Switzerland has been supporting Kosovo since 1998. Starting initially with humanitarian aid, reconstruction and return aid to refugees, the Swiss cooperation evolved gradually to support transition processes focused on socially inclusive market economies, democratic political systems providing access to essential services as well as supporting regional and European integration.
The four domains of the new Strategy are:
- Democratic Governance and Decentralization, with the following goal: Socially inclusive governance and quality service provision at local level contribute to Kosovo’s democratic state-building process.
- Economy and Employment, with the goal: A dynamic labour market in the private sector will increase the employment of adequately skilled young people.
- Water and Sanitation, with the goal to increase access of the population to clean water and sanitation, and to contribute to a sustainable management of a country-wide water and sanitation system.
- Health (new domain), with the goal to contribute to the development of a sustainable health care system in Kosovo that offers qualitative services to its population, including socially vulnerable communities.
The special programme on Migration will continue according to the Swiss interdepartmental strategy on Migration Partnership 2012-2015.
Gender and Governance are transversal themes for all projects and programmes.
The Swiss Cooperation Strategy is well aligned with the priorities of the Government of Kosovo as laid down in the Mid-Term Expenditure Framework 2013-15.
There is a notable increase in foreseen financial commitments: Swiss cooperation intends to invest about 88 million Swiss Francs between 2013 and 2016.
For further information, please contact Mrs. Merita Stavileci Mustafa at merita.stavileci@sdc.net or 038 248 091.