Selected results 2015

Through its international cooperation work, Switzerland is committed to ensuring that local populations in a number of countries have access to resources and services. SDC and SECO projects and programmes achieved a wide range of outcomes in 2015.

Western Balkans

Switzerland is actively committed to climate change mitigation and adaptation. In the Western Balkans SECO has supported the EuropaRe project since 2010. The project has introduced insurance schemes in Albania and Bosnia against the risks associated with natural disasters (e.g. flooding). It was among the 10 finalists of the DAC Prize for Taking Development Innovation to Scale. An extension of the project, e.g. to Kazakhstan, is being discussed at the World Bank.

Burkina Faso

Switzerland builds infrastructure where necessary and trains teachers and staff to manage schools. Meanwhile, political dialogue is encouraging reforms in the education system to better link basic education with vocational training.

In Burkina Faso, Switzerland’s support to improve the education system has allowed 2,760,000 children, 48% of them girls, to start school or continue their education. Switzerland’s portfolio has had a direct impact on the basic education of 31,000 children who have benefited from school supplies, school meals, trained teachers and adequately equipped classrooms.

Bangladesh

Switzerland’s contributions towards improving access to financial services and promoting the private sector have led to higher incomes and better opportunities in the labour market. In Bangladesh, the SDC supports the Katalyst project, which seeks to raise the incomes of poor rural communities.

Thanks to the SDC’s development programme on agriculture and the rural economy, approximately 920,000 small farmers and entrepreneurs in Bangladesh have seen their incomes increase by USD 81 per year on average since 2013. This increase, which is equivalent to 41% of the agricultural income, was achieved through improved access to information about prices and technology and better access to means of production. Meanwhile, political dialogue has enabled legislative changes relating to the way markets work and which favour disadvantaged rural populations.