Private sector development and financial services

The private sector plays a key role in transition countries. © SDC/Suzanne Linder

Unemployment and underemployment are among the most serious development problems facing the SDC's partner countries. People must have access to productive, reasonably paid employment enabling them to earn a living if global poverty is to be reduced in the long term and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are to be achieved.

Private sector development

As a driving economic force, the private sector is accorded a key role in sustainable development.

Youth employment

Vocational education and training (VET) for young people must be tailored to the job market.

Financial sector development

Providing low-income households, farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with improved access to financial services can boost their inclusion in economic life and make them less vulnerable to crises.

Current projects

Object 1 – 12 of 168

Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine 2 (PFRU-2)

01.08.2024 - 31.12.2027

The Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU) unites eight development partners (UK, US, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia and the Netherlands) and the Government of Ukraine to strengthen communities and government legitimacy through improved services, economic recovery and strengthened civil society. With its contribution, Switzerland can shape the development and deployment of an innovative multi-donor financing instrument in Ukraine to support its resilience and early recovery.


Single-phase project: Enhancing Peace and Economic Prosperity through Women's Leadership and Inclusion (Women for Peace & Prosperity)

01.07.2024 - 30.06.2028

In line with the priorities of the Governments of Moldova and Switzerland, the project aims to socially and economically empower women, including refugee women from Ukraine, increase their participation in decision-making and the workforce, promote their entrepreneurial activities, and finally contribute to a just, equal, inclusive and resilient society and economy in Moldova. The project will promote gender-responsive policies and initiatives to address key barriers to women's socio-economic inclusion.


Skills Development Programme (SDP)

01.07.2024 - 30.06.2028

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to address the needs of the domestic labour market remains a key priority for the Cambodian government. With this last phase, training institutions and enterprises in 12 provinces will improve their capacities to equip disadvantaged youth with relevant skills and knowledge. At the same time, the governance and financing of the TVET system as a whole shall be strengthened, incl. through cooperation with the private sector.


Responsible Business Fund Plus (RBF+)

01.07.2024 - 30.06.2028

Myanmar’s post-coup conflict escalation and economic turmoil has led to financial and economic instability and destabilised the agrifood industry. Also, extreme weather and climate change further impact farmers and agricultural processors. The Responsible Business Fund Plus project aims to support agrifood businesses while reducing their environmental impact and thus deepening Switzerland's commitment to private sector engagement and an inclusive green economy.


Futuro Microbank

15.05.2024 - 31.12.2027

The microfinance institution Futuro Mcb, SA currently provides financial services (loans, savings, insurance) to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) mainly in and around Nampula city. Switzerland will continue to support Futuro with a grant for technical assistance that will help the bank to expand its impact by providing financial services to more low-income entrepreneurs in more regions in Northern Mozambique, thus allowing them to enhance their income and create more jobs.


Scaling Up Youth Employment in Agriculture Initiative

01.05.2024 - 30.04.2028

In Zambia and Zimbabwe, due to a mismatch between the skills they have and those in demand, youth cannot access or create economic opportunities and overlook those available. The project builds skills and matches youth with firms, markets and finance to create more and better (self)-employment in agri-food, renewable energy and emerging sectors, contributing to Swiss priorities on human and economic development and climate change. This is a contribution implemented by SNV.


From Education to Employment (E2E)

01.05.2024 - 30.04.2028

To raise labour market participation and address the growing workforce shortage affecting the Serbian economy, in partnership with the Serbian Ministry of Labour, Swiss approaches and instruments for labour-market insertion will be adopted and scaled by key labour-market actors from the central and local Government, civil society and the private sector. Serbian companies will be capacitated to train their workforce independently and sustainably, and to fill vacancies through improved job matching services.


Talent Acceleration Program to Scale (TAP-2-Scale)

15.03.2024 - 31.08.2026

With this single-phase intervention, Switzerland aims to foster economic perspectives for Palestinian youth. The intervention will focus on creating long-term job placements of Palestinian graduates in international IT companies (including Switzerland), and it shall be achieved through upskilling programs tailored to private sector needs. The intervention is implemented in partnership with the Palestinian-Dutch start-up company TAP under the modality of payment for results.


Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia (DEY)

01.03.2024 - 28.02.2028

This project of the United Nations supports Cambodian youth in accessing skills training, labour market information and decent jobs. With this last phase, the employability of young women and men shall be improved by enhancing their skills in line with current and future labour market needs. Public institutions will be empowered to implement key national employment and skills development policies. The project will also assist SMEs and business associations in enhancing their productivity and working conditions.


Climate & Socially Resilient Livelihoods’ Support (CSRLS)

01.02.2024 - 30.04.2028

The climatic challenges exacerbate Afghanistan's already fragile socio-economic condition. The project by the Afghan NGO, The Liaison Office, aims to sustainably improve lives and livelihoods of the poorest households in selected provinces by strengthening the natural resource base, climate change resilient and diversified livelihoods, relationships within and between communities, as well as joint climate action.


Access 2 Green Financing for Enterprises

01.01.2024 - 31.12.2035

Building on Switzerland’s experience with innovative access to finance avenues, this programme facilitates mobilising green finance for small and medium sized enterprises in Bangladesh. The focus is on enterprises that have a strong commitment to reducing their environmental footprint and to providing green products and services in order to address climate change and reduce environmental degradation. 


Tchad-CACH-SODEFIKA

01.12.2023 - 30.11.2027

L’arachide, le sésame et le karité présentent des potentiels de diversification de la production agricole durable et de création d’emplois pour les exploitations familiales (surtout pour les femmes et les jeunes). En soutenant le développement de ces filières à travers l’approche de développement des systèmes de marché, la Suisse contribuera à la création de richesses, à la réduction de la vulnérabilité des ménages ruraux et des inégalités hommes et femmes. 

Object 1 – 12 of 168