Multilateral cooperation: increasing significance

Poverty, climate change, food security and migration: all have causes and consequences worldwide. This is where multilateral cooperation comes in by formulating widely supported solutions and fostering their implementation. Switzerland addresses multilateral cooperation actively and effectively, and supports the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) both politically and financially.

In the spotlight

22 November 2011- Presentation of the World Development Report 2012
Gender and development cooperation
If the obstacles hindering women from working ceased to exist, work productivity could be increased by some 25% in certain countries. In its World Development Report 2012, the World Bank highlights how fundamental gender equality is for development. Launched last September in Washington, the report was presented in Bern on 22 November 2011.

Media release and report

WHO
Swiss Membership in the Executive Board
From May 2011 to May 2014, Switzerland will be occupying a seat on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO). Switzerland is committed to a strengthening of both the WHO and of national healthcare systems.

Switzerland on the Executive Board <>

2 November 2011, Human Development Report
Sustainability and equity: a better future for all
In its 2011 Human Development Report, the UNDP demonstrates the inextricable link between sustainability and equity. It thus highlights the direct relationship between environmental degradation and the vulnerability of populations. At the same time, it identifies potential synergies to be gained from integrating social equality policies with environmental policies. It therefore contributes to the deliberative process leading up to the Rio +20 Conference in June 2012.

Human Development Report 2011
Swiss Platform for Rio+20

19 and 20 September 2011
UN General Assembly’s High-level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases
A Swiss delegation headed by the President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey attended the UN General Assembly's High-level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases on in New York.

Speech Micheline Calmy-Rey
Media release, 30.08.2011

12-15 September 2011, Wilton Park conference
SDC to hold international conference on environmental disasters
Coordinated responses to large-scale disasters and their impact on the environment was the subject of the Wilton Park conference in Glion near Montreux. The conference initiated by Switzerland prepared the United Nations conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20) next year.

Media release, 12.09.2011

Meeting of the Good Humanitarian Donorship Group

Swiss presidency of Good Humanitarian Donorship group
Switzerland broadens influence in international humanitarian community The Swiss presidency of the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) group came to an end on 31 August 2011. During its one-year term, Switzerland increased its visibility and influence in the international humanitarian arena and made achievements in three key areas: protection of civilians in armed conflict, setting quality standards in humanitarian action and strengthening humanitarian principles.

Article

19 August 2011, SDC annual conference
Development cooperation: innovation is the key to the future
Development cooperation is essential in this context. In order to combat poverty cooperation between science and research, an innovative private sector and dynamic civil society organizations is increasingly important. The Swiss Development Cooperation Agency also needs to take an innovative approach to the major challenges.

Dossier Innovation
Dossier annual conference

L’Accent multilatéral
From the Producer to the Consumer: Food security – A Value-added Chain The second issue of the new info bulletin on Switzerland’s multilateral cooperation “Multilateral Accent” is dedicated to the theme of food security. It explains the increased price of foodstuffs while taking into account the entire food chain, including the commercial aspect, and points out how the current food crisis could have been avoided.

L'Accent multilatéral (de + fr)

World Development Report 2011
A new look at Conflict, Security and Development
The presentation in Geneva of the World Development Report 2011 aroused the interest of many participants from missions to the UN, NGOs, international organisations and research institutes. Entitled Conflict, Security and Development, it highlights the devastating and lasting effects of conflict and violence on development. It is also intended to be the starting point for new reflections in which Switzerland will have a central role to play.

About the World Development Report 2011
Opening speech by Mr Dahinden (en)

Parlament
Yes to an increase in development assistance to 0.5%
Following on from the Council of States, in its debate of 28.02.11 the National Council has now also approved an increase in development assistance of 640 million francs for the years 2011 and 2012. This means that Swiss development assistance should rise to 0.5 percent of gross national income within 5 years.

Dossier

MDGs
Interim report on success in achieving Millennium Development Goals
The Federal Council approved the Confederation’s 2010 interim report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), summaris-ing the results so far. Switzerland is particularly active in three areas: water, health and education.

Dossier