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Governance in the name of peace, justice and prosperity
The objective of governance is to create an environment that strengthens rule of law and human rights, gender equality, appropriate distribution of power and macro-economic stability. Governance helps to improve social and economic framework conditions in the service of sustainable development, the fight against poverty and human security.
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The SDC has defined five principles for which a State must strive in implementing governance, accountability, transparency, non-discrimination, participation and effectiveness. These principles are like five magnifying glasses which make it possible to analyse state activities from certain priority angles and are part of the fundamental concept of rule of law. |
Governance is a strategic objective of SDC development cooperation. The concept is, however, complex, covering the various resources, institutions and mechanisms used by social groups and individuals to express their interests, interact and exercise their rights and obligations, as recognized by the State.
Governance triggers a wave of positive knock-on effects
In attaining its objectives, development cannot choose to overlook governance. It is not enough to involve beneficiary
populations. Institutions – especially State institutions – have to be strengthened at all levels. Governance applied to the public service sector improves its functioning, triggering positive
social, political and economic knock-on effects for the population at large. However, it also concerns all other stakeholders in society, such as industry and commerce, civil society and the
international organizations.
| The SDC's focus Given the crucial importance of governance, the SDC has made it a cross-cutting theme in all its activities. Governance also reinforces the supporting measures provided by cooperation in its various areas of involvement, both in development and in humanitarian aid. The SDC is committed to promoting participation, transparency and accountability, equal treatment and non-discrimination, as well as to ensuring the effectiveness of its own activities and those of its partners. These principles must be applied in sectors such as health, education and the management of natural resources, to name but a few. With its work, the SDC therefore seeks to break the vicious circle of discrimination, exclusion, poverty and helplessness, aiming to enable the most vulnerable and the destitute to participate as citizens and give them equal rights at international level so they too can benefit from the potential offered by globalization. SDC spheres of activity |
Additional Information and Documents
- Governance as a Transversal Theme
An Implementation Guide
Download (PDF, 850 KB) : [en] [fr] [es] - Capitalisation des expériences
et résultats des Fonds de Soutien à l’Investissement Local et des Programmes d’Appui à la Gouvernance Locale au Niger 2000 – 2011
Download (PDF, 1446 KB) : [fr] - One stop shops - in the service of the population of Vietnam - partnership results
Asia Brief - August 2010
Download (PDF, 67 KB) : [de] [en] [fr] - Catching up on capacity in DPR Korea
Asia Brief - January 2011
Download (PDF, 336 KB) : [de] [en] [fr] - Rede Martin Dahinden: Good Governance - Entwicklungspolitische Kriterien für die Sozialhilfe
Neuenburg, Schweizerische Konferenz für Sozialhilfe, 31.05.2012
Download (PDF, 388 KB) : [de]