Switzerland’s international cooperation strategy 2025-2028

In an increasingly unstable world, international cooperation strengthens Switzerland’s credibility and influence at a global level. It helps to promote the values that characterise Switzerland: the rule of law and democracy, the market economy, human rights, dialogue, solidarity, humanitarian principles and humanitarian law.

The International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028 adopted by Parliament in December 2024 sets out Switzerland’s priorities for development and economic cooperation, humanitarian aid and the promotion of peace and human rights. The overarching objective of international cooperation is to end poverty and support sustainable development worldwide. It is an integral part of Swiss foreign and security policy. International cooperation is guided by three principles:

the needs of the affected / local population;
the specific added value that Switzerland can contribute;
Switzerland’s long-term interests (such as a peaceful and just international order, stable and investment-friendly economic conditions, addressing the causes of displacement and irregular migration, and global sustainable development).

Saving lives and ensuring access to basic services; contributing to sustainable economic growth; protecting the environment and combating climate change; promoting peace and human rights, and strengthening democracy and the rule of law. These are the objectives set by Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028. It thus continues to focus on the priorities of the previous strategy (2021-2024), thereby ensuring the coherence of Switzerland’s contribution to global sustainable development.

The strategy is implemented by the SDC and the Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) of the FDFA and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER).

International cooperation activities are based on a constitutional and statutory mandate. The International Cooperation Strategy forms part of the Federal Council’s cascading strategy, which strengthens the coherence of Swiss foreign policy and foreign economic policy.

The four international cooperation development objectives for 2025-2028

Switzerland pursues its international cooperation objectives in line with its thematic priorities and promotes gender equality, good governance and respect for human rights in all its activities. The four development objectives of international cooperation are interrelated and mutually reinforcing.

The four development objectives of Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028. — © FDFA

Human development

Saving lives, alleviating human suffering and providing access to high-quality basic services for the most disadvantaged: United Nations estimates indicate that 339 million people worldwide were dependent on humanitarian aid in 2023 and around 117 million had been displaced or were stateless – both distressing negative records. International cooperation has therefore implemented disaster protection measures to reach people in emergency situations and to enable migrants and those forcibly displaced to secure their livelihoods. The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on basic services. And it also led to setbacks in medical care, for example for tropical and non-communicable diseases and in the area of sexual and reproductive health. For this reason, Swiss international cooperation has raised awareness about the prevention of non-infectious diseases through information events and will step up its efforts in this area in future.

Sustainable economic development

Create decent jobs by establishing suitable framework conditions and fostering a vibrant local economy and private sector: economic crises, the rising cost of living and high inflation have a disproportionately strong impact on low-income countries. People on low incomes and disadvantaged groups are at particular risk of slipping deeper or falling back into poverty. This is why international cooperation supports the creation of decent jobs and the strengthening of economic framework conditions, and promotes the local private sector.

Climate change and the environment

Guarantee environmentally friendly development, resilient to climate change and natural hazards, for the benefit of the most disadvantaged: Over a third of people live somewhere that is seriously jeopardised by climate change, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. Extreme weather events, loss of harvests and water shortages have increased again, jeopardising the food security of millions of people. Half of the world’s population will live in water-scarce regions by 2025. International cooperation therefore supports the development of sustainable, resilient measures against the negative consequences of climate change.

Peace and governance

Resolving conflicts, promoting peace: around a quarter of the world’s population lived in conflict-affected regions at the beginning of 2023. Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine has definitively reminded us that peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted. In various contexts, authoritarian tendencies have increased and the erosion of the rule of law has intensified, and the world is a long way from achieving gender equality. Through its international cooperation activities, Switzerland endeavours to establish and secure peace, helps governments to set up governance systems and promotes the principles of the rule of law.

The financial framework of international cooperation for the 2025-2028 period

Parliament has set a maximum financial framework of CHF 11.12 billion for the International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028 with five commitment appropriations. CHF 1.5 billion is earmarked for supporting Ukraine and CHF 1.6 billion for combating climate change. The actual budget is approved annually by Parliament. Parliament has made CHF 2.4 billion available for 2025.

Even though the war in Ukraine and its consequences have a significant place in this strategy, Switzerland’s humanitarian tradition and its interests require it to maintain its activities in the rest of the world.

Percentage distribution of the five commitment appropriations for Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028. — © FDFA

Links

Dispatch on the International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028 of 22 May 2024 (DE)

Consultation report on Switzerland’s Strategy for International Cooperation 2025-2028 (DE)

Flexible approaches in an unstable world: Federal Council adopts Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028, Federal Council press release of 22 May 2024

Development cooperation: FDFA and EAER implement Parliament’s decisions, Federal Council press release of 29 January 2025

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Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028 (PDF, 7.03 MB)

Flyer Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028 (PDF, 1.80 MB)

Financial plan and commitments Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028 Budget 2025 with integrated task and financial plan 2026-2028 (PDF, 415.52)

Supplementary report Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028 (PDF, 476.11 kB)

Accountability report on Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2021–2024 International Cooperation: Helping to Combat Global Poverty and Crises (PDF, 12.16 MB)