Mission is to reduction of poverty and global risks, and specifies in particular, Switzerland’s objectives, principles instruments and policy direction in Palestine.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation implements the Federal Council’s foreign policy in humanitarian aid, development cooperation and cooperation with Eastern Europe. Switzerland’s international cooperation programme for 2013–2016 follows five strategic goals and focuses on fragile and conflict-affected countries.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is responsible for implementing the Federal Council’s foreign policy on humanitarian aid, development, and cooperation with Eastern Europe. It supports countries in their efforts to overcome poverty- and development-related problems. For example, the SDC enables disadvantaged groups among the population to gain better access to education and healthcare, and it helps resolve environmental problems. The SDC places special emphasis on fragile states and countries affected by conflict.

International cooperation for the period 2013–2016 has five strategic goals:

Prevent or surmount crises, conflicts and disasters
Create universal access to resources and services
Promote sustainable economic growth
Support transitions to democratic, market-based economy systems
Help shape globalisation that favours development, safeguards the environment and is socially acceptable

Humanitarian aid

Save lives and alleviate suffering: that is the mission of Swiss Humanitarian Aid. It is guided by international humanitarian law and by the internationally recognised principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence.

At the heart of humanitarian aid are the victims of crises, disasters and conflicts. The task of humanitarian aid has three pillars:

Immediate and survival assistance (emergency relief)
Sustainable reconstruction
Disaster preparedness and prevention

The Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit provides direct aid via immediate response interventions or seconds specialists to multilateral organisations.

Global cooperation

Through its work at the multilateral level – with organisations such as the UN, the World Bank and regional development banks, for example – Switzerland is helping to resolve development issues that are becoming increasingly complex. With its global programmes in the areas of climate change, food security, migration and water, the SDC is tackling these global challenges and in so doing is fighting to reduce poverty.