International cooperation: the FDFA is mitigating the impact of COVID-19 around the world
The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are particularly severe in developing countries. The FDFA has taken immediate action to mitigate the economic and health effects of the crisis there. It is providing emergency humanitarian aid, supporting international action, and focusing on the management of COVID-19 in ongoing bilateral and global development programs. Furthermore, Switzerland also provides assistance in the area of peace policy.
SDC and HSD projects in various countries: the SDC and the HSD have adjusted various ongoing bilateral projects and programmes and also initiated efforts in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic (Karte, Zoom mit Doppelklick). The FDFA is also involved in internationally active organisations and undertakes work at regional level. © FDFA
The coronavirus pandemic is not only a health crisis. It is also an economic crisis and will develop into a financial and social crisis. The consequences are particularly serious for developing countries. Many people there have already lost their jobs. Without jobs, social networks and savings, their livelihoods are quickly threatened and poverty, instability and migration are likely to increase. The education of children and young people is also at risk, as thousands of schools have had to close because of COVID-19 and over 1.6 billion pupils and students worldwide are affected.
The FDFA's response is aimed at taking effective measures to counter the health, economic and social consequences of the pandemic in developing countries. This is also in line with the thrust of the 2021-2024 international cooperation strategy, which is designed to be flexible and allows for a targeted response to needs.
The FDFA has adapted ongoing projects and programmes within the framework of existing budgets and are supporting organizations and institutions in the fight against the pandemic. Communicable diseases and their consequences do not stop at borders, and it is therefore important for Switzerland's security to counter global health risks across borders and to strengthen the health and economic systems in developing countries. With its open and globalised economy, Switzerland is dependent on a stable international order. The following examples and tables provide an overview of the FDFA’s measures.
Africa
COVID-19 poses major problems for many African countries. The pandemic is not only an additional challenge in terms of health, but also in terms of the economy, food safety, access to education and security. In many countries, the authorities have therefore taken restrictive measures ranging from travel bans to school closures. However, African health systems are fragile and the economic consequences of a "lockdown" for the population are severe. After all, work is often not registered by the state. Education institutions are striving to maintain minimal access to education via television or radio despite school closures, but in many places the necessary infrastructure is lacking. Even if schools are now partially reopening, massive learning deficits are evident, and child labour and sexual violence against girls have increased.
To reduce the collateral damage of the pandemic in Africa and prevent millions of people from falling back into extreme poverty and to prevent lack of access to education from having long-term social and economic consequences, the FDFA is implementing various medium and long-term measures. If these measures improve prospects on location, they will also reduce the pressure of migration.
Support for Africa
Country |
Swiss Contribution |
Action in the field of: |
FDFA Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
Algeria |
CHF 200,000 (SDC) |
- Crisis prevention |
- Development Cooperation |
Benin |
CHF 4,279,360 (SDC) |
- Governance |
- Development Cooperation |
Burkina Faso |
CHF 4,563,870 (SDC) |
- Governance |
- Development Cooperation |
Burundi |
CHF 4,426,880 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Cameroon |
CHF 757,990 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Central African Republic |
CHF 1,000,000 (SDC) |
- Other |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Chad |
CHF 4,152,850 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Congo (Dem. Rep.) |
CHF 5,833,170 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Côte d'Ivoire |
CHF 45,000 (HSD) |
- Human security |
- Human Security Division |
Egypt |
CHF 1,245,750 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Ethiopia |
CHF 1,495,370 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Kenia |
CHF 728,410 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Libya |
CHF 1,443,530 (SDC) |
- Protection |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Madagascar |
CHF 163,920 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Mali |
CHF 7,595,920 (SDC) |
- Food security |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Morocco |
CHF 621,850 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Mozambique |
CHF 4,332,070 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Niger |
CHF 6,598,030 (SDC) |
- Governance |
- Development Cooperation |
Nigeria |
CHF 1,509,270 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Rwanda |
CHF 3,538,400 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Somalia |
CHF 2,140,750 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
South Sudan |
CHF 2,151,150 (SDC) |
- Food security |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Sudan |
CHF 168,000 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Tanzania |
CHF 4,167,840 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Tunisia |
CHF 1,777,400 (SDC) |
- Health - Governance - Protection - Migration - Other - Human rights policy |
- Development Cooperation |
Zimbabwe |
CHF 12,333,170 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
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Asia
In addition to the general population, migrant workers are particularly affected by the border closures and lockdowns in South and Southeast Asia.
Thousands have lost their jobs and are often stranded in transit and destination countries. The FDFA has adapted its commitment in the area of migration accordingly and implemented emergency aid measures. For example, various partners of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) provide migrants with food, water, hygiene articles and protective material, offer medical and psychosocial assistance, and help them to maintain contact with their families.
Consideration is also being given to medium-term strategies for reintegrating them into the economy. For not only do labour migrants risk slipping into extreme poverty without a social insurance network. But their remittances to their families, if they fail to be sent, put their home countries under further pressure. In some countries remittances account for up to a third of the gross domestic product.
Without these financial resources, combating COVID-19 in the Asian region will be even more difficult. Not only is unemployment rising there, pushing millions of people back into poverty. Many people also have no access to basic needs, such as food. In addition, there is often a lack of medical infrastructure, and in many densely populated areas "social distancing" is not possible.
Support for Asia
Country |
Swiss Contribution |
Action in the field of: |
FDFA Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan |
CHF 4,700,000 (SDC) |
- Food security |
- Development Cooperation |
Bangladesh |
CHF 17,947,380 (SDC) |
- Governance |
- Development Cooperation |
Bhutan |
CHF 246,800 (SDC) |
- Education/Vocational training |
- Development Cooperation |
Cambodia |
CHF 3,055,730 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
China |
CHF 1,100,000 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Humanitarian Aid |
India |
CHF 395,500 (SDC) |
- Environment |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Korea (DPRK) |
CHF 270,000 (SDC) |
- Other |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Lao People's Democratic Republic |
CHF 3,978,520 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Mongolia |
CHF 152,000 (SDC) |
- Governance |
- Development Cooperation |
Myanmar |
CHF 15,798,510 (SDC) |
- Employment and economic development |
- Development Cooperation |
Nepal |
CHF 11,040,500 (SDC) |
- Health |
- Development Cooperation |
Pakistan |
CHF 720,000 (SDC) |
- Disaster Risk Reduction |
- Humanitarian Aid |
Sri Lanka |
CHF 878,255 (SDC) |
- Migration |
- Global Cooperation |
Thailand |
CHF 16,700 (HSD) |
- Human rights policy |
- Human Security Division |
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