- Policy
- ODA allocation overview
- ODA to and through the multilateral system
- Bilateral ODA
- Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA
- Private sector instruments
- Mobilised private finance
- Total Official Support for Sustainable Development
- Institutional set-up
- Quality and oversight
- Other profiles
- Additional resources
Development Co‑operation Profiles: Switzerland
Table of contents
Switzerland has long-term partner country engagement in complex contexts, with a strong humanitarian tradition and a commitment to addressing fragility. Switzerland has an important voice in multilateral organisations. Switzerland’s total official development assistance (ODA) decreased in 2024 to USD 4.6 billion (preliminary data), representing 0.51% of gross national income.
This profile presents verified data on development assistance allocation. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-28 identifies four objectives: 1) saving lives and supporting access to high-quality basic services; 2) contributing to sustainable economic development and the creation of decent jobs; 3) guaranteeing environmentally friendly and climate-resilient development; and 4) promoting peace and human rights and strengthening democracy and the rule of law. Within this strategy, Switzerland’s priority regions remain sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and North Africa, with a stronger focus on Ukraine.
Switzerland sees its multilateral engagement as an important pillar of its development co-operation to address global and regional development challenges, including climate change, fragility, emergency relief and the integration of developing countries into the global economy. Switzerland uses multilateral partnerships to deliver emergency relief and encourage more pro-climate private sector investment in developing countries.
The 2025 OECD-DAC Peer Review praised Switzerland for the focus of its support to long-term and complex projects, its progress on fragility, its advanced system for measuring results, and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation’s responsible phasing-out of bilateral co-operation in Latin America and the Caribbean. The review recommended increasing the share of ODA allocated to least developed countries and ensuring a poverty focus consistently informs all programmes. The review stressed the importance of strengthening the management of human resources to attract and retain staff in fragile contexts and nurture thematic expertise. It also recommended increasing linkages across private sector instruments and ensuring ODA is untied. The Peer Review found that Switzerland had fully or partially implemented 12 of the 14 recommendations of the 2019 Peer Review. Switzerland’s 2025 DAC Peer Review will be published in mid-2025. Discover insights from Switzerland’s 2019 Peer Review and 2022 mid-term review, and learn from Switzerland’s practices in Development Co-operation Tools Insights Practices (TIPs).
Switzerland provided USD 4.6 billion (preliminary data) of ODA in 2024 (USD 4.4 billion in constant terms), representing 0.51% of GNI.1 This was a decrease of 14.9% in real terms in volume and in the share of GNI from 2023. Switzerland’s total ODA has been on an upward trend since 2020. Since 2021, Switzerland had been meeting its domestic objective of a 0.5% ODA/GNI ratio, which is lower than its international commitment to achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. However, the budget envelope for 2025-28 will reduce the ODA/GNI ratio to 0.41%, or 0.36% excluding in-donor refugee costs. As Switzerland did not extend any loans during 2023 and all other instruments used were fully concessional, this conveys a grant element of 100%.
In 2024, Switzerland ranked 8th among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries when ODA is taken as a share of GNI. In 2023, Switzerland was among the DAC members that channelled the highest share of its bilateral ODA support to and through civil society organisations (CSOs) (27.3%). In 2023, Switzerland was the second-largest DAC member in terms of the share of gross bilateral ODA disbursements to fragile contexts given for peace (21.2%).
Switzerland has committed to several international targets and DAC standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC Recommendations.
Note: This table only includes information about ODA data-related DAC Recommendations. ODA: official development assistance; GNI: gross national income; DAC: Development Assistance Committee.
Switzerland provided most of its ODA bilaterally in 2023. Gross bilateral ODA was 80.2% of total ODA disbursements. Twenty-one per cent of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2023, Switzerland provided USD 1.9 billion of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 6.2% in real terms from 2022. Of this, USD 1 billion was core multilateral ODA (19.8% of total ODA), while USD 851.3 million was non-core contributions earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Project-type funding earmarked for a specific theme and/or country accounted for 28.6% of Switzerland’s non-core contributions and 71.4% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
The United Nations (UN) system received 43.6% of Switzerland’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 534 million (64.7%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 825.4 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Switzerland’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were World Food Programme (USD 114.2 million), the United Nations Development Programme (USD 113.3 million) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (USD 84 million).
See the section on Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA for the breakdown of bilateral allocations, including ODA earmarked through the multilateral development system.
Learn more by exploring the dashboard on DAC members’ use of the multilateral system.
In 2023, Switzerland’s bilateral spending increased compared to the previous year. It provided USD 4.2 billion of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented an increase of 4.9% in real terms from 2022.
In 2023, country programmable aid amounted to USD 1.4 billion, or 33% of Switzerland’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 43.1%. In-donor refugee costs were USD 1.5 billion in 2023, representing 34.7% of Switzerland’s gross bilateral ODA. This was an increase of 7.7% in real terms over 2022.
In 2023, Switzerland channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through public sector, non-governmental organisations and multilateral organisations. Technical co-operation made up 1.8% of gross ODA in 2023.
In 2023, CSOs received USD 1.1 billion of gross bilateral ODA, of which 12.3% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 5.3% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 22% was channelled through CSOs to implement projects initiated by the donor (earmarked funding). From 2022 to 2023, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs increased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 25.3% to 27.3%. Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2023, Switzerland’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on countries in Africa. USD 762.1 million was allocated to countries in Africa and USD 370.3 million to Asia (excluding the Middle East), accounting respectively for 18.1% and 8.8% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 349.8 million were allocated to ODA-eligible countries in Europe (of which 45.9% was for Ukraine). Africa was also the main regional recipient of Switzerland’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, in line with the policy priorities of its overall strategy.
In 2023, 14.6% of gross bilateral ODA went to Switzerland’s top 10 recipients. Its top 10 recipients are in priority countries including Ukraine, and fragile contexts in the Middle East, West Africa and Asia. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 59.3%, of which 58.4% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.
In 2023, Switzerland allocated 0.13% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs). Switzerland allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (16.9%) to LDCs in 2023, noting that 59.3% was unallocated by income group. Additionally, Switzerland allocated 11.8% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2023, equal to USD 495.2 million.
Looking at the distribution of Switzerland’s ODA in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”,2 the amount was USD 1.6 per person in LDCs, USD 1.4 in lower middle-income countries and USD 5.2 in upper middle-income countries (UMICs).
In 2024 , Switzerland provided USD 197.7 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a 18.8% increase from 2023 in real terms. USD 20.7 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2024, a 33.6% decrease from 2023.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 962.2 million in 2023, representing 22.8% of Switzerland’s gross bilateral ODA. Thirty-six per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, an increase from 25% in 2022, while 21.2% was allocated to peace, a decrease from 23.9% in 2022. Four per cent of gross bilateral ODA went to conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, representing a decrease from 4.5% in 2022. Learn more about the OECD States of Fragility platform.
In 2023, the largest focus of Switzerland’s bilateral ODA was to support refugees in donor countries (USD 1.5 billion). The administrative costs of donors amounted to USD 220.9 million. ODA for social infrastructure and services totalled USD 1.2 billion, with a focus on government and civil society (USD 550.8 million). Humanitarian assistance amounted to USD 650.4 million (15.6% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on social sectors and other macro sectors in 2023.
In the period 2022-23, Switzerland committed 67.6% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment, compared to 63.2% in 2020-21,3 and a DAC average of 45.8% in 2022-23. This is equal to USD 1.9 billion of screened bilateral allocable ODA in support of gender equality on average per year. In addition:
The share of screened bilateral allocable ODA committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment as a principal objective was 3.6% in 2022-23, compared with the DAC average of 4%.
Switzerland includes gender equality objectives in 43.5% of ODA for humanitarian aid, above the 2022-23 DAC average of 18.4%.
Switzerland screens all bilateral allocable ODA activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (100% in 2022-23).
Switzerland committed USD 21.2 million of ODA to end violence against women and girls and USD 19 million to support women’s rights organisations and movements, and government institutions on average in 2022-23.
Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance and the DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Development Co-operation, and by exploring the dashboard on DAC members’ development finance for gender equality.
In 2022-23, Switzerland committed 30.1% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 832.5 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 27.2% in 2020-21. The DAC average was 39% in 2022-23. In addition:
Five per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 9.6%.
Twenty-six per cent of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 721.5 million) focused on climate change overall, up from 23.2% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 34.8%). Switzerland had a greater focus on adaptation (22.4%) than on mitigation (14.7%) in 2022-23.
Nine per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 245.4 million) focused on biodiversity overall, up from 6.3% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 7.6%).
Learn more about the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Note: Individual Rio Markers should not be added up as this can result in double counting.
In 2023, Switzerland:
Allocated 6.8% of its bilateral ODA (USD 287.8 million) to core poverty-reducing sectors as defined by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.a.1. This indicator captures grants to basic social services (such as basic health and education, water supply and sanitation) and development food aid. A further 0.4% of bilateral ODA (USD 16.6 million) went to social protection support.
Committed USD 489.9 million (19.9% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to address the immediate or underlying determinants of malnutrition in developing countries across a variety of sectors, such as emergency response, government and civil society, and water supply and sanitation.
Committed USD 146.8 million (6% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Committed USD 39.4 million (1.6% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to the mobilisation of domestic resources in developing countries. Regarding the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services, Switzerland generally seeks exemptions and makes this information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
To build markets in developing countries and incentivise greater mobilisation of private resources for development, many providers, including Switzerland, have established development finance institutions (DFIs) and similar vehicles that extend private sector instruments (PSI). The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) was assessed as an ODA-eligible PSI vehicle. PSI represented 0.5% of Switzerland’s ODA in 2023 while the DAC average stood at 1.3%.
In 2023, Switzerland’s SIFEM extended USD 84.9 million in the form of PSI to developing countries.4 Of this, loans accounted for 23.1% whereas equities accounted for 76.9%.
In 2023, USD 34.7 million (40.8%) of Switzerland’s PSI were allocated to middle-income countries and UMICs, with UMICS receiving 23.6% in particular. USD 50.3 million was unallocated by income. Switzerland’s PSI primarily supported projects in the industry, mining and construction (53%) and banking and financial services (22.1%) sectors.
Switzerland uses leveraging mechanisms to mobilise private finance for sustainable development. In 2023, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (the Swiss development finance institution) mobilised USD 188.7 million from the private sector through simple co-financing, shares in collective investment vehicles and direct investment in companies and special purpose vehicles. This constituted a significant increase compared to 2022.
Private finance mobilised by Switzerland in 2022-23 mainly targeted middle-income countries, representing 9% of its total mobilised. Only 3.8% of total mobilised private finance during this period benefited the LDCs and other low-income countries, noting that 87.1% was unallocated by income.
Mobilised private finance by Switzerland in 2022-23 related mainly to activities in energy (29.6%), as its top sector. Furthermore, over this period, 70.4% of Switzerland’s total mobilised private finance was for climate action.
Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) is an international statistical standard that monitors and increases transparency of all official and officially supported resources for financing the SDGs in developing countries, as well as for addressing global challenges. In 2023, activities reported by Switzerland as TOSSD totalled USD 7.4 billion, up from USD 6 billion in 2022. Switzerland’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals) and SDG 5 (gender equality). Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
Three institutions share responsibility for Switzerland’s development co-operation: the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); the Division of Peace and Human Rights within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs; and the Economic Cooperation and Development Division of SECO within the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. Every four years, the Swiss parliament adopts its Dispatch on International Cooperation, which sets strategic objectives for the country’s development and humanitarian assistance. The latest dispatch was approved in 2024 for the period 2025-28. A “Fit for Purpose” restructuring process took place within the SDC in 2022, and the institution is now divided into three geographical divisions, one thematic division, one multilateral division, one humanitarian division, and one division responsible for transversal dossiers and core processes. The consultative Interdepartmental Committee for International Development and Cooperation (IKEZ) brings together various departments aiming at informing and co-ordinating international co-operation policy. The Swiss Federal Audit Office regularly assesses aspects of Swiss co-operation; for instance, it published a report on development co-operation in vocational and professional education and training in 2024.
There are in total around 1 877 full-time equivalents (FTE) working in international co-operation, most of whom are local staff (around 1 000 FTE).
Switzerland has a consultative and consensus-based system of government, and the preparation of the Strategy for 2025-28 involved broad public consultation. Several CSOs active in development co‑operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education co-ordinate under the umbrella body Alliance Sud.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the effective delivery of Switzerland’s development co‑operation. Select features are shown in the table below.
Access the full list of providers at this link: Development Co-operation Profiles.
2022 OECD-DAC mid-term review of Switzerland: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/AR(2024)3/19/en/pdf
2019 OECD-DAC Peer Review of Switzerland: https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264312340-en
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC): https://www.eda.admin.ch/sdc
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO): https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/en/home/Aussenwirtschaftspolitik_Wirtschaftliche_Zusammenarbeit/Wirtschaftliche_Zusammenarbeit_Entwicklung.html
CSO umbrella organisation Alliance Sud: https://www.alliancesud.ch/en
Switzerland has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 1968.
The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied, including the grant-equivalent methodology, core and earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, country programmable aid, channels of delivery, bilateral ODA unspecified/unallocated, bilateral allocable ODA, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.
The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
Note by the Republic of Türkiye
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Note by all the European Union Member States of the OECD and the European Union
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← 1. DAC members adopted the grant-equivalent methodology starting from their reporting of 2018 data as a more accurate way to count the donor effort in development loans. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 2. Aid per person in extreme poverty is calculated by dividing net ODA (bilateral and imputed multilateral) by the population in extreme poverty in each country. Group averages are calculated based on a weighted average of aid per person in extreme poverty and the number of people in extreme poverty for each country in the group. For more information on this indicator, please see here.
← 3. The use of the recommended minimum criteria for the marker by some members in recent years can result in lower levels of ODA reported as being focused on gender equality.
← 4. In 2023, the DAC agreed on revised reporting methods for measuring PSI in ODA based on ODA grant equivalents. Members may, however, take up to two years to transition to the new methods, with their PSI continuing to be accounted for on a net ODA basis during the transition period.