The OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) conducts reviews of the development co-operation efforts of DAC members every five to six years. DAC peer reviews seek to improve the quality and effectiveness of development co-operation policies, programmes and systems, and to promote good development partnerships for greater impact on poverty reduction and sustainable development in developing countries.
As set out in the methodology updated regularly and agreed to by the DAC, DAC peer reviews focus on a select number of areas critical to the quality of a member’s development co-operation. These focus areas are decided in agreement with the member under review, drawing a self-assessment submitted by the member as well as inputs from key partners. Based on these, staff from the Secretariat and two DAC members designated as peer reviewers visit the member’s capital to interview officials and parliamentarians, as well as representatives of civil society, non-government organisations, the private sector and relevant experts. This is followed by visits to up to two developing partner countries or territories, where the review team meets with the reviewed member’s government representatives as well as senior officials and representatives of the partner country’s administration, parliamentarians, civil society, the private sector and other development partners. The findings of these consultations and accompanying recommendations are then discussed during a formal meeting of the DAC prior to finalisation of the report. During the process, the OECD Development Co-operation Directorate provides analytical support.
To support learning between DAC members, the report highlights valuable practices from Switzerland, from which peers can draw inspiration and learning. These are documented in further detail on the Development Co-operation TIPs ∙ Tools Insights Practices peer learning page, that offers insights into making policies, systems and partnerships more effective. The peer review report is complemented by Switzerland’s development co-operation profile which includes factual information on its policies, development financing, institutional arrangements, and management systems.
The analysis presented in this report is based on (1) a desk review, including Switzerland’s self-assessment and written assessments and inputs provided by more than 25 partners (multilateral organisations, non-government and academic partners as well as partner governments); and (2) an extensive process of consultation with actors and stakeholders primarily in Switzerland, South Africa and Zimbabwe (listed in Annex C). The work was discussed during the meeting of the DAC on 21 March 2025 and revised to integrate comments. It reproduces in the section titled “The DAC’s peer review recommendations to Switzerland” the recommendations approved by the Committee via written procedure on 26 March 2025.