Danzi has been working at the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross since 1996 and was ICRC regional director for Africa over the past four years.
She will take up her new post next May, succeeding Manuel Sager who headed the development agency for five years and taking retirement.
The 50-year old Danzi, who has Swiss and Nigerian citizenship, is the first woman at the helm of the SDC.
“She possesses the abilities necessary to develop international cooperation and to lead the SDC into the future,” Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told a news conferenceExternal link on Friday.
The SDC is the largest unitExternal link of the foreign ministry and has a staff of about 700, and an annual expenditure of CHF2 billion ($2 billion) in 2018.
Danzi said she wanted help promote Switzerland’s humanitarian tradition, the respect of human rights, poverty reduction and the preservation of natural resources.
“My hope is that all Swiss citizens are proud of the country’s international cooperation. This is something valuable and I want them to understand what it means so they can cherish it,” she said.
Switzerland to increase aid partnerships with private sector
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The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) plans to double the number of partnerships with the private sector in the next two years.
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EU cuts aid to Hungary, Switzerland continues to pay
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Earlier this year, the European Commission withdrew planned EU aid to Hungary because of violations of the rule of law. Switzerland shares the EU's doubts, but continues to pay its cohesion contribution to Hungary.
‘One million stars’ against poverty light up Swiss parliament square
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Swiss charity Caritas lit thousands of candles on parliament square in Bern on Saturday evening to mark the "A Million Stars" solidarity campaign, a reminder that many people in Switzerland still live in poverty.
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The Eurovision Song Contest shows are in high demand, with the result that profiteers are hoping to make a quick franc by buying up lots of tickets.
Former Swiss finance minister slams report on Credit Suisse collapse
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Former Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer has criticised a parliamentary report on UBS's takeover of Credit Suisse, rejecting accusations that he hid the seriousness of the situation from the government.
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Researchers in Zurich have developed an electricity-free dehumidifier. It is a building element that allows walls and ceilings to absorb moisture from the air and store it temporarily.
Swiss man found dead in Iranian prison had allegedly collected soil samples
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The Swiss man who died in an Iranian prison is said to have secretly taken soil samples beforehand, according to Iranian media.
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Hackers have attacked the Swiss federal administration. Among other things, telephones, email and various federal websites and specialist applications were affected.
More and more Swiss celebrities and institutions leaving X
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The short messaging service X has also lost its reputation in Switzerland. More and more personalities and institutions are turning their backs on tech billionaire Elon Musk's platform.
Is there a place for culture in Swiss development aid?
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Switzerland is changing its approach to development cooperation. Many are wondering where that leaves projects promoting culture abroad.
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Swiss development aid should concentrate more on the needs of its partner countries and less on stopping migration, says the OECD.
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The Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SDC) will focus its work over the next four years on migration and will untertake assessments.
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As part of his five-day trip to Africa, Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister Ignazio Cassis visited a copper mine. Now he faces criticism.
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