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
This content was published on
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) plans to double the number of partnerships with the private sector in the next two years.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Over a third of Swiss seniors suffer from loneliness as volunteer shortage worsens
This content was published on
“Loneliness has serious health consequences and significantly reduces life expectancy,” Pro Senectute warned in a press release on Sunday.
Swiss cantons could save over CHF13 billion, study shows
This content was published on
In education alone, over five billion could be saved in principle each year, according to an analysis by the University of Lausanne and consulting firm PwC.
CERN to expel 500 Russian scientists from November 30
This content was published on
The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is to cut cooperation with 500 scientists affiliated with Russian institutions from November 30.
Over 1,000 take part in memorial ride for deceased Swiss cyclist
This content was published on
Around 1,500 people took part in a memorial ride on Sunday for World Cycling Championship participant Muriel Furrer, who died after an accident.
Swiss survey shows majority want new nuclear power plants
This content was published on
More than half the Swiss population supports the government's plan to lift a ban on the construction of new nuclear power plants.
This content was published on
The majority of high level decisions in Swiss companies remains in the hands of men, says the latest Gender Intelligence Report.
Is there a place for culture in Swiss development aid?
This content was published on
Switzerland is changing its approach to development cooperation. Many are wondering where that leaves projects promoting culture abroad.
This content was published on
Swiss development aid should concentrate more on the needs of its partner countries and less on stopping migration, says the OECD.
This content was published on
The Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SDC) will focus its work over the next four years on migration and will untertake assessments.
This content was published on
As part of his five-day trip to Africa, Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister Ignazio Cassis visited a copper mine. Now he faces criticism.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.