Switzerland spreads NGO funding to ‘increase competition’
The SDC has a presence in many countries, including here in Sri Lanka.
Keystone / Anthony Anex
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) says it will spread its financial contributions to NGOs and umbrella groups to a wider array of organisations. Funding will be capped for individual NGOs to “help increase competition and boost innovation.”
In future the SDCExternal link will limit funding of individual NGO and umbrella group projects to CHF8 million ($8.1 million). This means that from 2021 “contributions to the international programmes of individual NGOs will be limited to 30%, while federal contributions to the international budgets of umbrella organisations, cantonal federations and NGO alliances will be capped at 40%,” read an SDC statementExternal link on Tuesday.
The SDC cooperates with such projects that “help the poorest and most vulnerable communities” of the world. “Swiss NGOs bring specific expertise, experience of key areas or operations and local knowledge to international cooperation, thus contributing to [SDC’s] success,” the government agency said.
The SDC currently contributes CHF120 million (around a third of its total budget) to the international programmes of some 40 Swiss aid agencies, umbrella organisations and federations. The ten largest agencies receive 73% of the budget, with the remaining 27% distributed to approximately 25 other partner organisations.
NGOs must meet operational management, accountability and risk management quality criteria and be accredited with the Zewo quality sealExternal link to receive SDC funding.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
Why cars still reign supreme in ‘rail-nation’ Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
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.
Read more
More
Swiss charity Terre des hommes cuts 45 HQ posts
This content was published on
The Swiss non-governmental organisation Terre des hommes plans to cut one fifth of the staff at its Lausanne headquarters.
Political hurdles risk undermining Swiss aid groups
This content was published on
Development aid organisations in Switzerland say they face increasing financial and political pressure to fund their activities.
This content was published on
Catholic charity Caritas has announced that it will close offices in five out of the 20 countries in which it operates in the coming months.
This content was published on
Ten Swiss non-governmental agencies are set to lose key European Union funding for humanitarian operations, according to Swiss public radio, SRF.
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.