Confidence in the work of development cooperation

Awareness that development policy is made against a complex background of globalization and conflict has increased since 1999. For the first time, cooperation with the UN met with a high degree of acceptance, while less approval was expressed for cooperation with the World Bank. These are the results of a representative survey carried out by the gfs.berne Research Institute.

A majority of Swiss registered voters remains sceptical about globalization. Two-thirds believe it primarily benefits the rich, that is to say the rich countries. Mass unemployment and the disparity in well-being between North and South are considered major problems, closely followed by increasing concern about "cheap competition" from developing countries.

This growing insecurity has not shaken the average Swiss citizen's basically positive attitude towards development cooperation, however. Despite the general pressure to cut expenses, a clear majority of voters supports development assistance. According to the poll, 53 percent favour continuing assistance at the same level and 22 percent feel it should even be increased, while 21 percent of those questioned feel that development assistance should be reduced. There has also been an increase in the degree of familiarity with official development cooperation. In general, however, people are more aware of private relief organizations as actors in development cooperation.

A majority of Swiss voters considers support for fair trade to be a sensible proposal for broadening Swiss development policy. An overwhelming majority expressed disapproval for exporting weapons to developing countries, regarding it as counter-productive. At the same time, an almost equal number would welcome an increase in agricultural imports from developing countries.

Every four to five years, the SDC and the Swiss Coalition of Development Organizations conduct a representative survey to determine changes in perception among the population with regard to development policy. 1,200 registered voters from the German, French and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland were polled in September 2004. The final report of the "Study on Development Policy 04" was presented at a press conference held by Claude Longchamp, a political scientist at the gfs.bern Research Institute; Walter Fust, director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); and Peter Niggli, Director of the Swiss Coalition of Development Organizations. The results of the poll can be viewed on the websites of the Coalition (www.swisscoalition.ch) and the SDC (www.deza.ch).

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
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