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Development policy

Ignazio Cassis

Article as analysis

New head of FDFA: World domestic policy challenge

Many in the media suggest that Swiss foreign policy is primarily policy on Europe. But the new Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is also responsible for development policy. Major challenges lie ahead.

Article as analysis

Contradictory plans for Africa

Migration prevention is becoming an ever more prominent feature of international cooperation. Lately, the funding of systems of repression has also become a part of it. The new Foreign Minister is well advised to raise questions about this trend.

Charging asylum costs to development budgets

In Switzerland, every fifth franc that was declared as development funding in 2016 went toward refugee costs. Alliance Sud gathered facts and figures and compares them with other OECD member countries.

Political article

Asylum costs: The great labelling fraud

Again in 2016, every fifth franc of official development spending remained in Switzerland. This makes Switzerland the largest recipient of its own development funds.

Article as analysis

What is violence prevention achieving?

There is a direct link between terror and underdevelopment. Like official Switzerland, UN bodies too are convinced of this. A review of the academic findings.

Article as analysis

Are corporations saving the world?

Since 2010, multinationals have been investing more than 600 billion dollars annually in business activities in developing countries – and the figure is still rising. Are multinational corporations therefore now spearheading development cooperation?

Article as analysis

The misguided policy of turning a blind eye

Also in Switzerland the "refugee crisis" is causing a stir. A few facts would be a useful input to this discussion.

Stabilisierungsprogramm 2017-2019

Article as analysis

Learning from the rich how to save

Although the Finance Department regularly announces budget surpluses, development aid is to be cut yet again. What is not being mentioned is that Switzerland's taxation and debt levels are among the lowest.

IZA-Budget 2017-2020

Short-sighted savings at expense of the poorest

Massive cuts were made to the Confederation's 2016 development assistance budget. The Federal Council also cut back the credit lines in its Dispatch on Switzerland's International Cooperation 2017-2020.