Switzerland
Partnership overview
Switzerland, a srong supporter of the Bank, became a member of the African Development Fund (ADF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 1973 and in 1982 respectively. As part of its development agenda, Switzerland has pledged strong focus on fragile states and conflict contexts, reducing poverty, promoting human development, supporting rural development and good governance. Switzerland is supporting the Bank to implement its strategy with a particular emphasis on:
- Increased impact in countries with fragile situations;
- Improved Development Effectiveness and Management for Results;
- Gender Equality in Development;
- Improved Governance, including in natural resources management
- Climate and Green Growth; and
- Impact of private sector operations on poverty reduction and development.
Joint initiatives
Collaboration between the Bank and Switzerland is mainly through the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The AfDB signed two Technical Cooperation Agreements with SDC in 1977 and 1988, respectively. An Exchange of Letters was also signed in 1995. Further, under the Swiss Technical Cooperation Fund, grant resources have been provided to support consultancy services related to feasibility studies, project appraisal, supervision, training, and institutional support to the AfDB. Eligible sectors are agriculture, environment, water supply and sanitation, health, private sector development and governance. Switzer-land is an active supporter of the Governance Trust Fund and the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) Trust Fund that are managed by the Bank. SDC has also provided technical assistance to AfDB through the provision of experts to the Bank’s water department and currently to the department in charge of transition states coordination.
Contacts
Mr. Ronald MEYER
Executive Director
Email: r.meyer@afdb.org
Ms. Christine LEWIS
Senior Advisor
Email: c.lewis@afdb.org
Mr. Hervé Pekam NEFFO
Principal Cooperation Officer
Email: h.neffopekam@afdb.org
Resource Mobilization & Partnerships Department