G/AG/N/CHE/118  
8 August  2022 
(22-5943) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Agriculture  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 4  August  2022, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Switzerland . The notification concerns actions taken within the framework of the Decision on 
Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least -Developed 
and Net Food -Importing Developing Countries ( Table NF:1 ) for the calendar year  2021 . 
 
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In accordance with the notification requirements within the framework of the Decis ion on Measures 
Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least -Developed and Net 
Food-Importing Developing Countries ( Table NF:1 ), the following provides details of Switzerland's 
programmes in favour of such countries.  
 
 
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  Table NF:1  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 16.2 OF THE AGREEMENT: MONITORING OF THE 
FOLLOW -UP TO THE DECISION ON MEASURES CONCERNING THE POSSIBLE  
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE REFORM PROGRAMME ON LEAST -DEVELOPED  
AND NET FOOD -IMPORTING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES:  SWITZERLAND  
REPORTING PERIOD : CALENDAR YEAR 2021  
______________________________________________________________________________  
 
1  QUANTITY OF F OOD AID PROVIDED TO LEAST -DEVELOPED AND NET FOOD -IMPORTING 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES:  
 
Switzerland has been a contracting party to the Food Assistance Convention (FAC) since 2012. 
Swiss  food assistance consists of cash transfers for food aid distribution programmes and, in a few 
isolated cases, of cash transfers related to the purchase of dairy products of Swiss origin. As of 2022, 
Swiss financial contributions are no longer linked to the  purchase of products in Switzerland.  
 
The provision of food assistance in emergency and chronic situations is one of the decisive ways in 
which Switzerland's humanitarian mandate to save human lives and alleviate suffering is being 
implemented. By addressing world food security challenges, Switzerland demonstrates a global 
perspective that is in keeping with the Zero Hunger Challenge of the Secretary -General of the 
United  Nations (UN) and the dual food security strategy. Food assista nce is complemented by 
Switzerland's global advocacy efforts and its commitment to tackling the root causes of hunger, for 
example through support to agricultural research, promotion of small -scale farmers and reduction 
of post -harvest losses.  
 
In the area  of food assistance, Switzerland works in close partnership with international 
organizations, in particular the World Food Programme (WFP). Of all the UN programmes and funds, 
the WFP receives the largest amount of Swiss humanitarian aid. In 2021, Switzerl and's food 
aid under FAC criteria amounted to CHF 110.6 million, CHF 75.2 million of which was distributed 
by the WFP. The remaining contributions were allocated to non -governmental organizations 
(CHF 9.7 million) and to a number of other UN partner organi zations (CHF 14.6 million).  
 
Since 2018, Switzerland's support to the WFP has consisted of financial contributions. The end use 
of financial food aid is subject to an annual contractual agreement between Switzerland and the 
WFP. In 2021, the WFP purchased skimmed milk powder of Swiss origin for food aid to Algeria; 
50 metric tons were purchased for CHF 220,600. This product is distributed in order to supplement 
diet and address chronic malnutrition, notably through school food projects and in healthcare 
facilities. The aim is to improve nutrition in emergency situations and cases of acute malnutrition. 
Deliveries of dairy products of Swiss origin therefore help to prevent the physical and mental harm 
caused by malnutrition.  
 
Food aid is not determined on th e basis of the criteria of "least -developed countries" (LDCs) or "net 
food-importing developing countries" (NFIDCs). Swiss funds for food assistance operations are 
allocated in accordance with the following criteria: needs (populations affected, urgency an d lack of 
funds), potential synergies with other Swiss programmes, or the presence of a Swiss  cooperation 
office.  
 
 
2  INDICATION OF THE PROPORTION IN FULLY GRANT FORM OR APPROPRIATE 
CONCESSIONAL TERMS:  
 
Swiss food aid is provided on fully grant terms.  
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  3  TECHN ICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER PARAGRAPH 3 (III) OF THE 
DECISION  
3.1  Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA)  
The overall aim of Swiss international cooperation is to foster global sustainable development with 
a view to reducing poverty and global risks. Through its development aid, Switzerland supports the 
work of developing countries with a view to improving the standard of living of their people, 
strengthening their capacity to assume greater responsibility and ensuring their development b y 
their own means.  
Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA) amounted to CHF  3.59 billion in 2021. 
Switzerland's ODA comes mainly from the budgets of the SDC (Swiss Agency for Development 
and Cooperation) and the SECO (Economic Cooperation and De velopment Division of the 
State  Secretariat for Economic Affairs), the two entities responsible for implementing the Federal 
Act on International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid and the Federal Act on 
Cooperation with the States of Eastern Eur ope. Other federal offices, as well as the cantons and 
communes, are also involved in Switzerland's international cooperation.  
3.2  Technical cooperation and financial aid for developing countries  
The SDC is responsible for the general coordination of technical  cooperation and financial aid for 
developing countries. The SDC's development cooperation is twofold: (i) bilateral cooperation with 
priority countries and regions, that is, state bodies, civil society, private -sector stakeholders and 
research institution s; and (ii) multilateral cooperation with UN agencies, international financial 
institutions and global networks and funds.  
The SECO implements the economic and trade policy measures related to development cooperation 
with middle -income countries in particu lar. Its main priority is to support sustainable economic, 
ecological and social growth, which helps to reduce poverty and inequality. Economic development 
is based on cooperation with specialized international organizations.  
 
3.3  Cooperation with Eastern Europe  
The cooperation with Eastern Europe spearheaded by the SDC and the SECO seeks to support the 
Western Balkans and the former Soviet Union countries on the path towards democracy and the 
social market economy. It contributes to the political a nd economic reform processes in the fields of 
public administration and services, healthcare, water and energy supply, vocational training geared 
towards the labour market, and promotion of the private sector.  
3.4  SDC humanitarian aid  
The SDC's humanitarian ai d operations constitute an expression of solidarity by Switzerland towards 
groups of people in distress and are not subject to any geographical restrictions. The SDC works to 
protect the interests of vulnerable population groups before, during and after pe riods of conflict, 
crisis or natural disaster. Preventive and awareness -raising measures also play a key role in this 
respect.  
Swiss emergency assistance takes a number of forms: the mobilization of specialists from the 
Swiss  Humanitarian Aid Unit  (SHA) and other crisis units; the distribution of food aid through 
Swiss  relief agencies and the WFP; and the granting of financial support to International Committee 
of the Red Cross (ICRC) activities and UN humanitarian organizations. The SDC also supports 
non-governmental humanitarian organizations working in the field.  
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  Table 1: Funds allocated under the Food Assistance Convention (FAC)  
Country  In cash 
(CHF)  In kind 
(CHF)  Total (CHF)  
Afghanistan  18,000,000  0 18,000,000  
Algeria1 1,800,000  0 1,800,000  
Bangladesh  1,834,088  0 1,834,088  
Benin  0 0 0 
Burkina Faso  3,374,061  0 3,374,061  
Cameroon  1,000,000  0 1,000,000  
Central African Republic  2,000,000  0 2,000,000  
Central America  0 0 0 
Chad 1,422,186  0 1,422,186  
Colombia  1,000,000  0 1,000,000  
Cuba 500,000  0 500,000  
Democratic People's Republic of Korea  4,000,000  0 4,000,000  
Democratic Republic of the Congo  2,472,000  0 2,472,000  
El Salvador  0 0 0 
Ethiopia  2,250,000  0 2,250,000  
Global (several countries)  24,519,159  0 24,519,159  
Guatemala  719,810  0 719,810  
Haiti 1,500,000  0 1,500,000  
Honduras  1,000,000  0 1,000,000  
Indonesia  0 0 0 
Iraq 1,000,000  0 1,000,000  
Kyrgyzstan  522,500  0 522,500  
Lebanon  3,000,000  0 3,000,000  
Libya  500,000  0 500,000  
Madagascar  1,980,000  0 1,980,000  
Mali 3,192,500  0 3,192,500  
Mozambique  2,000,000  0 2,000,000  
Myanmar  3,850,000  0 3,850,000  
Nicaragua  1,100,000  0 1,100,000  
Niger  1,000,000  0 1,000,000  
Nigeria  2,755,000  0 2,755,000  
Occupied Palestinian Territory  1,500,000  0 1,500,000  
Rwanda  300,000  0 300,000  
Somalia  3,450,000  0 3,450,000  
South Sudan  3,729,292  0 3,729,292  
Sudan  4,000,000  0 4,000,000  
Syrian Arab Republic  1,900,000  0 1,900,000  
Tajikistan  0 0 0 
Venezuela  1,782,906  0 1,782,906  
Yemen  4,230,000  0 4,230,000  
Zimbabwe  1,425,000  0 1,425,000  
Total  110,608,502  0 110,608,502  
Source: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)  
1 For Algeria, where WFP programmes rely partly on the distribution of skimmed milk powder to 
combat chronic malnutrition, the WFP purchased this powder in Switzerland.  
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