G/AG/N/CHE/ 97 
5 November  2019 
(19-7469) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Agriculture  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated  4 November  2019, 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 2018. 
 
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In accordance with the notification requirements within the framework of the Decision on Measures 
Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least -Developed and Net 
Food-Importing Countries ( Table NF:1 ), the following provides details of Switzerland's programmes 
in favour of such countries.  
  G/AG/N/CHE/ 97 
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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 PE RIOD: CALENDAR YEAR 201 8 
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1  QUANTITY OF FOOD AID PROVIDED TO LEAST -DEVELOPED AND NET FOOD -IMPORTING 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
Switzerland has been a contracting party to the Food Assistance Convention since 201 2. Swiss food 
assistance consists of cash contributions and deliveries of dairy products of Swiss origin . 
 
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 keep ing with the Zero Hunger Challenge of the Secretary -General of the 
United  Nations and the dual food security strategy . Food assistance 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 Pr ogramme (WFP) . Of all the UN programmes and  funds, 
the WFP receives the largest amount of Swiss humanitarian aid . The 2008 global food crisis prompted 
Switzerland to increa se its contributions to the WFP  significantly, from approximately CHF 50  million  
in 2008 to CHF 66 million  in 201 8. 
 
Since 2018, Swiss food aid has consisted of financial contributions to the WFP. The end use of 
financial food aid is subject to  an annual contractual agreement between Switzerland and the WFP. 
Under this agreeme nt, for Algeria and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, where 
WFP programmes rely on the distribution of skimmed -milk powder to combat chronic malnutrition, 
the WFP purchase s the powder in Switzerland . It is  distributed as a means of supplementing  diets, 
primarily through school meal programmes  and in healthcare facilities , with a view to improv ing 
nutrition in emergency situations and in cases of severe malnutrition . Deliveries of dairy products of 
Swiss origin therefore help to prevent the mental and physical harm caused by malnutrition . 
 
Food aid is not allocated on the basis of the criteria of "least  developed countries" (LDCs) or "net  
food-importing developing countries" (NFIDCs) . Swiss funds for food assistance operations are 
instead all ocated in accordance with the following criteria : needs (populations affected, urgency and 
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  
All Swiss food aid is provided on fully grant terms . 
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  3  TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER PARAGRAPH 3(III) OF THE DECISION  
3.1  Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA)  
The overall aim of Swiss international cooper ation 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, 
strength ening their capacity to assume greater responsibility and ensuring their development by 
their own means . 
 
Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA) amounted to CHF 3.02 billion  in 2018. 
Switzerland's ODA comes mainly from the budgets of the SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and 
Cooperation ) and SECO ( Economic Cooperation and Development Division of the State Secretariat 
for Economic Affairs ), the two entities responsible for implementing the Federal Act on International 
Development Cooperatio n and Humanitarian Aid  and the Federal Act on Cooperation with the States 
of Eastern Europe . Other federal offices, as well as the cantons and some 200 communes, are also 
involved in Switzerland's international cooperation.  
 
3.2  Technical and financial assista nce to developing countries  
The SDC is responsible for the general coordination of technical and financial assistance to countries 
and regions of the South, namely the majority of low -income countries . The SDC organizes more 
than 800 development cooperatio n programmes and projects covering ten subject areas . It tailors 
priorities to the requirements of its 2 1 partner countries and regions in the South . With a view to 
attaining sustainable development, the SDC's work is underpinned by gender equality and goo d 
governance . The SDC's development cooperation is twofold : (i) bilateral cooperation with priority 
countries and regions, i.e. S tate bodies, civil society, private -sector players and research 
institutions ; 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 particular . Its main priority is to support sustain able 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 countries in transition  
Through cooperation with the for mer socialist states in the Western Balkans, the South Caucasus 
and Central Asia, the SDC and SECO both lend their support to a sustainable transition towards 
democracy and the market economy . They contribute to the political and 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  Humanitarian aid and emergency assistance by the SDC  
The SDC's humanitarian aid operations constitute an expression of solidarity by Switzerland towards 
groups of people in distress and are not subject to any geographic restrictions . The SDC works to 
protect the interests of vulnerable population groups before, during  and after periods 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 World Food Programme (WFP) ; and the granting of financial support 
to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) activities and UN humanitarian organ izations . 
The SDC also supports non -governmental humanitarian organizations working in the field . G/AG/N/CHE/ 97 
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  Table 1 – Funds allocated to LDCs and NFIDCs for food and nutrition assistance (CHF ) 
Country  In cash  In kind  Total  
Afghanistan  2,500,000  0 2,500,000  
Algeria1 2,100,000  0 2,100,000  
Bangladesh  2,580,000 0 2,580,000 
Burkina Faso  1,865,00 0 0 1,865,000  
Cameroon  558,646  0 558,646  
Central African Republic  1,000,000 0 1,000,000  
Central America  64,532  0 64,532  
Chad  2,011,190  0 2,011,190  
Colombia  1,800,000  0 1,800,000  
Costa Rica  59,255  0 59,255  
Democratic People's Republic of Korea1 5,000,000  0 5,000,000  
Democratic Republic of the Congo  4,847,394  0 4,847,394  
Ethiopia  1,500,000  0 1,500,000  
Global (several countries)  8,266,559  0 8,266,559  
Haiti 1,700,000  0 1,700,000  
Iraq 2,000,000  0 2,000,000  
Kenya  305,889  0 305,889  
Lebanon  800,000  0 800,000  
Madagascar  1,320,000  0 1,320,000  
Mali 2,351,088  0 2,351,088  
Myanmar  2,500,000  0 2,500,000  
Niger  2,600,000  0 2,600,000  
Nigeria  3,490,000  0 3,490,000  
Occupied Palestinian Territories  5,000,000  0 5,000,000  
Pakistan  500,000  0 500,000  
Somalia  2,500,000  0 2,500,000  
South Sudan  5,408,500  0 5,408,500  
Sudan  2,500,000  0 2,500,000  
Syrian Arab Republic  1,817,885  0 1,817,885  
Yemen  5,900,000  0 5,900,000  
Total 74,845,938  0 74,845,938  
Source : WFP and SDC . 
1 For Algeria and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, where WFP programmes rely on the 
distribution of skimmed -milk powder to combat chronic malnutrition, the WFP purchase s this powder 
in Switzerland . 
 
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