G/AG/N/CHE/ 112 
11 November 2021  
(21-8553) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Agriculture  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated  10 November  2021, 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 2020. 
 
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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/ 112 
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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 20 20 
______________________________________________________________________________  
 
1  QUANTITY OF FOOD A SSISTANCE  PROVIDED TO LEAST -DEVELOPED AND NET 
FOOD -IMPORTING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
Switzerland has been a contracting party to the Food Assistance Convention  (FAC)  since 201 2. 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 . 
 
The provision of food assistance in emergency and chronic situations is one of the decisive ways in 
which the Swiss  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 and the dual food security strategy . Food ass istance 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 2020, Switzerland's food aid 
under FAC criteria  amounted to CHF 88.7 million,  CHF 73.3  million of which was distributed  by the 
WFP. The remaining contributions  were allocated to NGOs (CHF 10.2 million)  and to a number of 
other UN partner organizations (CHF 5.2 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 2020, in accordance with  this agreement , the WFP purchased skimmed milk powder of Swiss 
origin for food aid for Algeria and Cuba. This product is distributed as a means of supplementing  
diets and combatting chronic malnutrition , 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 prod ucts of Swiss origin therefore he lp to prevent the mental and 
physical harm caused by malnutrition . 
 
Food aid is not determined  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 
allocated 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 PROPO RTION IN FULLY GRANT FORM OR APPROPRIATE 
CONCESSIONAL TERMS  
Swiss food aid is provided on fully grant terms . G/AG/N/CHE/ 112 
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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 Sw iss 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 o f their people, 
strengthening their capacity to assume greater responsibility and ensuring their development by 
their own means . 
 
Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA) amounted to CHF 3.34 billion  in 2020. 
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 t he 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 Europe . Other federal offi ces, as well as the cantons and communes, are also involved in 
Switzerland's international cooperation.  
 
3.2  Technical cooperation and financial a id for developing countries  
The SDC is responsible for the general coordination of technical cooperation and finan cial aid for 
developing countries . 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 ma in 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 contribute s 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  SDC h umanitarian aid  
The S DC'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, d uring 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  Humanitaria n 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 organizations . 
The SDC also supports non -governmental humanitarian organizations working in the field . 
 G/AG/N/CHE/ 112 
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  Table 1 – Funds allocated under the Food Assistance Convention (FAC)  
Country  In cash  In kind  Total (CHF)  
Afghanistan  3,500,000 0 3,500,000 
Algeria1 1,898,100 0 1,898,100 
Bangladesh  3,437,271 0 3,437,271 
Benin  1,000,000 0 1,000,000 
Burkina Faso  2,966,082 0 2,966,082 
Cameroon  1,000,000 0 1,000,000 
Central African 
Republic  1,638,000  0 2,052,000  
Central America  70,000  0 70,000  
Chad 2,270,500 
 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 1,592,100 
 
 
Colombia  
 1,300,000 
 0 
 
 1,300,000 
Cuba1 508,597 
 0 508,597 
 
Democratic People's 
Republic of Korea  
 5,000,000 
 0 5,000,000 
 
Democratic Republic 
of the Congo  2,000,000 
 0 2,000,000 
 
El Salvador  
 350,000 
 0 350,000 
 
Ethiopia  1,810,000 0 1,810,000 
Global  
(several countries)  16,956,296 0 16,956,296 
Guatemala  350,000 0 350,000 
Haiti 1,500,000 0 1,500,000 
Honduras  840,259 0 840,259 
Indonesia  200,000 0 200,000 
Iraq 500,000 0 500,000 
Kenya  0 0 0 
Kyrgyzstan  2,100,000 0 2,100,000 
Lebanon  1,000,000 0 1,000,000 
Madagascar  0 0 0 
Malawi  0 0 0 
Mali 3,691,260 
 0 3,691,260 
 
Mozambique  0 0 0 
Myanmar  2,603,975 0 2,603,975 
Nicaragua  850,000 0 850,000 
Niger  2,792,449 0 2,792,449 
Nigeria  
 2,715,770 
 0 2,715,770 
 
Occupied Palestinian 
Territories  3,000,000 0 3,000,000 
 G/AG/N/CHE/ 112 
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  Country  In cash  In kind  Total (CHF)  
Pakistan  0 0 0 
Panama  0 0 0 
Rwanda  225,000 0 225,000 
Somalia  3,760,000 0 3,760,000 
South Sudan  4,532,418 0 4,532,418 
Sudan  3,339,128 0 3,339,128 
Syrian Arab Republic  1,912,000 0 1,912,000 
Tajikistan  1,353,291 0 1,353,291 
Venezuela  1,150,000 0 1,150,000 
Yemen 3,650,000 0 3,650,000 
Zimbabwe  1,000,000 0 1,000,000 
Total  88,770,396 0 88,770,396 
Source : SDC. 
 
1 For Algeria and Cuba, where WFP programmes rely partly on the distribution of skimmed  milk powder 
to combat chronic malnutrition, the WFP purchase d this powder in Switzerland.  
 
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