G/AG/N/CHE/125  
29 November  2023 
(23-8100) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Agriculture  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 2 9 November 2 023, 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 
2022 . 
 
_______________  
 
 
 
 
 
  G/AG/N/CHE/125  
- 2 - 
  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 Y EAR 2022  
______________________________________________________________________________  
 
1  QUANTITY OF FOOD AID PROVIDED TO LEAST -DEVELOPED AND NET FOOD -IMPORTING 
DEVELOPING COUNTRI ES: 
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 . In 2022, no Swiss 
financial contribution was linked to the purchase of p roducts 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 and the dual food security strategy . Food assistance is complemented by Switzerland's g lobal 
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 2022, Switzerland's food aid  
under FAC criteria amou nted to CHF 125 .6 million , CHF 90 .6 million  of which was distributed by  the 
WFP. The remaining contributions were allocated to non -governmental organizations ( CHF 11 .3 
million ) and to a number of other UN partner organizations ( CHF 23 .7 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. Until 2021, the WFP had, on rare occasions, purchased sk immed milk powder produced in 
Switzerland to combat chronic malnutrition in certain countries . The WFP has not submitted a request 
for this product in 2022.  
 
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 PROPORTION IN FULLY GRANT FORM OR APPROPRIATE 
CONCESSIONAL TERMS:  
Swiss food aid is provided on fully grant terms.  G/AG/N/CHE/125  
- 3 - 
  3  TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER PARAGR APH 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 by 
their own means.  
 
Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA)  amounted to CHF  4.274  billion in 2022 . 
Switzerland's ODA comes mainly from the budgets of the SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and  
Cooperation) and the 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 Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid and the Federal Act on Cooperation 
with the States of Eastern Europe . Other federal offices, as well as the cantons and co mmunes, 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 institutions ; and (ii) multilateral cooperation with UN agencies, in ternational 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 sustainable economi c, 
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 and economic ref orm processes in the fields of 
public administration and services, health care, 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 aid 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 populations 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 uni ts; 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 humani tarian organizations working in the field.  G/AG/N/CHE/125  
- 4 - 
  Table 1 : Funds allocated under the Food Assistance Convention (FAC)   
Country  In cash (CHF)  In kind (CHF)  Total (CHF)  
Afghanistan   4,039,992  0  4,039,992  
Algeria   1,800,000  0  1,800,000  
Armenia   750,000  0  750,000  
Bangladesh   750,000  0  750,000  
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela   2,290,000  0  2,290,000  
Burkina Faso   5,060,144  0  5,060,144  
Cameroon   1,000,000  0  1,000,000  
Central African Republic   1,500,000  0  1,500,000  
Chad  2,022,100  0  2,022,100  
Colombia   1,531,879  0  1,531,879  
Cuba  500,000  0  500,000  
Democratic People's Republic of Korea  0 0 0 
Democratic Republic of the Congo   4,236,000  0  4,236,000  
El Salvador   500,000  0  500,000  
Ethiopia   5,800,000  0  5,800,000  
Global (several countries)   38,782,051  0  38,782,051  
Guatemala   800,000  0  800,000  
Haiti  1,690,140  0  1,690,140  
Honduras  0 0 0 
Iraq 0 0 0 
Jordan   1,000,000  0  1,000,000  
Kyrgyzstan   290,700  0  290,700  
Lebanon   2,000,000  0  2,000,000  
Libya  500,000  0  500,000  
Madagascar   500,000  0  500,000  
Malawi   900,000  0  900,000  
Mali  2,396,488  0  2,396,488  
Mozambique  0 0 0 
Myanmar   3,500,000  0  3,500,000  
Nicaragua   500,000  0  500,000  
Niger   1,834,882  0  1,834,882  
Nigeria   1,500,000  0  1,500,000  
Occupied Palestinian Territory   2,500,000  0  2,500,000  
Rwanda  0 0 0 
Somalia   5,863,999  0  5,863,999  
South Sudan   3,079,082  0  3,079,082  
Sudan   3,080,000  0  3,080,000  
Syrian Arab Republic   1,078,000  0  1,078,000  
Ukraine   15,718,606  0  15,718,606  
Yemen   4,500,000  0  4,500,000  
Zimbabwe   1,800,000  0  1,800,000  
Total  125,594,063  0 125,594,063  
Source:  Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).  
__________