UNIDO - Medicinal and Aromatic Plants project (EFTA)

15.10.2010 - 30.06.2016

This project contributes with US$ 2.85 million over a period of 4 years in order to enhance the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) sector in Egypt through a vertically integrated approach. For many years Egypt has been producing and exporting MAP products (herbs and spices). However, the Egyptian MAP sector suffers from limited capacity to produce in terms of quality and safety standards, lack of professional advisory services, in addition to a highly fragmented and underdeveloped supply chain. These factors negatively affect the position of Egyptian MAP products both in the local and export markets and consequently the ability to increase production of high value products in addition to weakening the bargaining power of Egyptian producers and exporters. This has a negative effect on the potential for income and employment generation.

The project aims at raising the position, competitiveness and safety of Egyptian MAP products in export markets and at developing its entire local supply chain. Thus, it will be based on an integrated development approach composed of three pillars: 1) Quality enforcement- 2) Product development- 3) Access to exports markets.

Remediation of historically polluted sites

11.10.2010 - 31.12.2011

Switzerland is supporting a project aimed at improvement and partial restoration of soil, ground, ground water and surface water quality in the industrial port of Riga (the area of Sarkandaugava).
 

Healing Regions

01.10.2010 - 31.12.2014

As part of its enlargement contribution, Switzerland is supporting this tourism project to strengthen Destination Management Organisations (DMO) in the economic development areas of Northern Hungary and the Northern Great Plain. The project focuses on medical tourism.

Sustainable tourism (Tisza)

01.10.2010 - 31.01.2015

As part of its enlargement contribution, Switzerland is supporting this tourism project to strengthen Destination Management Organizations (DMO) in the economic development areas of Northern Hungary and the Northern Great Plain. The project focuses on cultural tourism.

Strategic Fairtrade Funding Program, Phase II

01.10.2010 - 31.12.2013

As part of its work undertaken in favor of private voluntary standards, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs has played a major role in recent years to strengthen international donor coordination in the area of fair trade. As a result of this effort the Strategic Fairtrade Funding Programme (SFFP) in support of Fairtrade International (FLO) has been successfully put in place in 2009. Under the SFFP Phase I FLO has undergone a comprehensive Strategic Review process which led to a revised strategic Model for Fairtrade globally.

The second phase of the SFFP (2010-2013) aims at reaching the objectives identified in the the strategic model developed under phase I, namely: Strengthening the global Fairtrade system- Broadening the scope of Fairtrade- and Deepening the impact of Fairtrade. In addition to the support of the SFFP II, resources are allocated to Swiss Fairtrade to support fair trade information and sensitization activities in Switzerland (according to the federal councils Label Strategy- IdaRio 2000).

Renewable Energy Sources in the Wisloka River Basin

01.09.2010 - 31.03.2017

Air pollution and emission levels in Southern Poland are substantially higher than in Western European countries, due to the common use of coal for heating purposes. The project aims to improve air quality by introducing renewable energy sources in the Union of the Wisloka River Basin Communes. Solar systems for hot water production will be installed on private and public buildings, and photovoltaic systems for electricity generation will be provided to selected public buildings.

Renewable Energy Systems in Healthcare Facilities in the Mazowieckie Voivodship

01.09.2010 - 15.02.2017

The project is situated in the Mazowieckie Voivodship in Central Poland, the largest and most populous Voivodship in Poland. Accordingly, the consumption of fossil fuels is very high, which results in significant emissions of greenhouse gases. Since health care facilities consume a significant amount of energy, the project aims to decrease emissions and environmental pollution by introducing renewable energy sources for hot water production in 12 healthcare facilities in the Mazowieckie region.

Renewable Energy Systems in the Mszana Dolna Region

20.07.2010 - 31.12.2016

This project is situated in the Mszana Dolna Region (Malopolskie Voivodship) in southeastern Poland. The air pollution and emission levels in in this region are substantially higher than in Western European countries. The participating communes are located close to UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves (Tatra and Babia Gora mountains), National Parks and Natura 2000 areas, thus the high air pollution jeopardizes the vulnerable fauna and flora of this protective area. Consequently, this project aims at increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in the region.

Heating Substations and Distribution Network in Warsaw

20.07.2010 - 31.03.2017

The project aims to improve the energy efficiency of Warsaw's district heating system, and to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and hazardous substances. 100 outdated group heating substations will be replaced by 765 individual substations, and over 40'000 meters of old duct type heat distribution pipes will be replaced with modern pre-insulated pipes.

Renewable Energy Systems in 9 Municipalities of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodship

20.07.2010 - 31.03.2017

This project is situated in the Swietokrzyskie Voivodship in Southern Poland. The air pollution and emission levels in in this region are substantially higher than in Western European countries. The 9 municipalities participating in this project are located close to Natura 2000 areas, thus the high air pollution jeopardizes the vulnerable fauna and flora of this protective area. Consequently, this project aims at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in the region.

Government Debt and Risk Management Program, Phase I

03.07.2010 - 31.12.2015

The objective of this partnership ist to support selected middle-income SECO priority countries to better manage their fiscal risks, and thus strengthen their resilience against crises. The partnership comprises two programs: the Government Debt and Risk Management (GDRM) Program and the Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance (DRFI) Program.

Sustainable Policy Procurement Ghana, Phase II

03.07.2010 - 03.03.2019

Following the successful implementation of the Ghanaian procurement reform, which was supported by a previous SECO project between 2003 and 2006, the goal of this project is to embed the principles of transparency, accountability and sustainability in public procurement. More specifically, the project aims at: ensuring open access to information and a transparent procurement management system for all bidders (transparency)- making public procurement a trigger to encourage the private sector to provide better and innovative goods and services that will integrate social and environmental considerations (sustainability)- and enabling procurement entities to report on their activities so that they can be held responsible for the execution of their budget and the use of public funds (accountability).