Cooperation programme

Peace, social cohesion and prosperity constitute an essential aim of Swiss foreign policy in Central Asia, Switzerland’s engagement in the region began in the 1990s when Uzbekistan and three other Central Asian States joined the Swiss-led voting groups at the World Bank (WB), international Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This marked the beginning of Switzerland’s engagement in the region, which has expanded ever since.

The new Swiss Cooperation Programme 2022–2025 for Central Asia was jointly elaborated by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It reaffirms Switzerland’s continued commitment to Central Asia. Switzerland will build on its past achievements and wants to make an effective contribution to the region’s development pathways.

The programme 2022–2025 is focusing on three areas:

  1. Water, Infrastructure, and Climate Change
  2. Governance, Human Rights, and Service Delivery
  3. Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development

Objectives of the Swiss Cooperation Programme in Uzbekistan 2022–2025

The overall goal of the Swiss Cooperation Programme Central Asia 2022–2025 is to contribute to peace and social cohesion as well as to responsive and strengthened institutions and sustainable development in order to improve the resilience of the population in Central Asia. The Swiss programme will strongly emphasise regional coherence and synergies.

Programme Management and Implementation

At regional level, Switzerland will work with the Central Asia Regional Environmental Centre (CAREC) and potentially with the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). Both institutions require substantial strengthening to play their regional role. Switzerland will also continue to use the diplomatic channels of the Blue Peace Initiative to conduct a dialogue on regional water and climate change issues with concerned governments. It will carry on working with the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, which pursues a regional approach.

At national level, Switzerland will continue to work at all levels (macro, meso, and micro) and strengthen its partnerships with governmental agencies, development partners and civil society. Switzerland will cooperate with a mix of modalities, including mandates, and contributions to multilateral agencies, bilateral projects with Swiss, international and local NGOs, and support for civil society and the private sector.

Switzerland will pay particular attention to the complementarity of its activities with like-minded development partners as well as with multilateral organisations.