In line with Switzerland's International Cooperation Strategy for the 2021–24 period, the Southern Africa programme now prioritises two countries: Zimbabwe and Zambia. The programme focuses on achieving food security, providing access to high-quality services, especially healthcare, and strengthening civil society and public institutions.
Zimbabwe and Zambia

![]() |
Embassy |
---|---|
![]() |
Mission / Delegation / Permanent Representation |
![]() |
Consulate general |
![]() |
Honorary representation |
![]() |
Cooperation office |
![]() |
Contribution Office |
![]() |
Embassy with Cooperation Office |
![]() |
Embassy with Regional consular center |
![]() |
Swiss Business Hub |
![]() |
Swissnex |
![]() |
City |
![]() |
Capital |
![]() |
Disputed border |
![]() |
River |
![]() |
Lake |
Zambia and Zimbabwe are landlocked neighbours in Southern Africa. Their prospects for development and ability to compete globally depend heavily on regional integration and the progress of neighbouring states. Both countries are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Zambia and Zimbabwe have a wealth of natural resources and a relatively well-educated young population. However, growing inequality, poverty and climate change are undermining stability.
The Cooperation Programme 2023–26 is concerned with fighting inequality, alleviating poverty, building communities' resilience, increasing food security and improving access to services, especially healthcare. The programme also aims to increase political participation and establish accountable and resilient public institutions.
Swiss Bilateral ODA |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 * |
---|---|---|---|
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) |
|
|
|
Bilateral development cooperation |
27.70 |
26.98 |
28.00 |
Humanitarian aid |
0.68 |
0.32 |
- |
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) |
|
|
|
Economic Cooperation and Development |
- |
- |
- |
Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) |
|
|
|
Conflict transformation and human rights |
0.78 |
0.97 |
0.92 |
Total SDC/SECO/PHRD |
29.16 |
28.27 |
28.92 |
Other Federal Offices |
|
|
|
Other FDFA Divisions (ASAF, AIO, aso) |
0.01 |
0.02 |
.. |
Network of FDFA representations abroad |
2.71 |
3.04 |
.. |
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) |
- |
- |
.. |
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) |
0.10 |
0.05 |
.. |
MeteoSwiss |
- |
- |
- |
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) |
- |
- |
- |
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) |
- |
- |
.. |
Federal Statistical Office (FSO) |
- |
- |
- |
Total other Federal Offices |
2.82 |
3.11 |
- |
Cantons and municipalities |
0.81 |
.. |
.. |
Total |
32.79 |
31.38 |
28.92 |
Data status at 01.05.2023
* planned; total based on available data
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
Food security and income
Switzerland aims, in particular, to improve the prospects of women and young people in both rural and urban areas to enable them to earn an income and ensure their food security. In order to achieve this, action has been taken along the value chain comprising smallholder farmers and other stakeholders.
Key initiatives include facilitating access to new financial and insurance services and building marketable skills, which also promote economic growth and provide security against climate events, for example.
Other priorities include developing, promoting and mainstreaming climate-resilient, nutrient-rich crops and climate-smart agricultural practices.
Connections are also being established between rural and urban areas with a view to facilitating market access.
High-quality services and shock-responsive systems
High-quality services and shock-responsive systems contribute to better health and greater resilience, especially among disadvantaged groups.
Protecting and advancing the right to sexual and reproductive health is an important action area. Switzerland's work to date has reduced the incidence of HIV in both countries, which has resulted in a more comprehensive approach to healthcare.
Key actions include conducting policy dialogue with a view to delivering integrated health services to a higher standard of quality and increasing national spending on social and disaster protection mechanisms.
Switzerland is trying to build and enhance shock-responsive systems with a view to strengthening communities' resilience to disasters.
Civil society and state institutions
Human rights and democratic governance are crucial to long-term development and peace. Conflict and violence are more likely to erupt in countries where state institutions are ineffective, corruption is widespread and the rule of law weak.
Switzerland intends to help strengthen democratic governance and human rights in Zimbabwe, and subsequently in Zambia, by supporting elected national and local governments and independent oversight bodies, in delivering on and being accountable in their remits and respecting human rights.
People's fundamental rights are crucial to resolving conflicts, defusing tensions, promoting economic growth and protecting human dignity. To help communities shape their own future, Switzerland actively promotes the participation of women and young people, in particular, in decision-making processes, including decisions on business and the economy.
Cross-cutting themes
Climate change, gender equality and governance
Switzerland's projects address climate change, which is considered to be a threat multiplier. They promote climate-resilient solutions and systems to reduce the adverse effects of climate change on communities.
Switzerland also works to achieve gender equality by encouraging women to participate in decision-making and opinion-forming processes and improving conditions for women living in poverty.
Switzerland promotes participation in decision-making for all segments of society and advocates for responsible and accountable governments and bodies.
Other issues
Culture
Art and culture contribute to freedom of expression, peacebuilding and sustainable development. One per cent of the Cooperation Programme budget is used to promote culture, engage with young people and raise awareness of crucial issues among communities and decision-makers.
Approach and partners
An important new component of the Cooperation Programme is closer cooperation with central and local governments in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Switzerland is also cooperating with UN organisations, NGOs and academia on issues such as humanitarian aid, strengthening democracy and sensitive health matters. Engagement with the private sector is also key to achieving innovation and development results.
Links
Documents
Current projects
Promoting Social Entrepreneurship in selected countries
01.01.2023
- 28.02.2026
This regional program with national implementation components supports Social Entrepreneurs (SEs) contributing to solving societal and environmental problems with a market-based approach. The contribution identifies and supports selected SEs and helps them to reach out to the poor. It serves the creation of employment and income for low-income households improving their livelihoods. SEs use innovative ideas and business models that are well-aligned with SDC’s objectives of poverty reduction.
SYP Safeguard Young People in Eastern African countries
01.03.2021
- 28.02.2024
The SYP program contributes to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young people, thus reducing gender based health inequities. It supports the adoption, domestication and implementation of policies, and strengthens young people’s competencies on and access to SRHR services. The expansion to Tanzania and Rwanda leverages on the experience in Southern Africa financed by SDC, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s thematic expertise and convening power.
Community-Based Chronic disease Care Lesotho (ComBaCaL)
01.12.2020
- 31.12.2025
Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are the number one cause of death globally. There is a lack of scientifically validated prevention and care models in low- and middle-income countries. This research project, combining research excellency from Switzerland and Lesotho, will develop, test, validate, improve and up-scale an innovative eHealth NCD prevention and care model in health facilities and communities in Lesotho and beyond.
Impact Linked Financing for high-impact organisations suf-fering from the COVID-19 crisis
01.12.2020
- 31.12.2028
The Impact-Linked Finance Fund (ILFF) addresses major challenges, which private-sector organisations creating strong positive impact for vulnerable communities are facing due to COVID-19. These high-impact organisations (HIOs) will benefit greatly from an innovative financing approach that rewards them directly for verified outcomes. The project will focus on HIOs in Eastern and Southern Africa suffering from the COVID-19 crisis and providing important sustainable services at affordable prices to the poor.
The Swiss Capacity Building Facility
01.10.2020
- 31.12.2026
The Swiss Capacity Building Facility (SCBF) is a Swiss technical assistance financing facility, uniting the expertise of key actors of the Swiss financial sector and of partners engaged in financial inclusion. The SCBF fosters the innovation and massive scaling-up of financial services and products centred on the financial inclusion of low-income women, vulnerable households, smallholder farmers and MSMEs in the Global South. Financial inclusion enables reaching the SDGs.
Youth Engagement in Democratic Governance and Socio-economic Development in Africa
15.04.2019
- 30.06.2023
Africa has the youngest population globally. While this is an unparalleled opportunity for growth and innovation, it may also fuel instability and violence. Young people in Africa need more capacities to use their potential as drivers of peaceful changes. With African and COMESA, SDC seeks to contribute to current continental, regional and national efforts to create an enabling environment for youth engagement in democratic processes , in line with the CH interest of contributing to the prevention of violent extremisms and supporting economic partnerships in Africa
Programmbeitrag Biovision 2019-2020
01.01.2019
- 31.12.2020
Biovision unterstützt Wandel in Richtung nachhaltiger Nahrungssysteme. Sie fokussiert auf die Förderung innovativer agrarökologischer Lösungen für Subsahara-Afrika (SSA) und schafft die Grundlage für einen Politikdialog auf nationaler/internationaler Ebene. Gemeinsam mit dem CDE hostet Biovision das Sustainable Development Solutions Network Switzerland und trägt damit zum Kernthema «Ernährungssicherheit und ökologische Landwirtschaft» zur Umsetzung der Agenda 2030 auf internationaler/nationaler Ebene bei.
Promoting Social Entrepreneurship in selected countries
01.07.2017
- 31.12.2022
This regional program with national implementation components is a private-public-development-partnership (PPDP) supporting Social Entrepreneurs (SEs) contributing to solving societal and environmental problems with a market-based approach. The contribution identifies and supports selected SEs and helps them to reach out to the poor. It serves the creation of employment and income for low-income households improving their livelihoods. SEs use innovative ideas and business models that are well-aligned with SDC’s objectives of poverty reduction.
SolidarMed
01.01.2017
- 31.12.2018
SolidarMed setzt sich ein für eine Welt, in der alle Menschen gleichberechtigten und finanziell abgesicherten Zugang zu guter Gesundheitsversorgung haben und damit ihr Recht auf Würde, Selbstbestimmung und bestmögliche Gesundheit in allen Lebenslagen verwirklichen können. SolidarMed arbeitet mit vulnerablen Gruppen : Frauen, Kinder, Arme und Menschen im ländlichen Gebiet. Die thematischen Schwerpunkten sind: Sexuelle und reproduktive Gesundheit und Rechte, Gesundheitssysteme, Gesundheit in Gemeinden und soziale Determinanten, Gesundheit von Mutter, Kind und Neugeborenen und NCDs, Malaria, TB und anderen Erkrankungen.
WFP Secondment
27.05.2016
- 07.12.2016
The 2015 El Nino event is the strongest and longest in the past 35 years. Consequent drought and harvest loss have pushed 32 million people into food insecurity in Southern Africa alone. WFP's response, in the worst affected countries is budgeted at 782 million USD and coordinated by the WFP RB in Johannesburg. The overall coordination of the response is assured by the Southern Africa Regional Inter Agency Standing Committee (RIASCO). The seconded SHA expert will liaise with RIASCO on behalf of the WFP RB and COs and thus contribute to well targeted, synergetic and adequate action in food security for affected populations.
Strengthening the legislative in Africa through an institutional partnership with AWEPA
15.04.2016
- 15.04.2020
A travers un partenariat institutionnel avec AWEPA, la DDC contribue à promouvoir la paix et la stabilité dans les Grands Lacs en renforçant les capacités des institutions législatives et en soutenant les échanges entre parlementaires de la région, européens et suisses. Le Forum des parlementaires de la CIRGL[1], qui sert de pont avec les parlements nationaux dans la mise en œuvre, manque encore de capacités. Ce projet contribue au renforcement du Forum et à la mise en œuvre du Pacte[2] et permet une promotion de la bonne gouvernance au plus haut niveau. [1] Conférence Internationale pour la région des Grands Lacs, mis en place en 2000 par 11 pays de la région pour la médiation, la prévention et le règlement des conflits. [2] Pacte pour la paix, la sécurité, la stabilité et le développement signé par les 11 pays membres de la CIRGL.
SolidarMed programme contribution South 2015 - 2016
01.01.2015
- 31.12.2016
Taking the particular vulnerabilities of the population of rural areas in southern and eastern Africa, with a particular focus on poverty-related diseases. into account and in consideration of the existing Millennium Development Goals as well as emerging global health challenges, SolidarMed contributes towards the following thematic goals: