Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

What Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation does

SDC is the official Swiss government agency responsible for international development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and peace policy, operating as a directorate within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) since 1961. It designs and implements bilateral cooperation programs in priority regions spanning Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, with thematic focus areas including governance, health, economic development, climate resilience, food security, and humanitarian response (delivered in part through the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps, SKH). SDC also maintains consumer-facing utilities such as the Travel Admin mobile application for Swiss citizens abroad.

SDC's business model is grant-based rather than commercial: capital flows entirely from Swiss federal budget appropriations approved by Parliament, and is distributed through three principal channels — direct bilateral programs with partner-country governments (e.g., Moldova 2025-2028 CHF 104M envelope, Georgia $74M climate program), multilateral co-funding with UN and climate-finance institutions (UNDP, Green Climate Fund, ILO, UNEP), and blended-finance/impact-investment vehicles channeled through managers such as AlphaMundi, SEAF, Acumen, and the Daraja Impact Fund. It does not charge fees, earn interest on program capital, or generate service revenue in the commercial sense.

The agency's distribution footprint comprises roughly 170 Swiss representations worldwide plus dedicated cooperation offices in priority countries, and is set to expand with a planned 2026 reopening of the Pyongyang office after a six-year absence. Operational leadership sits with Director Patricia Danzi under EDA head Ignazio Cassis, with senior figures such as Monika Schmutz Kirgöz (Head of MENA Division) overseeing regional portfolios. Forward strategy emphasizes blended-finance scale-up via the Swiss Investment Finance Initiative (SIFI, targeting CHF 1 billion in mobilized capital), climate adaptation programming, and continued diplomatic good-offices engagement, including planned North Korea re-engagement.

Name

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

Legal name

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

Website

https://eda.admin.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

SDC is Switzerland's federal agency for bilateral development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and peace policy, implementing grant-funded programs in priority partner countries through government appropriations and blended-finance vehicles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation

NAICS

International Affairs (92812)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Bilateral Development & Aid Agencies (HLAJAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG), Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO), Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF), International & Global Public Health Aid Administration (Government Donors) (HLAJALAO), Bilateral Development & Global Health Cooperation Programs (HLAJAOAB)

Keywords

• International development cooperation
• Humanitarian aid services
• Peace and security promotion
• Climate resilience financing
• Blended finance impact investing

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Swiss Federal Development Funding: Primary funding from Swiss federal budget (CHF250 million budget cut implemented in 2025), distributed through bilateral programs, multilateral contributions, and blended finance mechanisms to mobilize private capital for sustainable development.
2. Blended Finance Mobilization: SDC participates in initiatives like SIFI (impact finance initiative) aimed at unlocking CHF 1 billion through public and philanthropic funding, risk mitigation strategies, and innovative financial models for emerging markets.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) implements Switzerland's bilateral and multilateral international development cooperation, providing financial and technical assistance for sustainable development, humanitarian emergency response via the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps (SKH), and peace promotion through diplomatic good offices. It channels grants and blended finance through government-to-government agreements, UN agencies, civil society partners, and impact investment vehicles to address poverty, climate change, food security, health, and governance in developing and transition countries.

Product overview

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is a government agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) that provides development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and international cooperation services. It does not operate as a traditional technology product company but rather delivers aid programs, diplomatic services, and emergency response capabilities. Key offerings include bilateral development cooperation, humanitarian assistance via the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps (SKH), multi-year international cooperation programs, and peace promotion through mediation and good offices. The agency also offers the Travel Admin mobile application for Swiss citizens abroad.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Development Cooperation Services Bilateral development cooperation programs supporting sustainable development in partner countries across health, economic development, governance, and public services sectors. Targeted at governments and populations in developing and transition countries.
• Humanitarian Aid Emergency response and humanitarian assistance provided through the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps (SKH) for disaster relief, search and rescue operations, and support to affected populations in crisis-affected regions.
• International Cooperation Programs Multi-year cooperation programs implemented through bilateral country agreements, such as the Moldova Cooperation Programme 2025-2028 with a CHF 104 million budget focused on governance, economic resilience, and health outcomes.
• Peace and Security Promotion Diplomatic good offices, mediation services, and support for conflict prevention and peacebuilding through Swiss expert pools and international organizations. Targeted at parties in conflict, international mediators, and peace process stakeholders.
• Travel Admin App Mobile application providing Swiss citizens abroad with real-time security information, embassy addresses, and travel safety resources. Targeted at Swiss travelers and citizens residing abroad.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 million treatment failures could be caused by malaria drug resistance by 2060 without continued R&D investment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• International Labour Organization (ILO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026SDC supports ILO initiatives on migrant worker rights and representation, including strategic workshops with Jordan trade unions on addressing abusive recruitment and gender-specific barriers.
• United Nations Development Program (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026UNDP is a key implementation partner for SDC-funded climate resilience programs, including the Georgia community-based disaster risk management project backed by the Green Climate Fund.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026SDC partnered with UNEP on Uttar Pradesh heat-resilient urban infrastructure consultation, highlighting the Noida International Airport as India's first large-scale low-carbon LC3 cement project.
• RBM Partnership to End MalariaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026SDC participates in World Malaria Day discussions co-hosted by RBM Partnership addressing the malaria funding crisis and drug resistance spreading across Africa.
• Medicines for Malaria VentureminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026SDC engages with MMV on malaria R&D investment discussions amid artemisinin resistance spreading across African nations.
• Chinese Government AgenciesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026China-Swiss Zero Emission Buildings Project Exhibition showcased 5 years of bilateral cooperation involving over 100 experts from 30+ enterprises and universities on zero-emission building standards.
• SIFI (Sustainable Finance Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026SDC participates in Switzerland's impact finance initiative (SIFI) aimed at mobilizing CHF 1 billion through public and philanthropic funding for sustainable development in emerging markets.
• AcumenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2026SDC committed $7.8 million to Acumen's Hardest-to-Reach Initiative (H2R), a blended capital fund for clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa targeting 70 million people across 17 countries.
• AlphaMundimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 December 2025SDC launched the Daraja Impact Fund in 2023, managed by AlphaMundi alongside SEAF, providing CHF 10 million ($12.5 million) in flexible financing to Tanzania's small and growing businesses.
• Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 December 2025SEAF co-manages the SDC-funded Daraja Impact Fund with AlphaMundi, focusing on youth and women-led enterprises in Tanzania.
• Government of MoldovacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 202525-year bilateral partnership with Moldova has invested over CHF 250 million in health, economic development, governance, and public services. New program 2025-2028 has budget of CHF 104 million.
• Government of GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2025Government of Georgia co-funds the US$74 million climate resilience program alongside GCF and SDC, supporting 100 high-risk communities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): Germany's federal agency for international cooperation, implementing bilateral development programs worldwide on behalf of BMZ. Direct counterpart to SDC with comparable mandate, structure, and operational model.
• FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office): UK government department combining foreign affairs and development. Operates bilateral aid programs, multilateral policy, and humanitarian response on a similar scale to SDC's mandate.
• Agence Française de Développement (AFD): France's bilateral development finance institution, financing public and private sustainable development projects in partner countries. Closest analog to SDC in Europe, with similar blended finance and bilateral program structures.
• NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation): Norway's development cooperation agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on climate, education, and tax for development. Similar mandate and small-country funding model to SDC.
• DANIDA (Danish International Development Agency): Denmark's development cooperation arm under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with similar bilateral programs, humanitarian response, and thematic priorities (green transition, gender, human rights).
• SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency): Sweden's government agency for development cooperation, channeling Swedish ODA through bilateral programs and multilateral partners. Highly comparable in size, Nordic-style governance, and programmatic approach.

Regional players

• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme): Multilateral UN agency that SDC both funds and partners with (e.g., Georgia climate program). Differs structurally (multilateral vs. bilateral) but is a key operational counterpart in country-level delivery.

Broad incumbents

• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency): Japan's bilateral development agency implementing ODA across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Larger scale than SDC but operates similar bilateral grant and concessional loan instruments.
• USAID: Largest bilateral development agency globally, with comparable core functions (humanitarian aid, development cooperation, partnerships). Much larger scale and more politically exposed than SDC.

Others

• Acumen: Nonprofit impact investor that SDC has funded through H2R ($7.8M). Adjacent peer given SDC's growing role as an LP-style anchor in blended impact vehicles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eda_dfae
• YouTubeyoutube.com/SwissForeignMinistry
• Facebookfacebook.com/eda.dfae.fdfa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/18381263/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/eda_dfae

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation