Switzerland works to build inclusive societies in the Mekong region, particularly in Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), by promoting equitable and sustainable development and democratic governance. To support young people, women and disadvantaged groups, Switzerland implements programmes in governance and citizen participation, climate change and natural resources management as well as inclusive economic development.
Mekong region (Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic)
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Despite high economic growth since the early 2000s, which has enabled the Mekong countries to achieve progress in reducing poverty, inequality is rising, affecting rural populations in particular. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major socio-economic crisis. The most vulnerable groups, such as women, ethnic minorities and people living in remote areas, are also the worst affected by an economic model built on the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.
Switzerland’s Mekong Region Cooperation Programme 2022-25 aims to enable young people, women and disadvantaged groups to be more prosperous, resilient and better included in development processes. It aims to improve livelihoods by strengthening local institutions and enhancing policies
Swiss Bilateral ODA | 2022 mill. CHF |
2023 mill. CHF |
2024 * mill. CHF |
---|---|---|---|
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) | |||
Bilateral development cooperation | 31.70 | 36.81 | 35.90 |
Humanitarian aid | 0.41 | 0.47 | - |
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) | |||
Economic Cooperation and Development | 0.55 | 0.56 | 0.56 |
Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) | |||
Conflict transformation and human rights | - | 0.01 | - |
Total SDC/SECO/PHRD | 32.66 | 37.85 | 36.46 |
Other Federal Offices | |||
Other FDFA Divisions (ASAF, AIO, aso) | - | - | .. |
Network of FDFA representations abroad | 3.03 | - | .. |
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) | - | - | .. |
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) | 0.02 | 0.01 | .. |
MeteoSwiss | - | - | - |
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) | - | - | - |
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) | - | - | .. |
Federal Statistical Office (FSO) | - | - | - |
Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) | - | - | - |
State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) | - | - | - |
Total other Federal Offices | 3.05 | 0.01 | - |
Cantons and municipalities | 1.05 | .. | .. |
Total | 36.76 | 37.86 | 36.46 |
Data status at 02.04.2024
* planned; total based on available data
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
Climate change and natural resource management
Switzerland aims to make people more resilient to climate change and disasters, with more secure and equitable access to natural resources (land, forest and water) and to manage those resources sustainably.
In Cambodia, Switzerland is supporting smallholder farmers for enhanced resilience to climate change and disasters with Swiss expertise in sustainable water resources and irrigation management. Some 150,000 people acquire specific knowledge to apply agro-ecological approaches and better access to technologies and services supplied by the public and private sector.
In Laos, a dam collapsed in 2018 causing the most important manmade flooding disaster in the country’s history and affecting thousands of poor families. Switzerland shares its expertise in dam safety to strengthen the national dam safety regulatory and institutional frameworks to international standards, thereby protecting downstream communities and contributing to safe energy production and the sustainability of infrastructure.
At regional level, Switzerland supports the Mekong River Commission (MRC), which is an intergovernmental organisation. The MRC serves as a regional platform for dialogue and water diplomacy and as a knowledge centre on water resources management for sustainable development.
Governance and Citizen Participation
Switzerland aims that people could benefit from responsive public service delivery and could actively engage in local and national governance processes.
In Cambodia, Switzerland supports a project on "Improved Service Delivery for Citizens". It improves access to socially equitable and inclusive public services for the benefits of all citizens through a One-Window-Service-Offices and improving municipal water and waste management. Switzerland is also helping to fund hospitals in Kantha Bopha, which treat around 80% of all children living in Cambodia.
In Laos, the space for citizens’ involvement in public affairs is a challenge. Switzerland provides more opportunities for Lao CSOs to engage in the country development processes, and to collaborate with the National Assembly in bringing local experience, lessons learned and citizen’s voice.
At regional level, Switzerland contributes to improved land governance which remains at the centre of development challenges. Indeed land expropriation is a key driver of new poverty and food insecurity. The programme creates an opportunity for improvements in policies and practices regarding land tenure security for smallholder farmers.
Inclusive Economic Development
Switzerland’s support aims to ensure that people have access to higher quality employment and income opportunities and become more resilient to economic crises.
In Cambodia, the key challenge is to create decent and productive employment opportunities for new entrants to the labour market. With its contribution to the UN Joint Programme on Youth Employment, Switzerland enables young people to acquire skills and have access to good-quality education and employment while promoting decent working conditions.
In Laos, tourism is the sector with the highest potential to create jobs for the poor. Switzerland supports young people in acquiring the skills needed to work in hotels and restaurants through a dual cooperative training programme.
Labour migration is a key poverty reduction and economic development strategy for jobless people in the Mekong region. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 3 million regular migrant workers from neighbouring countries remain in Thailand, with approximately 400,000 of them out of work, while hundreds of thousands have returned back home. Switzerland ensures that women and men migrant workers from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar in Thailand as well as returning migrants have enhanced decent employment and improved livelihoods..
Partners
- Swiss partners: Helvetas Intercooperation, Swisscontact, the Centre for Development and Environment (University of Bern), the Kantha Bopha Foundation, Swiss Red Cross, GiZ
- Ministries and provincial/district authorities
- Local and international NGOs: WWF, PIC, GIZ, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, OXFAM, PC Asia
- Regional partners: International Organization for Migration (IOM), The Center for People and Forests, Mekong River Commission, Land Equity International
- Bilateral donors: Germany, Nordic countries, the EU and other donors
- Multilateral organisations: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Organisation for Migration, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Labour Organization (ILO) and other organisations
Links
Documents
Current projects
Accelerating School Meals, Empowering Communities: A Climate Resilient Approach
01.10.2024
- 30.09.2026
The macroeconomic crisis, characterized by high inflation and public debt, in addition to the accelerating impact of climate change, is putting pressure on food security, families’ livelihoods and public services. Households’ coping capacities are getting stretched and school drop outs rising. This contribution aims to enhance localization of the National School Lunch Programme and increase communities’ economic and climate resilience, while keeping children at school.
Boosting collective action for improved water quality management
01.08.2024
- 31.07.2028
Using a water stewardship approach, the programme aims to improve the quality and management of water as a shared resource, while ensuring sustainable business development in the Greater Mekong Region. In this 2nd phase, Switzerland will continue to support the World Wide Fund for Nature’s engagement with small and medium enterprises as well as other stakeholders, to reduce water pollution and improve water governance at river basin level.
Skills Development Programme (SDP)
01.07.2024
- 30.06.2028
Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to address the needs of the domestic labour market remains a key priority for the Cambodian government. With this last phase, training institutions and enterprises in 12 provinces will improve their capacities to equip disadvantaged youth with relevant skills and knowledge. At the same time, the governance and financing of the TVET system as a whole shall be strengthened, incl. through cooperation with the private sector.
Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia (DEY)
01.03.2024
- 28.02.2028
This project of the United Nations supports Cambodian youth in accessing skills training, labour market information and decent jobs. With this last phase, the employability of young women and men shall be improved by enhancing their skills in line with current and future labour market needs. Public institutions will be empowered to implement key national employment and skills development policies. The project will also assist SMEs and business associations in enhancing their productivity and working conditions.
Sustainable Consumption and Production in Lao PDR
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2027
While Lao PDR transitions to a more urban economy, it struggles with insufficient waste management. Switzerland and the European Union (EU) in support of the government are joining hands to promote sustainable consumption and production practices in urban areas by strengthening the capacities, outreach and impact of waste-related CSOs.
Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS)
01.12.2023
- 30.11.2027
The exit phase of VTESS will further promote an inclusive vocational skills development (VSD) system in Lao PDR. Within the current context of economic crisis, early school leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds will thereby benefit from improved and labour market relevant training, employment support services and a sustainable funding model for VSD.
Agroecology Promotion Programme APP
01.02.2023
- 30.04.2028
Switzerland has been one of the front-runners positioning agroecology globally to support food systems transformation, notably following the aftermath of the UN Food Systems Summit in September 2021. This Agroecology Promotion Programme strengthens this momentum, by supporting the capacitation of, dissemination and implementation by leveraging actors to further embed agroecology within the civil society, policies and markets, globally, in Sub-Sahara Africa and South-East Asia.
Fondation Kantha Bopha – Dr med. Beat Richner
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2027
Switzerland has supported the Kanta Bopha Hospitals since 1995. Today they have become of systemic importance in the Cambodian health system, and provide comprehensive pediatric services to 8 out of 10 severely sick children in Cambodia. In this last phase, Switzerland will support the Hospitals setting up a system to sustainably access health care reimbursements through social health insurance. In parallel the core financial contribution is phased out.
STAF - Skills for Tourism and Agriculture and Forestry
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2027
Switzerland, Luxembourg and the European Union are joining hands to reform the TVET sector together with the Government of Laos to increase the employability and income of the Lao people. Switzerland’s long-term experience in poverty reduction, vocational training and private sector engagement will support youth to access improved vocational skills development and reach employment through stronger employment service delivery.
JPOs4UN Programme 2023-2028
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2028
The JPOs4UN programme aims at increasing the presence of Switzerland in the UN by augmenting the number of Swiss nationals working in SDC priority UN organizations. Switzerland directly funds partner humanitarian UN organizations to hire 11 Swiss young professionals on a three-year Junior Programme Officer contract; the Swiss foundation CINFO provides administrative support and career counselling. Swiss nationals add to a qualified and diverse UN workforce to implement the Agenda 2030.
Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3EI)
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2027
“Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments” is an initiative co-implemented by the Cambodian government’s entity Khmer Enterprise and Swisscontact, with financial and technical support from Switzerland (SDC and University of St. Gallen), Korea, and a Japanese foundation. The project aims to strengthen small and growing businesses in their mission to foster sustainable development through innovations and investments by the private sector.
Mine Clearance
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2025
Switzerland’s contribution to HALO Trust allows to clear 5.4 km2 of heavily mined land in the northwest provinces of Cambodia, benefitting 9,800 poor households by providing safe access to land and water sources. In its last phase, it supports the Cambodian government in achieving its goal to becoming a mine-free country by 2025. SDC coordinates with the Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority to monitor community land use and ownership after mine clearance.
Multimedia
These videos show how the SDC works to improve market access for Vietnamese tea pickers, hemp producers, farmers, and cinnamon essential-oil producers.