Programme

An african man knees in a cabbage field and examines the leaves. . A city is visible in the distance.
Annual Swiss Development Cooperation Conference 2018 © Jason Larkin, Panos; Andres de Wet / montage: FDFA

Detailed programme of the 2018 Annual Swiss Development Cooperation Conference with information on the panel discussions and talks.

12:00 Doors open
Registration – refreshments – visit partner exhibition
13:00

Start of conference

Welcome address – Manuel Sager, Ambassador, SDC Director General

13:15

Opening speech

Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)

13:35

Better returns, better opportunities: Supporting the seed sector in Chad

Mansour N’Diaye, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Chad

Dominique Guenat, Professor at the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL), Zollikofen

Pierre-André Page, Member of the National Council FR

Mariane Nguerassem, Farmer from Chad

14:30 Break
15:05

Keynote speech

Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

15:25

Innovative approaches to urban challenges: South Africa, Switzerland and the World Bank team up

Malijeng Ngqaleni, Head Intergovernmental Relations, National Treasury, South Africa

Sithole Mbanga, CEO of the South African Cities Network

Davorka Shepherd, Head of Economic Cooperation and Development SECO, Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa

Andrea Heinzer, Head of Investments at SIFEM, the development finance institution of the Swiss Confederation

16:20

Concluding remarks

Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, State Secretary,SECO Director

Manuel Sager, Ambassador, SDC Director General

16:30 Networking drinks reception