Federal Council reaffirms partnership with four UN organisations
Bern, 20.03.2026 — The Federal Council is continuing its cooperation with four UN organisations in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. At its meeting on 20 March 2026, it decided to support the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) with around CHF 70 million per year from 2026 to 2028. In addition to ensuring the effective implementation of Switzerland's International Cooperation Strategy 2025–28, the partnership with these UN organisations boosts the standing of International Geneva.
The four UN organisations contribute significantly to poverty reduction, health promotion, gender equality and the protection of children's rights around the world. Their work thus dovetails with the objectives of Switzerland's International Cooperation Strategy 2025–28 and is instrumental in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The contributions approved by the Federal Council also serve as a strategic instrument of Switzerland's foreign and development policy to promote a stable, sustainable world order.
The four organisations are firmly anchored in International Geneva. The UNDP has recently expanded its liaison office in Geneva, which was established in 2014. UN Women has had an office in Geneva since 2016, focusing on humanitarian aid and human rights. In 2019, the UNFPA set up its humanitarian office in Geneva and has since established itself as a key actor in International Geneva. UNICEF is also represented by a humanitarian office in Geneva.