Switzerland has announced the termination of its development assistance programs in three countries, including Bangladesh, due to insufficient budget allocations. The Swiss government had requested funds for its foreign aid programs in December, but the amount allocated by parliament fell short of expectations.
This information was reported on Wednesday by the Swiss news outlet Swiss Info. According to the report, the Swiss parliament reduced the international cooperation budget for 2025 by 110 million Swiss francs (121 million USD) and cut an additional 321 million Swiss francs from the financial plan for 2026-2028.
A statement noted that the funding reduction would impact bilateral, economic, and thematic cooperation, as well as multilateral organizations.
On Wednesday, the Federal Council, Switzerland’s executive body, was informed about the international cooperation budget cuts. Consequently, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) will phase out its bilateral development programs in Albania, Bangladesh, and Zambia by the end of 2028.
Additionally, thematic and institutional programs and budgets for 2025-2028 will be significantly reduced. However, the budget cuts will not affect humanitarian aid, peacebuilding efforts, or assistance to Ukraine.