Alliance Sud calls on Switzerland to “take development aid – Swiss Catholic portal

The Fourth International United Nations Conference on Development Financing (FFD4) takes place from June 30 to July 3, 2025 in Seville. The coalition of Swiss organizations Alliance Sud calls the Confederation to participate constructively in the meeting.

“The final declaration of the conference is already ready and does not understand any decisive advance against the global multiple crisis,” said Alliance Sud in a press release. The coalition brings together seven civil organizations active in international development, including Catholic Entraide Works Action of Lent and Swiss Caritas.

The shadow of American disengagement

The fourth edition of the FFD4 brings together world leaders, international institutions, businesses, civil society and the United Nations system “to meet the urgent funding challenges that hinder the achievement of sustainable development objectives (SDGs)”. Alliance Sud has dispatched its expert in tax and financial policy in the south of Spain Dominik Gross.

The Swiss Coalition is delighted that the FFD4 “states relevant declarations of intention in matters of tax policy and deleveraging”, by noting that these “should also encourage Switzerland to act”.

“This major UN conference is obscured by a record public debt in the Global South, the non-participation of the United States and the complete dismantling of the American Agency for International Development (USAID) announced for July 1,” regrets Alliance Sud. But until July 3, discussions in Seville will focus on much more than “development funding” within the meaning of international cooperation (Public Development Aid, ADD).

“Switzerland did not shine when it was support for multilateralism”

The question of how poor countries can mobilize more own resources is at the heart of the debates. Measures against tax evasion and illicit financial flows are therefore in good place in the agenda. The themes of debt and deleveraging, trade and development, systemic issues linked to international financial architecture and the role of companies and corresponding public aid also occupy a central place. “So many themes that particularly challenge rich countries like Switzerland,” comments the coalition of organizations.

“Until now, official Switzerland has not shone when it was the support of multilateralism, cooperation in the development and coherence of policies for sustainable development, critical Dominik Gross. We expect from our country that it takes the UN discussions and processes seriously and that it is constructively participating, instead of blocking or ignoring them out of personal interest. ”

Since the beginning of 2025, Switzerland has refocused its development aid policy by orienting its funds towards strategic priorities (UN, fight against poverty, health, education, Ukraine) while applying targeted budget cuts dictated by Parliament. (cath.ch/com/arch/rz)