Migration is part of today's globalized world and has become a key element in International Cooperation policy debates, including in Switzerland. Migration plays an important role in furthering economic development and poverty reduction, especially via rural-urban migration and through migrants' transfer of remittances to their families in countries of origin. On the other hand, irregular migration and forced displacement can entail significant downsides, posing serious protection risks for individuals, and challenges both for countries of origin and countries of destination.
Due to the importance of the phenomenon, Switzerland's International Cooperation has over the past decade continuously expanded its engagement in the fields of migration and forced displacement. Switzerland's IC Strategy 2021–24 identified migration as one of four thematic priorities, strengthening the strategic link between Switzerland's IC and its migration policy. The Strategy aims at tackling the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, while promoting the potential of safe, orderly and regular migration for advancing sustainable development and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
The new IC Strategy prominently refers to migration in its «human development» objective. Migration should however also be considered in the other three thematic priorities – «creating jobs», «addressing climate change and managing natural resources sustainably» and «promoting peace, the rule of law and gender equality» – in order to deliver on the strategic link mandate and the «leave no one behind» (LNOB) commitment enshrined in the 2030 Agenda.
The SDC Network on Migration and Forced Displacement plays a critical role in the implementation of the priority theme migration of the Swiss IC Strategy 2021-24.
See Working Aid and other key resources here »
Visit the SDC's Migration official website here »
Visit the SDC's Global Program Migration & Forced Displacement here »
