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Publications International relations

GlobusThis section contains SFAO audits related to Switzerland's relations with foreign countries.

Subsidy audit COVID-19 measures in developing countries - Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

In April 2020, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) responded to the call from the G20 and the United Nations (UN) system to adapt its international cooperation activities to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, additional funds were allocated to multilateral organisations in the health and humanitarian fields. The Federal Council allocated CHF 332.5 million in May 2020: CHF 57 million to the COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator), CHF 200 million as a loan to the International Committee of the Red Cross, CHF 25 million to an International Monetary Fund assistance fund and CHF 50.5 million to international humanitarian organisations (IHO). In May 2021, the SDC granted CHF 226 million in additional credit to the ACT-Accelerator.

Audit number: 22204

AUDIT Implementation of the Federal Act on Private Security Services Provided Abroad - State Secretariat of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

In 2020, the global market volume for private security services was approximately CHF 120 billion. Swiss service exports represent a negligible part of this. In Switzerland, these include personal protection, surveillance, intelligence activities, operational and logistical support for armed and security forces, operations, maintenance, consulting and training.

Audit number: 21054

Evaluation Consular services provided by Swiss representations abroad - Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

The Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) audited the consular services of Swiss representations abroad. Changing needs and increasing demands mean that the service offering needs to be adapted. Services can be divided into three groups: services for Swiss citizens residing abroad, support to Swiss travellers and the processing of visa applications. At the end of 2021, around 788,000 Swiss citizens were registered with a consular representation.

Audit number: 19404