Development cooperation
The Canton of Basel-Stadt is committed to improving living conditions in the poorest countries and regions of the world. Find out which projects have been supported in the past and how you can apply for funding for your project.
Funding focus
The Canton of Basel-Stadt provides two million Swiss francs per year for international development cooperation projects. The financial contributions are intended to sustainably improve the living conditions of the population in the poorest countries in the world or in specifically disadvantaged regions. The focus is on topics such as healthcare, agriculture, education or employment.
Project proposals
The Commission for Development Cooperation meets twice a year to assess project applications on the basis of selected criteria and then submits them to the Government Council. The criteria include the quality, relevance, effectiveness, sustainability, transparency of funding and ethical aspects of the projects submitted. On the basis of the commission’s recommendation, the Government Council decides on the allocation of the project funds approximately 3-4 months after the submission deadline.
The funding decisions are published here: Regierungsratsbeschlüsse (keyword: «Entwicklungszusammenarbeit»). The applicant organisations will be notified about the funding decision in writing.
Formal requirements
The following formal requirements must be met before we can forward your project application to the Commission for Development Cooperation for assessment.
Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
Funding eligibility | To be eligible for funding, projects must be from organizations based in Switzerland. Each organization may submit only one project proposal per calendar year. |
Submission deadlines | The next submission deadlines are April 1, 2025 and September 1, 2025. |
Project proposal | |
Submitting the project proposal | The project proposal must be submitted electronically using the online form, with the following information: contact details, details of the project, bank details; and the following uploads: project proposal (please use the template), project budget and financing plan (in Excel format). Project proposals sent to us by email will not be considered. |
Funding decision | The funding decision is communicated in writing, 3 to 4 months after the submission deadline. |
Notes
The following are not eligible for funding:
- Sponsorships or scholarships (scholarships for young talent from developing can be applied for at the “Amt für Ausbildungsbeiträge”)
- Fundraising
- Humanitarian aid (Disaster relief contributions can be applied for at the Swisslos Fund)
- Projects in EU/EFTA countries or in countries that are not on the OECD DAC country list
There is no legal entitlement to financial support.
Accountability report
The recipient organisations must report on the use of the awarded funds within three months of the end of the project or the project phase funded by the Canton of Basel-Stadt. A new project proposal can only be submitted once the accountability report has been approved.
Formal requirements
The following formal requirements must be met when reporting.
Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
Reporting deadline | Three months after the end of the project phase supported by the Canton of Basel-Stadt. |
Accountability report | |
Submitting the accountability report | The accountability report must be submitted electronically using the online form, providing the following information: contact details, details of the project; and the following uploads: accountability report (please use the template), detailed overview of the budgeted and actual costs and financing (in Excel format). Accountability reports sent to us by email will not be considered. |
Commission for Development Cooperation
President
Person | Election year | Institutional link |
|---|---|---|
Lucy Koechlin, Dr. | 2006 | Lecturer, Institute of Ethnology, University of Basel |
Members
Person | Election year | Institutional link |
|---|---|---|
Nadezhda Amar-Sliwa | 2015 | Gymnasium Münchenstein, Department of Environmental Sciences |
Bettina Bühler | 2022 | Managing Director of Stiftung Frauenhaus beider Basel |
Martin Leschhorn Strebel | 2017 | Managing Director of Medicus Mundi Network Switzerland |
Matthias Nabholz | 2022 | Head of Office for Environment and Energy Basel-Stadt |
Maya Natarajan | 2019 | Project Manager Social Affairs, Christoph Merian Foundation |
Fabian Waldmeier | 2021 | Head of International Cooperation, Max Havelaar Foundation (Switzerland), Deputy Managing Director |
Monika Winet, Dr. | 1997 | Head of Staff Mobility, Department of Construction and Transport of the Canton of Basel-Stadt |
Contact
Aussenbeziehungen und Standortmarketing
Öffnungszeiten
Montag bis Freitag
8 bis 12 Uhr
14 bis 17 Uhr