Abidjan is the cultural and economic capital of the Ivory Coast. Nevertheless, a large part of the population lives below the poverty line and urban infrastructure cannot keep pace with the rapid population growth. The partnership focused on improving living conditions and healthcare locally. The focus areas were healthcare, education, urban infrastructure, the economy and labour market as well as culture. The partnership was initially limited to a pilot phase from 2021 to 2024.

The then President of the Government, Beat Jans, and the then Mayor of Yopougon, Minister Gilbert Koné Kafana, concluded an agreement on the priority areas of healthcare and the labour market during a video conference in May 2021. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) also included activities in the areas of urban infrastructure, education and sport.

The priority areas as well as projects of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and swisspeace were further specified during a scoping mission to Yopougon in June 2021.