Culture and Development
Switzerland promotes independent, diverse, and participatory cultural sectors in its partner countries as part of its international cooperation - contributing to sustainable development, democratic participation, and conflict prevention. Culture creates spaces for dialogue, fosters mutual understanding, and strengthens social cohesion, laying the foundations for sustainable peace.
In Rwanda, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supports local culture as a driver for peaceful social transformation.
Culture is both a human right and a powerful force for peaceful social transformation. It creates inclusive spaces where people from diverse cultural, political, and ethnic backgrounds can engage constructively and creatively. By encouraging exchange, open debate, and critical reflection, culture fosters tolerance, builds bridges between communities, and strengthens democratic participation.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) culture engagement is based on the “Thematic Guidance on Culture and Development (2024)” and comprises two components:
- Local cultural engagement: In its partner countries, the SDC allocates at least 1% of its budget to local arts and culture initiatives across all art forms. This is implemented through dedicated projects or programmes that contribute to sustainable development, democratic participation, conflict prevention and peace. The decentralised approach enables funding priorities to be defined in line with the specific context, needs, and local opportunities.
- Partnerships in Switzerland: SDC collaborates with Swiss cultural institutions to facilitate access to the Swiss cultural market for artists from partner countries, thereby strengthening cultural ecosystems in their countries of origin. As announced in January 2025, these partnerships will be phased out by 2028 due to budget cuts.
Current SDC Cultural Programmes
The SDC's commitment includes cultural programmes in around thirty partner countries which are usually linked to the topics of governance, conflict prevention and human rights.
Promoting culture remains an integral part of Swiss development cooperation in partner countries. In times of growing conflict, it is all the more important to strengthen peaceful coexistence, promote open spaces for conflict resolution and diversity of opinion. Moreover, cultural initiatives can help foster a sense of responsibility, belonging, and hope in younger generations. Investing in culture also supports social cohesion and, by extension, conflict prevention and security, which is in Switzerland's interests.
More on culture
Current SDC Cultural Programmes
The SDC's commitment includes cultural programmes in around thirty partner countries which are usually linked to the topics of governance, conflict prevention and human rights.
Transversal Themes on Peace
We have divided our transversal themes into [A] Triple Nexus, referring to the interlinkages between humanitarian, development and peace actions; and [B] Interculturality.
Tools on Peace
Currently we propose the following four toolboxes: CSPM; HRBA; PSA; and Culture and Development.