Published on 6 August 2024

Republic of Cuba

Swiss-Cuban cooperation dates back to 1999 with the start of an exploratory mission to evaluate the possibility to establish a bilateral cooperation programme. Over two decades, the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) supported inclusive local development through participative municipal management, gender equity, and sustainable agriculture, contributing significantly to Cuba's public policies, such as the National Plan for Food Security and progressive anti-discrimination laws. Despite challenges like the U.S. embargo and Cuba’s economic crises, SDC projects aligned well with national priorities and had a positive impact on the lives of the population. The legacy of SDC’s engagement lies in its participatory, inclusive, and sustainable approach.

As part of the 2021-2024 International Cooperation Strategy, the Swiss Parliament decided to phase-out its bilateral development cooperation in Latin America (by 2024) in order to focus its efforts on other regions of the world. The Exit Program for Cuba (2022-2024) emphasized consolidating results and ensuring sustainability of its results. After 2025, Swiss assistance to Cuba will be reduced and provided through other cooperation mechanisms, such as emergency aid, contributions to multilateral organizations and small projects in the areas of culture, human rights and private sector development.