The Government of Switzerland has been a strong partner of UNFPA since 1972, and remains active in UNFPA’s programmes, particularly those strengthening the sexual and reproductive health and rights of youth and supporting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Switzerland is a strong supporter of UNFPA’s core resources, which ensure stability and flexibility in UNFPA’s work.

The Government of Switzerland’s approach to gender equality includes: promoting women’s rights in conflict situations and fragile contexts; preventing gender-based violence; strengthening women’s political participation; expanding access to resources, education and income; and supporting gender mainstreaming so that the all development and humanitarian efforts help to advance gender equality. Moreover, the health efforts of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation give special focus to sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child health, and the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Specific areas of collaboration between Switzerland and UNFPA are: youth development programmes, census and housing data, humanitarian activities, women and girls' empowerment and health, prevention and response to gender-based violence, and the abandonment of female genital mutilation throughout Asia, Africa and the Arab States. Donations from Switzerland also support the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) programme of action as well as UNFPA’s Strategic Information and Knowledge Management Branch, which generates research and solutions to optimize UNFPA’s activities, including results-based management. Switzerland's contributions also support UNFPA’s Independent Evaluation Office, which improves UNFPA’s capacity to support evidence-based policy decisions and enables enhanced accountability, learning and evidence-based programming.  Switzerland supports UNFPA projects in Asia, the Arab States, East and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia and Latin America.