Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation implements the Federal Council’s foreign policy on humanitarian aid, development cooperation and cooperation with Eastern Europe and at multilateral level. Switzerland’s international cooperation for the 2021–24 period has four strategic goals that address development challenges and build on Switzerland’s unique expertise.

The SDC focuses its activities on reducing poverty and distress, as well as curbing global risks. It also aims to preserve natural resources for future generations. The SDC prioritises fragile and conflict-affected regions, where up to two-thirds of the world’s poor will be living by 2030. The SDC supports countries in their efforts to overcome poverty and development-related problems, giving disadvantaged groups better access to good quality basic services, including basic education and healthcare. The SDC helps find solutions for environmental problems and creates better prospects for young people and women, both through vocational skills development and income generation.

SDC in Nepal

Switzerland is supporting the democratic development of the new federal state in Nepal. Through the SDC, it is working to promote equitable socio-economic development and to enable men and women to exercise their rights and responsibilities within the new federal structures.

Nepal is undergoing profound demographic, economic and political transformations. It is urbanising very rapidly, with the proportion of people living in cities expected to double by 2050. In 2015, the country was hit by a series of earthquakes, causing a slowdown in its economy. Labour migration, mainly to the Gulf States, is a key factor in reducing poverty, but is vulnerable to fluctuations in the regional economy. The national poverty rate has fallen from 53% to 23% in 15 years, thanks in particular to remittances by Nepalese workers in the Gulf States.

Nepal adopted a new federal constitution in 2015, creating 753 new local governments and seven new provinces. Elections in 2017 led to the appointment of thousands of newly elected officials from a range of social and economic backgrounds. However, forging a political culture that addresses the needs of the population remains a challenge, as does the functioning of the new federal system. Nepal is undergoing profound demographic, economic and political transformations. It is urbanising very rapidly, with the proportion of people living in cities expected to double by 2050. In 2015, the country was hit by a series of earthquakes, causing a slowdown in its economy. Labour migration, mainly to the Gulf States, is a key factor in reducing poverty, but is vulnerable to fluctuations in the regional economy. The national poverty rate has fallen from 53% to 23% in 15 years, thanks in particular to remittances by Nepalese workers in the Gulf States. Nepal adopted a new federal constitution in 2015, creating 753 new local governments and seven new provinces. Elections in 2017 led to the appointment of thousands of newly elected officials from a range of social and economic backgrounds. However, forging a political culture that addresses the needs of the population remains a challenge, as does the functioning of the new federal system.

The Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal

The tasks of the embassy

As the official representation of Switzerland, the embassy covers all matters concerning diplomatic relations between the two countries. It represents Swiss interests in the areas of political, economic and financial affairs, legal arrangements, science, education and culture.

Swiss Cooperation Office in Kathmandu

Nepal and Switzerland are looking back on 60 years of close collaboration and partnership and Nepal is a priority country of the Swiss development cooperation.

Switzerland is supporting the democratic development of the new federal state in Nepal. Through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), it is working to promote equitable socio-economic development and to enable men and women to exercise their rights and responsibilities within the new federal structures.

Swiss Cooperation with Nepal – 60 years

Bilateral Relations Switzerland – Nepal

Switzerland and Nepal enjoy excellent, long-standing relations. Switzerland has a good reputation in Nepal thanks to its decades of work in development cooperation, which is also the focus of Swiss–Nepali bilateral relations.

Ambassador of Switzerland

H.E. Elisabeth von Capeller


She is the first woman to head the Kathmandu Office in 60 years.

  • 1961

    Born in 1961 in Basel, von Capeller is a Swiss Diplomat.

  • 1982
    From 1982 to 1987 von Capeller studied agricultural engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) and graduated with a master’s degree.
  • 2007
    From 2007 to 2011 she worked at the Directorate for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Nepal.
  • 2014
    From 2011, von Capeller headed the South Asia department and was also head of the Conflict and Human Rights department until 2014.
  • 2017
    In 2017 she was Deputy Director and Head of Cooperation with Eastern Europe in the SDC in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in Bern.
  • 2018
    Elisabeth von Capeller has been the Swiss Ambassador to Nepal since January 2018. She succeeded Jörg Frieden in Kathmandu. As an Ambassador, she supports the development of a dual education system based on the Swiss model in Nepal.

The Swiss Ambassador to Nepal:

H.E. Elisabeth von Capeller

Swiss Ambassador, H.E. Elisabeth von Capeller, returned in 2018 on her second diplomatic stint…

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

Diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Nepal have existed since 1956 and Switzerland enjoys a good reputation in Nepal thanks to its development cooperation activities over the decades. Switzerland and Nepal have signed three bilateral agreements: on technical cooperation (1972), regular political consultations (2015) and accompanying persons (2019).
Swiss Ambassador Elisabeth von Capeller spoke to Nepali Times about Switzerland’s changing focus in Nepal’s development. (Nepali Times, June 2019).

Videos: Himalayan Consensus Summit


Inaugural speech by H.E. Elisabeth von Capeller, Ambassador of Switzerland to Nepal – 2018
Inaugural speech by H.E. Elisabeth von Capeller, Ambassador of Switzerland to Nepal – 2019

Videos: Exclusive Interviews


Exclusive interview for ENGAGE, by Middleway Films Director Mohan Rai

06 July 2018

In this exclusive interview for ENGAGE, carried out in partnership with reputed media firm Middleway Films, H.E.Ambassador Elisabeth von Capeller reviews the work done by the Swiss Development Cooperation/Embassy of Switzerland in the last few years and explains the upcoming Swiss Cooperation Strategy 2018-2021 for Nepal.

Exclusive interview for ENGAGE, by Middleway Films Director Mohan Rai

15 July 2018

In this exclusive interview for ENGAGE, whose first part was published on July 5th carried out in partnership with reputed media firm Middleway Films, H.E.Ambassador Elisabeth von Capeller speaks about social inclusion and the role tha sports can play to create the basis for a more inclusive society.

Swiss Talk

07 June 2019

Swiss Ambassador Elisabeth von Capeller spoke to Nepali Times about Switzerland’s changing focus in Nepal’s development.

Botschafterin in Kathmandu

28 August 2019

Wer Elisabeth von Capeller begleiten will, muss schnelle Füsse haben, denn sie hat stets ein volles Programm. Derzeit unterstützt sie beispielsweise Bestrebungen, in Nepal ein duales Bildungssystem nach Schweizer Vorbild aufzubauen. Die Schweiz ist schon seit fast 60 Jahren aktiv in Nepal und hat auch zum Frieden beigetragen. Elisabeth von Capeller ist seit 1,5 Jahren Botschafterin in Nepal und beschäftigt mehr als 50 Mitarbeitende. Sie lebt dort alleine. Ihr Mann und ihr erwachsener Sohn sind in der Schweiz geblieben – kommen aber oft zu Besuch.

Ambassador Elisabeth von Capeller’s Interview

05 May 2020

Getting these testing kits to Nepal was better than a thriller story says the Swiss Ambassador. This was possible only due to coordination and teamwork among various government and private sectors.

Their Excellencies

14 Oktober 2020

In the fourth episode of Their Excellencies, watch Swiss ambassador to Nepal, H.E. Ms. Elisabeth von Capeller discuss the many aspects of the diplomatic world, Nepal-Switzerland bilateral relationship, her love for Nepali way of life, her assessment of how Nepali economy can benefit from the Swiss experience in this exclusive interview with PGC Director, Mr Sanat Neupane exclusively on Business Plus Television.

SWISS IMPACT WITH BANERJIS: IMPACT INVESTMENTS – SWISS AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT & COOPERATION

03 March 2021

This time we travel to Nepal. All our viewers who want to learn how Swiss embassy and Swiss Agency for development and Cooperation are actively fostering private sector development and impact investment eco-system. We will also be joined by the CEO of the Dolma Impact Fund.

Women’s Day 2021

08 March 2020

Watch two women leaders, the Swiss Ambassador Elisabeth von Capeller and Deputy Mayor Salma Khatun discuss the challenges they faced as women and the changes they have witnessed over the years.
Celebrating women leadership for a brighter tomorrow!

Women’s Day 2021

08 March 2021

Want to know what positive changes Federalism has brought in Nepal? Listen to Deputy Mayor Salma Khatun and Ambassador Elisabeth von Capeller share their experiences.

Ambassador Elisabeth von Capeller in POWERchat

22 March 2021

Elisabeth von Capeller, Ambassador of Switzerland to Nepal -shares to Laxman D. Pant for his show POWERchat on Nepal-Switzerland development cooperation focusing on challenges of federalization, gender-based violence and the Swiss government’s development priorities in Nepal.

Watch the video to hear what Tashi has to share with the Ambassador.

17 Febuary 2022

Coming from an indegenious community it was impossible for Tashi Lhazom to not witness the impact of climate change in her village Humla! ClimateChange affects women & men differently, it is time we #breakthebias for a sustainable future!

Connecting with the Swiss Embassy

The Embassy
Website page

As the official representation of Switzerland, the embassy covers all matters concerning diplomatic relations between the two countries and represents Swiss interests.

The Embassy Facebook page

The official Facebook page of the Embassy is a medium to broaden its interaction with the Nepalese society and effort to project a postive image of Switzerland in Nepal.

The Embassy Newsletter page

The Embassy Newsletter gives regular information about current political, cultural and economic developments in the country, focusing on topics relevant to Switzerland.

Embassy’s contact information

Check our database and support the Swiss NGOS in their efforts in Nepal

For Swiss citizens in Nepal

Embassy of Switzerland
Ekantakuna, Jawalakhel
Lalitpur, Kathmandu (NP)

Visa application for Nepal

Geneva, MOFA Nepal
81 Rue de la Servette 1202, Geneva, Switzerland

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