The annual financial statement has been prepared in accordance with the Swiss GAAP FER 21 financial reporting guidelines for charitable and social non-profit organisations.
For the statement of accounts, according to FER 21, it is important to report the year-end result after changes in funds. Donations are assigned directly to the fund (and thus recorded in the fund’s income statement). Earmarked or non-earmarked donations contained in the fund will then be used in accordance with Swisscontact’s overall objective to finance project activities (and thus recorded in the expense statement). This may be done during the year the donations were received, or else in subsequent reporting years. The cost structure and allocation of administrative expenses, administrative programme expenses, and direct programme expenses comply with the ZEWO Foundation guidelines.
Income
Project volume grew by 15.7% over the previous year (from kCHF 86,937 to kCHF 100,586).
Donations and contributions (donations tied to specific tasks) amounted to kCHF 9,602 – not counting Federal contributions – compared with the previous year at kCHF 6,751.
In addition to earmarked donations and contributions, non-earmarked contributions reached kCHF 234 (previous year: kCHF 115). Of this amount, kCHF 85 was spent on projects (compared to 0 the previous year), based on which the fund for non-earmarked spending experienced net growth of kCHF 149 (previous year: kCHF 115), from kCHF 1,089 to kCHF 1,238.
Expenses
Expenses for communications and fundraising fell to kCHF 845 in 2017 from the previous year’s kCHF 988. This represents 0.9% of total expenses compared to the previous year’s 1.2%.
Swisscontact always tries to optimise the efficiency and effectiveness of its procedures in light of quality, cost, and time requirements. Our global administrative expenses met budgetary limits and constituted 4.5% of total expenditures (previous year: 4.9%).
Organisational capital
With a positive year-end result of kCHF 1,489 and in consideration of capital inflows and a change in free funds, our trust capital increased from kCHF 10,507 to kCHF 12,123.
Our organisational capital reflects Swisscontact’s healthy financial position. On the one hand it allows Swisscontact to invest long-term in innovation and quality – and this ultimately benefits our projects and the impact we achieve. On the other, it ensures that we can remain committed to our projects by providing a buffer against short-term fluctuations in project financing. Furthermore, it presents proof of our liquidity and financial capabilities to our donors, a necessary guarantee for their funding.
Swisscontact is committed to principles of good governance for responsible management, control, and communication under the Swiss NPO code. The Foundation fulfils the Swiss GAAP FER 21 guidelines for charitable and social non-profit organisations.
Our corporate governance principles are specified in various documents; these include our Foundation Certificate, Rules of Organisation and Code of Conduct.
Swisscontact is committed to reporting on its activities accurately and transparently. Our website explains our mission, strategic focus and work – clearly and comprehensively. We remain committed to reliable and transparent financial reporting, with the financial report publicly available on our website.
All employees are bound by legal regulations and our internal guidelines. Compliance with the Swisscontact Code of Conduct is mandatory for all members of the Board of Trustees, employees and subcontractors. Internal rules, processes, proven methods and procedures are accessible to all Swisscontact employees via our Intranet.
Swisscontact is committed to developing its internal risk management system on a constant basis in order to minimise risks. With an IT-based, comprehensive project management tool, standards of quality, costs, deadlines and project risks can be checked regularly. Furthermore, risks and controlling are monitored at both the country and organisational levels. Because on this, the Management Board can react quickly and decisively if necessary. The Board of Trustees and an external auditor review the risk management and internal controlling system each year.
The quality of our employees is crucial to the sustainability of our projects and our organisation’s long-term success. As an attractive employer, Swisscontact invests in careers and the continuing education of its employees.
ZEWO-Seal of approval: Swisscontact was awarded the Seal of Approval from ZEWO. It is awarded to non-profit organisations for the conscientious handling of money entrusted to them, proves appropriate, economical and effective allocation of donations and stands for transparent and trustworthy organisations with functioning control structures that uphold ethics in the procurement of funds and communication. Swisscontact is regularly audited on the adherence to these criteria. (Source: ZEWO)
Swisscontact is a member of Transparency International.
Swisscontact
Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation
Hardturmstrasse 123
CH-8005 Zurich
Tel. +41 44 454 17 17
Fax +41 44 454 17 97
E-Mail info@swisscontact.org
