Christian Frutiger

Ambassador Christian Frutiger is Assistant Director General and Head of Global Cooperation at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). He is responsible for five thematic global programmes at the SDC, which aim to solve global challenges relating to climate change, water, migration, public health and food security through policy dialogue at international level and by shaping a more inclusive form of globalization that favours development.

He is also responsible for fostering dialogue with multilateral organizations and allocating financial contributions to Switzerland’s 14 priority multilateral organizations. Christian Frutiger heads the Global Cooperation Department, which monitors international trends in development policy. He also provides support to the whole of the SDC in relation to information management.

Christian Frutiger joined the Federal Administration in 2019, having previously worked in the private sector and having gained extensive experience internationally in the social, humanitarian and development fields, working primarily for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Nestlé.

He joined Nestlé in 2007, where he was appointed public affairs manager covering human rights, water rights and multilateral relations. He was promoted to deputy head of public affairs in 2012 and vice president and global head of public affairs for the Nestlé Group in 2016.

Between 1994 and 1999 he carried out field missions on behalf of the ICRC. In 2000, on his return to Switzerland, he was appointed deputy head of operations for Eastern Europe and CIS before becoming head of unit within the External Resources Division.

Christian Frutiger is involved with the following institutions:

• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): Governor for Switzerland
• FIND: Member of the board and chair of the donor council
• 2030 Agenda: Member of the Swiss national steering committee
• National Contact Point of Switzerland for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises: Member of the advisory board
• International Municipal Investment Fund, Technical Assistance Facility: Member of the advisory council
• Low Carbon Cement Project (LCC): Member of the advisory board
• Unreasonable Group: Mentor