Simone Giger is a distinguished diplomat and international development professional with over 15 years of experience in negotiating, advising, and establishing relations with diverse stakeholders across government, the private sector, civil society, multilateral agencies, and the international community.

Currently serving as the Head of Division for the FDFA/SDC Global Program on Migration and Development in Bern since August 2018, Simone is responsible for the division’s strategic, organizational, operational, and financial management. In this capacity, she shapes SDC policies and strategies on migration, coordinates with other Swiss government agencies, and represents SDC positions within the Swiss Administration and towards external actors.

Simone’s leadership extends to managing a team of 17 professionals based in Bern and abroad, including regions in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Her role involves strategically managing a global program with an annual budget exceeding 20 million CHF. Additionally, she actively coordinates with other Federal Offices in foreign migration policy and establishes relations with various development partners in the migration domain. Her adept communication skills are evident in internal and external communications on matters related to migration and development.

Prior to her current position, Simone served as the Director of Cooperation at the FDFA/SDC Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova from August 2014 to July 2018. Here, she was responsible for the office’s strategic, organizational, operational, and financial management, overseeing a cooperation program with an annual budget of 12 million CHF. Simone effectively managed a team of 14 employees and engaged in policy dialogues with different ministries and government agencies in Moldova. Her active participation in donor coordination efforts and representation of Switzerland in Moldova underscored her diplomatic skills.

Simone’s experience extends to her Deputy Director of Cooperation role at the FDFA/SDC Swiss Cooperation Office in Bosnia-Herzegovina from June 2010 to July 2014. In this capacity, she co-led the office’s strategic, organizational, operational, and financial management. Her contributions included active involvement in developing the medium-term Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Bosnia-Herzegovina, focusing on youth employment, private sector development, and health in policy dialogues with responsible authorities.

Earlier in her career, Simone served as a Governance Specialist at the World Bank’s Country Office in Uzbekistan and later at the Regional Office for Central Asia, where she played a crucial role in integrating good governance and social development aspects into various projects.

Throughout her career, Simone Giger has consistently demonstrated results-oriented leadership, advanced analytical skills, and profound expertise in designing and implementing strategic processes in international development and diplomacy.