International Geneva
The city of Geneva has a long tradition of hosting international organizations. We speak of International Geneva to designate this particularity. The world recognizes it as much a center of expertise in matters of cooperation as a center of multilateral diplomacy.
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Global Governance Centre
Since the creation of the Red Cross in 1863, International Geneva has developed considerably and diversified and currently constitutes one of the first poles of world governance. It thus embodies a major international commitment of the Confederation and of Geneva in favor of humanity.
Competence centre
The policy of active and continuously adapted reception of international organizations, representations of member countries and civil society has succeeded in making Geneva, and therefore Switzerland, a recognized center of expertise in the following areas:
- peace, security, disarmament,
- humanitarian action and law, human rights, migration,
- work, economy, commerce, science, telecommunications,
- health,
- environment and sustainable development.
face-to-face, hybrid, online meetings
States represented by a permanent mission
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
delegates and experts
International Organizations (IO)
Source OCSTAT, 12.2022
Directory of international organizations
- Swiss mission to the UN (Geneva, New York, Vienna and Rome).
- List of Permanent Missions to UNOG (“Blue Book”).
- Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the WTO and EFTA.
- List of the diplomatic and consular corps in Switzerland and other useful information.
- Who’s who of International Geneva, published by the International Geneva Service of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.
- List of Members and Observers to the World Trade Organization (WTO) .
- International organizations in Switzerland on the FDFA website.
- Directory of Foundations in Switzerland of the Federal Department of the Interior.
- The Geneva Environment Network (GEN) managed by the United Nations Environment Programme.
- “La Maison de la Paix” hosts various centers which make important contributions in their respective fields to foreign policy and to the promotion of security and peace.
- Sports Federations : international, Swiss and Vaudois sports federations headquartered in Switzerland.
- The City of Lausanne is the home port of many international sports federations and organisations.
- Didactic document of sports federations in Switzerland (2 Mb pdf) by Eduki.
Institutional actors
- The Department of Finance and Human Resources (DF) of the Republic and Canton of Geneva is responsible for the coherence of government action, relations with international Geneva and tasks related to the representation of Geneva’s interests at the federal level, intercantonal and regional.
- International Geneva Service of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. The Delegate for International Geneva is responsible for dealing with all matters relating to the welcome and local activities of international organisations.
- International Solidarity Service (SSI). The State of Geneva strives to promote sustainable development in order to contribute to the fight against poverty in the least developed countries and to act to eradicate socio-economic inequalities, discrimination and exclusion.
- The Protocol Department ensures the permanence and quality of its relations for the State with the various authorities of the Confederation, the diplomatic and consular world, as well as the international organizations established in Geneva.
- The Office of the Amiable Compositeur is a mediation structure to facilitate the resolution of labor disputes involving persons benefiting from diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities and their staff.
- The City of Geneva – External Relations Department (SRE) is responsible for providing analyzes on international themes, carrying out formal missions and supporting the action of the Administrative Council on the local, national and international scenes.
- The Association of Geneva Municipalities (ACG) International institutions based in Geneva are mainly in the following municipalities: City of Geneva , Grand-Saconnex , Meyrin and Pregny-Chambésy .
- Fondation des Immeubles pour les Organizations Internationales (FIPOI): established by the Swiss Confederation and the Canton of Geneva, the FIPOI offers a series of services intended to facilitate the establishment and activities of international organizations that have settled in Geneva since 1964 .
- Geneva International Conference Center (CICG): inaugurated in 1973, the Center is intended to receive international conferences at the governmental level, of a political, economic and technical nature, but also any other type of private congress.
- Palexpo & Villa Sarasin : an international exhibition and congress centre with 7 halls and a 100,000m2 congress centre that can be adapted to suit your needs. Villa Sarasin welcomes you for your seminars, receptions, cocktail parties or business meetings.
- Fondation Genève Tourisme & Congrès (FGT&C) : its mission is to promote and sell Geneva as a tourist destination, but also to find the best personalised solutions for your event and benefit from the support of the State of Geneva.
Stay up to date about international Geneva !
Tribune de Genève : dedicated section in the daily newspaper.
Le Temps : dedicated section in the daily newspaper.
Geneva Solutions : an independent non-profit news platform covering International Geneva.
The New Humanitarian : independent, non-profit newsroom reporting from the heart of conflicts, disasters, and other crises .
Genèvemonde : bridges between international organisations, the academic sector and the general public in Geneva.
Genève Vision : the RTS platform that tells the world’s story from international Geneva and Switzerland.
Geneva brief : the Geneva Platforms bring together the players, ideas and know-how concentrated in international Geneva.
The Geneva Observer : independent, non-profit online media offering high-quality journalism focused on International Geneva’s multilateral ecosystem.
Founded by the Swiss Confederation and the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the International Geneva Welcome Centre is the single entry point for the support and integration of employees of International Geneva and their families, NGOs and visiting delegates.
