Context
CH@World is the central digital working platform for conducting Switzerland’s foreign policy, developed by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA. It enables structured consultations and collaborative information exchange across the diplomatic network worldwide and various federal departments. Used by roughly 4000 users conducting thousands of consultations each year, the legacy system faced end-of-life by 2025, prompting a comprehensive modernisation. The project was initiated to address fragmented information flows, siloed data sources, and manual processes that limited evidence-informed decision-making across government units. The new application integrates structured data, analytical tools, and collaborative workflows on a single platform accessible to both headquarters and embassies. It automates reporting and knowledge-sharing tasks, and provides user-centric services tailored to different roles. By consolidating country information, policy inputs, and indicators, CH@World strengthens data-driven policy formulation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Beyond technology, the project represents an organisational reform. It re-engineers core work processes (e.g. introducing a unified ‘memo’ format for diplomatic correspondence) and promotes a whole-of-government approach to knowledge management. This enhances transparency, accountability, and traceability, while reducing duplication and increasing efficiency. CH@World thus directly contributes to digital innovation, evidence-informed governance, and data-driven productivity in the public sector, creating sustainable public value and strengthening strategic capabilities.
Objectives
The primary objective of CH@World 2.0 is to strengthen coordinated, evidence-informed policymaking by transforming fragmented information management into an integrated digital ecosystem. In response to identified needs, the project pursues five concrete goals. First, it provides a single, user-friendly platform that allows for cross-government consultations and consolidates country knowledge, policy inputs and analytical data, enabling decision makers to access reliable up-to-date information in one place. Second, it improves data interoperability by connecting internal and external sources through common standards and automated interfaces, breaking down institutional silos. Third, it increases productivity by re-engineering reporting and coordination processes – reducing duplication and manual workload via automation and structured workflows. Fourth, it enhances evidence-based governance by embedding tools for analysis, monitoring, and evaluation directly into daily work (facilitating, for example, timely political reporting and scenario planning). Finally, it supports organisational transformation by establishing shared digital practices, roles, and responsibilities for collaboration and knowledge management across the FDFA.
Together, these objectives translate pressing institutional needs into practical solutions. They ensure that foreign policy formulation and implementation are more agile, transparent, and data-driven, generating greater public value, and aligning with the strategic priorities of digital government.
Implementation
CH@World 2.0 was implemented under a clear governance structure and agile methodology, ensuring strategic alignment and timely delivery. Commissioned by the Deputy State Secretary and supported by a steering committee, the project was led by an interdisciplinary team of subject-matter experts and internal IT developers, supported by external consultants. Project management followed the HERMES framework for formal oversight, while agile product development (Scrum) enabled flexibility and iterative design and delivery.
The initiative began in May 2023 with a baseline study, user surveys, and a co-creation workshop to define priorities. A phased roll-out strategy was adopted to mitigate risks: the first version went live in July 2024 for pilot groups (e.g. experts leading consultations in the field of the UN Human Rights Council and Council of Europe), followed by further deployments through January 2025, when the legacy system was fully replaced. The final release in June 2025 introduced ‘Country pages’ to support bilateral diplomacy.
Feedback was continuously gathered through tests and integrated into development. Communication, training, and support accompanied each roll-out. The project remained on schedule and within budget throughout its lifecycle. Institutional reforms (e.g. directive updates) were synchronised to reinforce adoption and anchor the platform in regular administrative practice.