Article Ministry for Foreign Affairs 13 March 2008
Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Ewa Björling, Minister for Trade
Gunilla Carlsson, Minister for International Development Cooperation

Sharper growth policy for Africa

The Government's communication on Africa takes its cue from the continent's new reality. With the communication on Africa, we are paving the way for a renewed policy with greater depth. This is what Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson and Minister for Trade Ewa Björling write in a joint article in Svenska Dagbladet.

The new development assistance policy for Africa is formulated in a communication presented to the Riksdag on Wednesday. Africa is not just the misery in Darfur or the oppression in Zimbabwe. It is also the newly built stock exchange in Rwanda's capital Kigali.It is the successfully held election of Africa's first woman president in a war-torn Liberia.

Sub-Saharan Africa presents a complex reality that demands a new approach. This is why the Government is formulating a new Africa policy. The image of Africa is often dominated by conflict, famine and a lack of democratic and human rights. Our television screens convey hopelessness and poverty. This is a simplified picture that ignores the fact that Africa is made up of 53 countries, all with different situations, challenges and levels of development.
During recent years, several long-running conflicts have moved towards a solution, democracy has been strengthened and respect for human rights has been improved in several countries. Record-high economic growth of six per cent is improving Africas chances of achieving the UN Millennium Goals.

The Government's communication on Africa takes its cue from the continent's new reality. With the communication on Africa, we are paving the way for a renewed policy with greater depth. Sweden's new Africa policy is based on the stance that democracy, investments and trade relations are crucial for development. Our development assistance to Africa - which is increasing - will help to improve the conditions for the development of democracy and for sustainable economic growth.

Making it easier for Africa to fully participate, both politically and economically, in our globalised world is in everyone's interest. Sweden must, therefore, also adapt its policy in order to support this development. Support in facilitating trade and making it a more straightforward process is necessary for growth in Africa and enduring poverty reduction. The Government is therefore working actively to encourage Swedish businesses to forge new ties in Africa. There is a mutual benefit and a common interest in trade, investments and Swedish corporate social responsibility being intensified on the African continent.

The threat of climate change is also a key issue in the new Africa policy. Africa is only contributing to a minimal extent to global environmental problems, and yet it runs the risk of being hit harder than perhaps any other continent. We need more knowledge of how we can best assist Africa in tackling climate change. The International Commission on Climate Change and Development that the Government has appointed will have an important role to play in this.

At the same time, the sustainable use of natural resources in Africa is not only linked to the issues of climate change and social development, but also to peace and security on the continent. We have seen examples of how the fight for land and scarce water supplies has led to conflict and great suffering. The continuing conflicts in Darfur, Chad, Somalia and eastern Congo are not only causing great human suffering, but they also make clear the link between peace, security and development.
Sustainable development is only possible if people's rights are respected and protected. This deepens democracy and improves people's chances of lifting themselves out of poverty. This is why we must actively support the countries and inhabitants of Africa in their efforts to achieve democracy and uphold human rights. Zimbabwe is a tragic example of how a lack of respect for these values has an adverse effect on development and wipes out the progress that has been made.

Attention must be drawn to the positive development of the African Union. The AU's capacity for political crisis management was clearly demonstrated when Kofi Annan and Tanzania's President Kikwete were quickly appointed as mediators in Kenya. We welcome the fact that shortcomings and infringements in democratic processes in the AU member states are thus increasingly becoming the focus of other African countries' engagement.

The Government's communication on Africa is not just about new trends and how we are adapting our policy. It is also about how we have worked on our new development assistance policy, with clearer priorities and a focus on effectiveness and results.

Poverty reduction in Africa is a priority issue. The communication also states that our commitment to countries in conflict or post-conflict countries is increasing. The same applies to our focus on women, who are hugely neglected in several African countries. It is our view that efforts to prevent assault and improve the situation of women must be strengthened. Women's power is one of the most under-used resources in Africa, and their rights and opportunities are therefore vital for peace- building and growth, development and prosperity.

In Sweden's renewed Africa policy, we are doing more to interweave our commitments in foreign and security policy, trade policy and development assistance policy to create a single coherent policy. This also lies at the core of the Government's Policy for Global Development, which is based on the idea that all policy areas must strive to contribute to equitable and sustainable development.
Our policy will highlight both Swedish and African interests and cooperation for mutual benefit.

In this way we will be supporting African development and helping Africa to play a full and active role in global cooperation. The aim is also to widen the points of contact between Sweden and Africa. Our commitment involves a number of Swedish actors and our actions in the UN and other organisations. It will also take place to a greater extent within the framework of the EU-African partnership.
Our EU Presidency in the autumn of 2009 will provide us with special opportunities to implement the renewed Africa policy. It is about time the wider world saw the new Africa that is emerging.