Multilateral cooperation
Multilateral organisations play an important role in international cooperation in support of poverty reduction and development in poor countries. They are key to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and promoting human rights.
In multilateral development cooperation, several donors can join together over joint objectives and thereby have a greater impact in their contribution to development. Sweden cooperates with and supports many multilateral organisations, principally the various UN bodies, multilateral development banks such as the World Bank, and the EU. Up to half of Swedish development assistance currently goes to multilateral organisations, and in several cases Sweden is one of the largest funders.
Sweden contributes and exerts its influence
In order to utilise opportunities to influence multilateral organisations even more effectively, the Riksdag adopted a strategy for Sweden's multilateral development cooperation in April 2007. The strategy lays out how Sweden will coordinate its involvement in multilateral organisations to ensure that Swedish development objectives have an impact. A broad group within the Swedish administration work with multilateral organisations. Alongside the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, several other ministries at the Government Offices contribute to and participate in various ways in the management of these organisations. Sida and other government agencies provide support to special programmes and activities. The strategy for multilateral development cooperation is the common starting point for everyone involved in this work.
Organisations are assessed
An important element of the strategy for multilateral development cooperation is that the multilateral organisations with which Sweden cooperates should be assessed in a structured manner. The aim is to ensure that Swedish development assistance funds are used to best effect and go to those organisations that are best placed to contribute to development. Organisations are to be assessed on the basis of two criteria: how relevant their activities are to the Swedish development objectives, and how effectively they use our resources and those of others.
In spring 2008, the first assessments were carried out of around 20 multilateral organisations using a common format. The results of this work for each organisation are presented here. The assessments will be used as part of the basis for decisions on support to an organisation, when organisation strategies are produced or in policy dialogues with organisations.
