Press release 21 September 2009
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Development assistance stays at 1 per cent of GNI

In this year's budget bill, the Government proposes a budget for development assistance of 1 per cent of GNI in 2010. The development assistance budget has been set at 1 per cent every year during this electoral period. This means that the Government has budgeted a total of SEK 127 billion for development assistance in 2007-2010.

"I am proud that Sweden is able to conduct a very generous development assistance policy. It is a great responsibility for me and all other development assistance actors to ensure that this extensive aid yields results," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson.

The sharp downturn in the global economy has had a negative impact on Swedish growth. As a result, the development assistance budget will drop from SEK 33.9 billion in 2009 to SEK 31.4 billion in 2010.

"With the economic downturn affecting the volume of aid, it is important to protect the very poorest people. The reforms that the Government has implemented in Swedish development assistance make it easier to prioritise accordingly," says Ms Carlsson.

The priorities being set in the budget aim to make poor groups and individuals less vulnerable and to put poor people in a better position to take an active part in improving their own living conditions. The aim is to help cushion the impact of the global economic crisis in the short term and to create conditions for a good recovery in the longer term.

The priorities in the development assistance budget therefore give relatively high consideration to Africa, humanitarian contributions, certain UN organisations and support via Swedish civil society organisations.