Sweden's policy for global development

National policies increasingly involve cross-border issues that have international effects. The need of coherence and cooperation between policy areas to deal with these common challenges has never been greater than it is today. Development policy concerns all of Sweden. Its implementation must be based on the freedom and dignity of the individual, regardless of where in the world he or she may live.

The policy for global development and its overall objective - to contribute to equitable and sustainable global development - remains firm.

Equitable global development means respect for human rights and democracy, and is achieved by means of economic growth that leads to reduced poverty.

One fundamental and central aspect of poverty is a lack of resources, and greater resources are created by economic growth. A modern policy for global development must therefore aim to contribute to economic growth.

Sustainable global development means that resources are to be used in a manner that is effective in the long term and ensures that the needs of the present generation are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This includes a forward-looking and sustainable use of common resources - global, regional, national and local - and a development process that takes account of social, economic and environmental effects.

To achieve the objective, all policy areas, within the framework of their own policy area objectives, must find ways to strengthen Sweden's contribution to equitable and sustainable global development.

Cooperation and coherence

The fight against poverty in its various forms not only remains the overriding goal of Swedish development cooperation, it is also a central premise behind Swedish development policy as a whole. The governments of developing countries have the main responsibility for their own development and for fighting poverty. At the same time, Sweden can and will contribute to equitable and sustainable global development. We do this due to a commitment based on solidarity and because we share the responsibility for the future of the world. This is also in our own interest.

The Government's development policy includes both effective development cooperation of high quality and a coherence policy that covers all policy areas. Many other policy areas have access to instruments that may be more effective in reducing poverty than the instruments available in development cooperation. Domestic policy decisions in Sweden can have an impact on poor people in developing countries. All policy areas and policy instruments at the Government's disposal must be used in a coordinated and coherent manner so that Sweden's contribution to global development is as effective as possible.

Sweden's policy for global development must focus on assisting poor countries with their specific challenges and addressing policies in Sweden and the EU that can obstruct development efforts in developing countries, as well as tackling the global challenges that impede equitable and sustainable development. Both development cooperation and other policy areas are to help with this.

Promoting equitable and sustainable global development is the responsibility of the entire Government.

Global challenge - pursuing common objectives

The Government wants to specify how coherence and cooperation between all policy areas, including development cooperation, can help meet a number of today's global challenges and thus fulfil the objective of the policy for global development.

The policy is to be characterised by two perspectives that are to guide the collective efforts of the Government: the perspective of poor people on development and a rights perspective.

To make a real effort to put the policy for global development into practise, the work during this electoral period will now specifically target six global challenges that the Government has identified as being central to achieving the policy objective and where Sweden has the chance to contribute in an effective manner. These are:

• Oppression
• Economic exclusion
• Climate change and environmental impact
• Migration flows
• Communicable diseases and other health threats
• Conflict and fragile situations

All these challenges require cooperation and coherence between different policy areas to achieve results. The challenges are also closely interconnected.