New approach for Swedish aid
The objective of Swedish aid - to create conditions that will enable poor people to improve their lives - remains in place. Development assistance still focuses on combating poverty.
The Government prioritises quality and results. Three areas are particularly important for equitable and sustainable development: democracy and human rights, gender equality and the role of women in development, and climate and environment.
In 2007, the Government reduced the number of partner countries receiving Swedish development assistance in order to make the aid more effective. Cooperating with fewer countries means that the resources can be concentrated and put to better use.
Focus on Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest percentage of poor people in the world, and the countries there are the farthest from reaching the Millennium Development Goals. This is why most partner countries are there.
Reform cooperation in Eastern Europe
It is also a major challenge to help reduce poverty close to home. Sweden is therefore increasing its commitment to bring about continued EU integration and important reforms in former Soviet states and in south-eastern Europe.
Support to conflict areas
Sweden is also increasing its involvement in countries affected by conflict, where people are particularly at risk. Lack of democracy, human rights, and peace and security make the conditions for development assistance particularly difficult, but this is also where the needs are the greatest.
Driven by demand
The recipient countries' own poverty reduction strategies are to form the basis for action taken by Sweden in development cooperation. Development assistance must be driven by demand. Decisions on priorities and actions are to be taken to a greater extent in the poor countries, by the governments in place and the people who live there. International development cooperation is to supplement the developing countries' own efforts to bring about development.
Strategy for multilateral support
"We see the challenges in our region and therefore want to increase our commitment to continued EU integration and thereby strengthen poverty reduction," says Gunilla Carlsson.
Sweden has been a major donor to the UN, the World Bank and other multilateral organisations for many years. As a member of the EU, Sweden also takes part in the Union's development cooperation. A new strategy detailing how cooperation and coordination with multilateral organisations is to be conducted was drawn up in 2007. It describes Sweden's role and goals with the aim of strengthening our leading role in development cooperation and as an international advocate for a coherent policy for poverty reduction and development.
More results-based management
Producing clearer results in development assistance is a government priority. For this reason, reinforced results-based management is now being implemented to clarify and systemise follow-up of results compared with established goals. This is completely in line with the Paris Declaration, which deals with increased efficiency in international development cooperation and which has been signed by the OECD countries and many partner countries.
Priority areas
It should be kept in mind that the three areas the Government has chosen for special priority - democracy and human rights, gender equality and the role of women in development, and climate and environment - identify the kind of development the Government wants to see and the demands placed on the development process. These priorities indicate a particular direction for Swedish development assistance that is to be reflected in the planning and implementation of activities and programmes. They also form the basis of the ongoing dialogue with partner countries regarding national strategies to combat poverty.
