Aid should never be used as a Soft Power
COLUMN. The global development cooperation is in crisis following the closure of USAID. Now, organisations in the North are trying to justify continued aid as a tool for so-called soft power. But using aid as a means of power is not only cynical – it is downright dangerous. Power is power, whether it is ”soft” …
Development Sweden #70. Sweden stops ODA to Afghanistan – drastic cuts in Asia and Africa programs
The Swedish government has decided to do drastic cuts in the ODA to Asia and Africa, while increasing the support to Ukraine even more (and at the same time fund export by Swedish companies). Read all about the changes and consequences in Development Sweden. Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything that …
Development Sweden #69. Sida’s chief responds to criticism
What made Sida’s director General Jakob Granit change the CSO rules? Read our interview. Also in this issue, the remaining CSO organisations have now received the indicative amounts they can apply for. Our headlines Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything that happens in Swedish aid politics. Development Sweden is published on a …
Mozambique turns 50: Is there anything to celebrate?
Mozambique’s government, led by the Frelimo party, has long been planning celebrations for 2025. It is 50 years since independence, won after an anti-colonial war against Portugal led by the same party. However, something has gone wrong, especially in the past two years, writes Luca Bussotti from Universidade Técnica de Moçambique (UDM). Since the country’s …
Goodbye Facebook? Why Meta have trouble in Nigeria
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, was recently hit with three fines totalling more than US$290 million in Nigeria. At the same time, home-grown alternatives are growing, while still small. Will are countries follow Nigerias example and take on the gigant platforms? The fines were imposed by Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer …
Development Sweden #68. How the Sida boss became the puppet of the populist right wing
The Director General of Sida has singlehanded decided to defund the development programs of Palme Center and SILC. Has the Sida boss become the puppet of the populist right wing or what can explain his actions? Our headlines Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything that happens in Swedish aid politics. Development …
Israel: You cannot assassinate your way to peace
In the past 75 years, there have been more than 2,700 assassination operations undertaken by Israel. The operations have not, however, proved sufficient to resolve the long-running conflict between Israel, its neighbours and the Palestinians, writes Matt Fitzpatrick from Flinders University. In the late 1960s, the prevailing opinion among Israeli Shin Bet intelligence officers was …
Development Sweden #67. Humanitarian aid strategy linked to Swedish interests
the Government required humanitarian organisations to adhere to Swedish interest, whatever that might be. Also, in this issue, Sida will check all social media account of civil society organisations. Our headlines Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything that happens in Swedish aid politics. Development Sweden is published on a continuous basis and …
Global Bar Magazine receives the Anna Lindh Award
Global Bar Magazine is one of two recipients of the 2025 Anna Lindh Award. The magazine receives the price for its work in bringing more voices from around the world to the table.”In times when independent media is constantly under attack, the award is also a recognition of the importance of investigative and in-depth journalism,” …
Somalia: ‘Mistake to deport Swedish aid chief’
It was a mistake to deport the head of the Swedish development cooperation in Somalia. Somali diplomats reportedly admitted this at a meeting held in Nairobi, which was attended by representatives from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm. At the end of March 2025, Global Bar Magazine revealed that the Somali government had …
