Development Sweden
Development Sweden #64. ”US budget reduction to UN a signal of disregard”, says Jan Eliasson
Former UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson voices his criticism of the USA plan to further reduce it support to the UN system. We give you a background to why the Swedish journalist Joakim Medin is facing 12 years of prison in Turkey. And what did DAC’s annual report reveal about Sweden’s ODA? Development Sweden is …
Development Sweden #63. How much did aid top managers earn in 2024?
Despite the fact that many aid organisations have been forced to lay off staff, CEO and Director General’s salaries are increasing. Those working with business and aid have the highest salaries – the lowest are the heads of party affiliated non-governmental organisations. Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything that happens in …
Development Sweden #62. Why Sweden should resume the support to UNRWA
The Somali government’s decision to declare the counsellor and head of Swedish Development Cooperation Anna Saleem Högberg persona non grata has created quite a fuss and our news have circulated widely, both in Somalia and Sweden. We will get back to Somalia in upcoming issues of Development Sweden. In this issue Johan Schaar argues as …
Development Sweden #61 Somalia expels head of Sweden’s ODA in the country
The Somali government has decided to declare the counsellor and head of Swedish Development Cooperation Anna Saleem Högberg persona non grata. The counsellor and deputy ambassador who is now expelled has reportedly smeared the Somali government. Also in this issue, Sweden gives SEK 100 million to humanitarian systems to compensate for USAID withdrawal. And what …
Development Sweden #60. What can we learn from 20 years in Afghanistan?
Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the eight year in a row. But what are the specifics that make a country happy? Is there, for example, a link between happiness and politics? Also in this issue: Is it possible to spread knowledge in today’s Russia about historical and contemporary war …
Development Sweden #59. Do you get to keep your job?
Working in the development sector provides many with a feeling of purpose. But now, jobs are disappearing as many organizations are forced to cut back on employees. What happens to those who have to leave? Also in this issue: The Swedish government is planning a significant reduction in aid to Mozambique. The UN Human Rights …
Development Sweden #58. Historical increase in Swedish aid to Ukraine
Sweden is increasing its aid to Ukraine by over 1.4 billion SEK – resulting in more than 14% of the 2025 aid budget being allocated to the country. Also in this issue: Sida is suspending all agreements on new initiatives as a result of the uncertain global situation. Sweden allocates 300 Million SEK in aid …
Development Sweden #57. Ukrainian refugees must be given long-term security
It has been three years since the EU activated the Temporary Protection Directive. Yet, thousands of people are still left in uncertainty. Therefore, Ukrainian refugees must be given long-term security in Sweden (debate). This issue also features a commentary on the World Bank’s poverty report as well as an interview with the Swedish Postcode Lottery …
Development Sweden #56. Ramadan in focus for Swedish aid organizations
Fundraising during Ramadan increases, as nearly ten different Swedish aid organizations are now actively raising funds during the Muslim fasting month. Also in this issue: a new director at SIWI and the resumption of suspended election monitoring, following the Swedish governments decision. Read more in Development Sweden #56. Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive …
Development Sweden #55. Civil society: Soon to be decided who will receive funding from Sida
Sida’s selection process for the major civil society organizations is now entering its final stage – with ForumCiv and the Swedish Mission Council (SMR) submitting applications in the form of consortia. Read more in Development Sweden #55. Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything that happens in Swedish aid politics. Our headlines Development …
Development Sweden #54. How Swedish organisations are affected by the USAID crisis
Due to the closure of USAID’s operations organisations around the world are being forced to lay off staff and suspend operations, affecting millions of people. However, Swedish organisations seem to be coping relatively well. Also in this issue about Sweden´s support to Moldova and a Swedish investment in IFAD for sustainable growth and rural development …
Development Sweden #53. ”Communication with USAID is completely broken”
The closure of USAID’s operations affects millions of people and also thousands of employees around the world. Sweden has a large number of co-operation projects with USAID. Now Sida and embassy staff receive no information whatsoever about what is happening. Read more in Development Sweden #53. Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything …
Development Sweden #52. ”Stop the aid to Rwanda”
The dramatic development in Eastern Congo DRC has called for sanctions against Rwanda. Now, Several Swedish politicians are calling for a stop of the Swedish aid to the Kagame regime. Will the government follow? Sida is mapping the funding chain of Swedish aid, “This is just normal” Says chief controller, but is it really so? …
Development Sweden #51. Sida and FBA is Shutting Down Training Centres in Härnösand and Kramfors
The Swedish Government continues to reduce the budget for development cooperation. By the end of this year the Sida Partnership Forum and Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) training centres in Northern Sweden will be shut down. Also in this issue – the Swedish government has allocated 4.3 billion SEK for a new strategy focusing on sexual …
Development Sweden #50. Sweden stops support to UNRWA
In late December, the Swedish Government presented its appropriation letter (budget instructions, in other words) for the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency Sida and other governmental agencies. The major news was that Sweden would end all support to the UN agency for Palestine, UNRWA. Besides that, there are large cuts in support to the UN emergency …
Development Sweden #49. Is Sweden stopping support to NGO’s providing evidence to ICC?
This issue of Development Sweden have a strong focus on Palestine and Gaza. Is Sweden excluding Palestinian NGOs that provide evidence to ICC for future ODA funds? And why didn’t Sida’s director general meet with any Palestinian human rights NGO’s during his visit to the region? Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about …
Development Sweden #48. Minister of ODA: ”Onward Funding is Illegal”
Swedish development policy is now changing rapidly. The Minister for Development Cooperation and foreign trader Benjamin Dousa suggests that all onward funding should be illegal. Sweden will also stop its support for UNAIDS. Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything that happens in Swedish aid politics. Take the opportunity to now become …
Development Sweden #47. Why the Swedish Migration Strategy for Aid is incompatible with the OECD/DAC principles
These are turbulent times for Swedish development policy and Development Sweden plays an important role in providing information to international stakeholders and actors. In issue #47, open for all readers are two analyses written by leading figures in the aid sector. We also have an exclusive offer for those who want to become paying subscribers …
Development Sweden #46. Sida Reverses Decision on Limited Support to Civil Society
What happens at Sida continues to bring a lot of attention. The most recent twist came when Sida reversed its decision on the CSO support, now giving the same possibility to apply to all 33 organizations that have passed the test. Read about what will happen now and what made Sida change their minds. Also …
Development Sweden #42. Sida Opens for ”Transition Applications” and Allocates Three Billion for Return Migration
The Swedish government has announced plans to allocate three billion kronor from Sida’s budget for migration-related initiatives, including the creation of return centers, as part of a new strategy focused on migration, return, and voluntary repatriation. Sida has also opened transitional support applications for strategic partner organizations until September 2025, although many are still waiting …
Development Sweden #40. Here is the government’s strategy for civil society
Finally, the Swedish government has presented its new strategy for civil society. Will the umbrella organisations survive the changes, and what can we now expect from the development cooperation agency Sida that will manage the changes? Read more in Development Sweden #40 Our headlines: Development Sweden is published every fourteen days and the target group is people …
Development Sweden #38. Water Institute SIWI Goes Down the Drain
Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is shaken to its core. Will it survive? Swedish NGO IM Development Partner is closing down half of its countries and Sida delays decision on Partnership Agreements, Those are the headlines in Development Sweden #38. The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), which is behind both the Stockholm Water Prize and World …
Development Sweden #36. The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) lays off all employees
Iraq, Afghanistan och and SIW is closing down its development cooperation program. Those are the headlines in Development Sweden #36. The Swedish government has clearly stated that they aim to reduce further the number of recipient countries. One was closed down (decision taken) in July: Iraq. More are expected. Another consequence on the development in …
Development Sweden #34. The Swedish corruption scandal in DRC
The focus of Development Sweden #34 is the ongoing corruption scandal at the Swedish embassy in Congo (DRC) where more than 3 million Euro has “disappeared”. Is this scandal connected with the Sida employee who recently was released from custody? Also in Development Sweden #34: Will Sweden return to the one percent GPD to ODA goal …
Development Sweden #32. Record Number Interested in Sida Contracts – we have the whole list
Almost 3,000 CSO has presented their expression of interest for a new agreement with Sida. We have the whole list. Also in Development Sweden #32, we take a closer look on Ukraine and the Swedish development cooperation with the country, as well as Ukraine’s relation to the Global South. The headlines: Development Sweden is published every …
Development Sweden #31. Sida country manager detained
Why was a Sida country manager detained? What does Sidas proposal for civil society looks like and how can you as a CSO apply? Also in Development Sweden #31, State Secretary Diana Janse on the development in Georgia. Headlines Development Sweden is published every fourteen days and the target group is people who work professionally with …
How is Sweden’s global image affected by the government’s new aid strategy?
Sida’s decision to terminate agreements with all civil society organisations has sparked strong reactions. Sida itself also admits that the situation may lead to worse outcomes. At the same time, criticism is growing abroad – something that risks affecting Sweden’s role in several collaborating countries, according to several individuals we have talked with. Sweden’s image …
Civil Society in Focus for Development Sweden #28
Development Sweden #28 deliver news on how the Swedish government wants to take 300 million from civil society and according to the opposition the government has lost its trust from civil society. Sweden will also lift the payment freeze for Palestine, but the new strategy does not mention the word “occupation”. Headlines in Development Sweden …
Issue #27 of Development Sweden is out
Development Sweden, Global Bar Magazine’s bi-weekly English-language sister magazine, has turned one year. In issue #27 you can among other things read about why Sida Terminates All Civil Society Agreements and how The Ministry for Foreign affairs responds to criticism from civil society. Headlines in Development Sweden #27 Development Sweden is published every fourteen days and …
New issue of Development Sweden is out
Development Sweden is Global Bar Magazine’s English-language newsletter. In issue 22 you can read about Sweden’s ODA focus 2024 as it is presented in a letter of appropriation for Sida. Strong focus on business and trade. At the same time, aid cooperation with several countries in Asia and Africa will be terminated. However, Guatemala will …
Nummer 10 av Development Sweden ute
Det tionde numret av Global Bar Magazines engelskspråkiga nyhetsbrev Development Sweden har nu nått prenumeranterna. I nyhetsbrevet lyfts fram att Jakob Granit, för närvarande generaldirektör för Havs- och vattenmyndigheten, har utsetts till ny generaldirektör för Sida. Samt att den tidigare biståndsministern Gunilla Carlsson blir ny styrelseordförande. Development Sweden är Global Bar Magazines engelskspråkiga nyhetsbrev som …
Nytt nummer av Development Sweden
Det sjätte numret av Global Bar Magazines engelskspråkiga nyhetsbrev Development Sweden har nu nått prenumeranterna. Development Sweden är Global Bar Magazines engelskspråkiga nyhetsbrev som startade tidigare i år. Nyhetsbrevet är anpassat för en internationell målgrupp och ger en god överblick över beslut, insatser och policyfrågor när det gäller Sveriges bistånd och Sveriges roll i världen. …
New Issue of Development Sweden Has Reached Subscribers
The fourth issue of Global Bar Magazine’s English-language newsletter Development Sweden has now reached the subscribers. From this issue onwards the main articles of the newsletter can only be read by paying subscribers. “Now we hope that many of those who read the first trial issues will follow and sign up for a paid subscription”, …
The Third issue of Development Sweden is Released
The third issue of Global Bar Magazine’s English language newsletter Development Sweden has now reached the subscribers. Read about the new government’s Development Cooperation Policy, salaries of Swedish aid workers abroad and why racism prevails in Sweden. The open rate for Development Sweden has been very high and the numbers of subscribers keep on increasing. ”This …
Nytt nummer av Development Sweden ute
Det andra numret av Global Bar Magazines engelskspråkiga nyhetsbrev Development Sweden har nu nått prenumeranterna. – Det fortsätter att strömma in prenumeranter och vi har fått ytterligare några som redan skrivit upp sig på en helårsprenumeration, berättar Global Bar Magazines chefredaktör David Isaksson. De första tre numren av Development Sweden är gratis för alla. Därefter kommer …
The second issue of Development Sweden is published
The second issue of Global Bar Magazine’s English language newsletter Development Sweden has now reached the subscribers. Read about Swedish-Turkish relations, aid cuts in Guatemala and the new Swedish strategy for Ukraine. ”We see a flow of new subscribers and we have a few more who have already signed up for a full-year subscription,” says Global …
We are launching the Development Sweden newsletter!
Many people around the world are eager to learn more about what’s happening regarding Sweden’s aid and international engagement. That’s why we are now launching the Development Sweden newslettter. There is a lot going on right now with respect to Sweden’s foreign aid. The current government´s focus is on Ukraine, while many other regions and …