It is now clear how the 17 goals and the 169 sub-goals will be measured and followed up, but what are the indicators and how have they been arrived at? What are the conditions for the countries of the world to be able to collect relevant and reliable data and statistics that show the fulfillment of goals? How do we avoid the focus of the Agenda 2030 work shifting from the goals to the indicators? And how do the results affect transparency and their use in countries where they risk becoming politically explosive? Participating are Sara Frankl and Pernilla Trägårdh, who both work with international issues at Statistics Sweden. Stefan Dahlgren, evaluation consultant and former Sida employee, moderates.
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March 30, 2017, FUF pods
Of: Barbara Jackson, Elin Andersdotter Fabre, Johan Hassel, Maja Brisvall and Sara Borgstrom
Today, attention is paid to the water issue in connection with International Water Day. Water is also high on Sweden's international agenda during the spring. In June, Sweden and Fiji will host a UN conference that will address the catastrophic situation that prevails beneath the surface of the world's oceans. It is high time to seriously talk about the underlying causes of one of the most devastating crises of our time, write representatives from research and civil society.
March 22, 2017, Debate
Of: Annie Sturinge (f. Sturesson)
Since 2009, developing countries have been promised funding and increased national self-determination over climate projects. But the climate funds' strict requirements for control and governance make it difficult for many countries to gain direct access to project support. The climate funds need to be more flexible and look up from short-term project cycles to more long-term goals for sustainable climate measures, writes Annie Sturesson, former technical expert at the Ministry of Finance in Uganda.
March 20, 2017, Debate
Diamonds are part of a global billion-dollar industry that includes European and Swedish markets. In the diamond regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, child labor is widespread. Here, young diamond miners earn as little as SEK 60 in some months. It is difficult to trace the origin of diamonds and despite sustainability certifications, there is a risk that diamonds from Congo end up in Swedish jewelery stores. How can we ensure that human rights are respected in the diamond industry?
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March 18, 2017, FUF pods
Of: Jenny Hedstrom and Johanna Kvist
In recent years, Burma has opened up to the outside world, but women are still excluded from political contexts. It is crucial for the country's continued democratic development to strengthen the rights of girls and women. Sweden should therefore increase support for the local women's organizations whose gender equality work has already led to real change, write Jenny Hedström and Johanna Kvist from the Swedish Burma Committee.
March 16, 2017, Debate
The world is changing. How are Africa's different regions affected by political changes such as the new US administration and Brexit? Professor Fantu Cheru is a prominent political scientist with expertise in e.g. political economy in Africa and globalization. He visited FUF on March 14, 2017.
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March 15, 2017, FUF pods
Of: Gabriella Irsten
At the same time as the new regulations on arms exports have been delayed for several years, Sweden increased its exports of munitions by 45 percent in 2016. Swedish arms exports are not compatible with a feminist foreign policy and a majority of parliamentary parties say they want to stop arms exports to dictatorships. Now it's time to move on from words to action, writes Gabriella Irsten, International Women's Association for Peace and Freedom (IKFF).
March 13, 2017, Debate
Of: Penny Davies
Discussions are currently underway within the OECD's Development Assistance Committee DAC on what can be counted as development assistance. Today, 9 March, the Committee will take a position on new types of instruments aimed at increasing private sector participation in development assistance. This reform can have very major consequences for development aid and therefore requires in-depth discussion. Otherwise, there is a risk that the reform thumbs up on important principles for aid effectiveness, writes Penny Davies, policy adviser in development financing at Diakonia.
March 9, 2017, Debate
Of: Ann Catherine Carlsson, Magdalena Hansen, Maria Lövström, Mona Bengtsson, Nicolas Berglund and Songul Can
Fair trade strengthens women's position and autonomy and thus contributes to the implementation of Agenda 2030. The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) is proof that fair trade is possible. It is time to break unsustainable trade patterns if we want women's rights to be respected, several WFTO players in Sweden write.
March 8, 2017, Debate
Of: Arvid Owl, Jonathan Rushton and Ulf Magnusson
Investments in improved animal health contribute in several ways to the implementation of Agenda 2030. It shows one new report from the Expert Group on Development Aid (EBA). Improved animal health gives poor animal keepers increased production and yields, and also reduces the spread of infectious diseases and multi-resistant bacteria. Sweden has unique experience of organized animal health work - these experiences should be used in international development cooperation, the authors of the report write.
March 7, 2017, Debate
