Aid operations are under pressure in several countries. The Trump administration's sudden shutdown of USAID has received the most attention. But several other countries, including Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, are also reducing their aid budgets. The foundation of aid, the idea of shared responsibility and cooperation to meet common global challenges, is now being challenged by narrow national interests and the aid budget as a cash cow for investments in military armaments, and it is estimated that total international official aid could decrease by 30 percent already this year.
How can this development be seen in a longer and broader perspective? Can it be reversed, for example through other forms of financing? Is there public support for the austerity policy, or are politicians out of step with the voters?
Goran Holmqvist is affiliated with the Secretariat for Future Studies. He has previously held several senior positions within Sida, most recently as head of the department for Asia, the Middle East and humanitarian aid. The seminar takes its starting point from the recently published article in the journal Respons: https://tidskriftenrespons.se/artikel/bistandets-framtid-i-provningarnas-tid/
The conversation is moderated by Rolf Carlman, member of FUF's board.
The conversation will be broadcast live on FUF's YouTube channel. @FUFPlay.
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