In Niassa, Cabo Delgado, and Nampula, the lives of over 55,000 people were directly improved by a Swedish funded agricultural program, writes Diamantino Nhampossa. Image: Kajsa Johansson/We Effect
Of: Diamantino Nhampossa
Fifty years of partnership. Eight months' notice. In December 2025, the Swedish government announced the end of its bilateral development cooperation with Mozambique – a decision that has shocked both partners and population alike at a time of fragile political and humanitarian conditions, writes diamond Nhampossa, Country Office Manager for We Effect Mozambique.
April 13, 2026, Guest chronicle
One of the projects that Charles Lawrence managed during his time at the embassy was a project run by AIFO Liberia, which empowered entrepreneurs with disabilities. Mr. Lawrence standing to the furthest left. Image: Karin Klerby/private
Of: Charles Lawrence
A couple of weeks ago, the Swedish government announced the closure of the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the end to over ten years of bilateral development cooperation. In this think-piece, Charles Lawrence, a former member of the Embassy team, reflects on the blue, yellow-crossed footsteps that Sweden leaves behind and hopes that Sweden and Liberia will nurture the legacy of Swedish development cooperation long after the Embassy closes its doors.
December 16, 2025, Guest chronicle
Of: Bjorn Sundeby
After a diplomatic dispute flared up between Belgium and Rwanda, Rwandans who want to visit Sweden can no longer apply for a visa in Kigali. Instead, they must apply to neighboring Kenya. But the difficulties for Rwandans visiting the Schengen area do not stop there. Björn Sundeby, chairman of an IST Group with operations in Rwanda, has noted that his own and partner company's staff are no longer being granted their visas. The reason? Belgium has reportedly blocked the visas.
June 26, 2025, Guest chronicle
At the time of this writing, at least 53 Palestinians have died in Israel's war against Hamas and half a million people in Gaza are estimated to be living in acute hunger. Ulf Carmesund has been teaching good governance in the West Bank for several years, but now wonders who should actually be teaching whom. Image: hosnysalah/Pixabay via Canva
Of: Ulf Carmesund
Ulf Carmesund has worked with three Palestinian civil society organizations for four years on training in good governance for officials in municipalities and ministries in Gaza and the West Bank. Now he wonders if they might not be the ones who should be invited to train leaders in Europe and the United States.
May 22, 2025, Guest chronicle
Under a tree at dusk, villagers gather in al-Farisiyah, Hannah and Murad's village in the northern Jordan Valley, along with three companions. The conversation revolves around everyday life under occupation and the constant threats of violent attacks and forced displacement. The village is completely surrounded by Israeli settlements and outposts: Giv'at Sal'it and Mehola to the north, Shadmot Mehola and Rotem to the east, and Maskiyyot to the south. Photo: Linn Davrin.
Of: Linn Davrin
How much can a heart bear before it breaks? How long can people live in an invisible struggle without the world seeing them? Gaza is burning, but in the West Bank hope is stifled – in the shadow of statistics and international silence, tells City Davrin as just returnt after a time as a companion i Jordan Valley, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. She carries with her stories from Hannah, Mohammed and Love that would rather die than leave his home.
May 12, 2025, Guest chronicle
The sheep herder Abu Ahmad has herded his sheep for decades on the same land in Ras al Tin, but as Israel annexes Palestinian land, the space he is allowed to stay is shrinking, says Rebecca Henley, a former companion in Israel and Palestine. Photo: Rebecca Henley.
Of: Rebecca Henley
The Palestinian feverything asks us to tell their stories, but how long can the outside world continue to turn a blind eye? This is written by Rebecca Henley, former companion in Israel and Palestine.
July 11, 2023, Guest chronicle
A new UN commission has tried to point out a path towards a world where everyone has the opportunity to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights. This is written by Hans Linde, union chairman at RFSU and member of the UN commission. Pictured: Demonstration for the right to abortion in Argentina. Photo: ProtoplasmaKid. Source: Wikimedia commons.
Of: Hans Linde
Large parts of the world's population have little opportunity to make decisions about their own body and sexuality, despite the fact that the world's countries have time and again set ambitious goals. It is not difficult to see challenges, while a series of advances show that change is possible. A new UN commission has tried to point out a path towards a world where everyone has the opportunity to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights. It writes Hans Linde, union chairman at RFSU and member of the UN commission.
December 21, 2022, Guest chronicle
Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, they have - among other restrictions for women - restricted girls' possibility to go to school. Photo: Kajsa Waaghals.
Of: Arzo Bahar
Eight months after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, hope is paused as new policies restricting women are confirmed. These include an ongoing ban on secondary school for girls and increasingly stringent male escort requirements. Arzo Bahar, the president of the Female Staff Association of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, describes her experience as a working woman and mother, and the fears she has for her daughters.
April 26, 2022, English, Guest chronicle, Guest piece, Magazine
The EU has recently adopted a bill regarding corporate responsibility for human rights and the environment, but the bill is not enough to be able to change the rules of the game, says Hanna Nelson, policy manager at Oxfam Sweden and advisor to the think tank Global Challenge. Pictured: Female tea pickers in Assam, India. Photo: Roanna Rahman.
Of: Hannah Nelson
“The critical tone does not work here in Sweden. This is actually something positive, something historical. ” These are comments that have landed in my inbox since the European Commission presented its bill on corporate responsibility for human rights and the environment. But the law that would protect human rights for workers around the world is now proposed to apply only to 1 percent of companies. Why should we rejoice then? It writes Hanna Nelson, policy manager at Oxfam Sweden and advisor to the think tank Global Challenge.
April 4, 2022, Guest chronicle
Western Saharan activist Sultana has had her eye removed as she protests against the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. This is what Lena Thunberg, editor of Tidskriften Västsahara, writes in a guest column. Photo: Jan Strömdahl.
Of: Lena Thunberg
Western Saharan human rights activist Sultana Khaya has been under house arrest for more than a year in Morocco-occupied Western Sahara. Her crime? She waves the flag of Western Sahara. This is what Lena Thunberg, editor of Tidskriften Västsahara, writes in a guest column.
March 31, 2022, Guest chronicle
