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Jan Eliasson (SIPRI)

Published: July 5, 2018

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Dan Smith (SIPRI)

Annika Söder (Ministry for Foreign Affairs)

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Latest webcast

Career Workshop: How Internships Open Doors to the Development Sector

2025-11-24 16:00

fuf.se

Comment on this in the post and we'll send you

Comment on this in the post and we'll send you the registration link for this year's summer social in DMs! Info in English: At the end of each holiday, we love to gather FUF:ers to meet, celebrate, and share your experiences. This year is a little extra special since we also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the FUF book club. In the past decade, they have read and discussed their way through nearly 70 different books, reports, articles, and (even) Government Agency Letters. BYOB – bring your own book (and booze – if you're into that stuff). In honor of our book club, we hope to gather as many fine members of FUF as possible, not only to mingle, but also to share knowledge! We encourage all attendees to bring 1–3 books that you think everyone else needs to read to improve their understanding of global issues or that teach people how to act to bring about a more just and sustainable world. Think about why everyone should read this book and leave the next reader a little note inside. Feel free to bring books in English or Swedish (other languages are of course also welcome). FUF will fix up some refreshments and cake. We look forward to hanging out with you on the grass! Comment on this post and we'll send the registration link to your DMs.

Yasir Zaidan in Seattle, USA: With my research vil

Yasir Zaidan in Seattle, USA: With my research, I want to contribute a more nuanced perspective on Sudan and Africa – one where conflicts are not only seen as national problems but are understood in relation to external actors and the struggle for resources. It was when I started studying electrical engineering at university in Sudan that I became interested in issues of development and security. Not least because Sudan was undergoing major political changes at the time. Why didn’t Sudan develop like other countries, despite natural resources such as oil? After graduating, I did an internship at an oil and gas company in the newly independent South Sudan. There I realized that as an engineer I could certainly build infrastructure, but that the biggest obstacles to development lie in politics, governance and the division of power. That realization later led me to Washington DC and a master’s degree in 2014. Being at the center of global politics and development debate changed my way of seeing the world. I worked at a think tank and felt for the first time that I could influence politics. In DC, my interest in the growing influence of the Gulf states in the Horn of Africa through investments, port projects and military bases was also piqued, and in 2018 I returned to Sudan to study these issues more closely. After the fall of the Bashir regime in 2019, the issues became even more acute. Investments increased, but without stability and democratic transition. This led me to doctoral studies in the US, where I began researching how port investments interact with local politics and communities. During my fieldwork in 2022, I traveled to several ports, but when I returned to my home in Khartoum, the situation was tense and war broke out shortly thereafter. Once back in the US, I felt a responsibility to write about what had happened in my home country. People affected by these processes should also be able to participate in the debate. This is also why I publish my work in both Arabic and the local Beja language. The neocolonial narrative of conflict has not yet fully taken root in the general discourse and in the media. But I hope that my work contributes to that. Interview: Maja Hammarström, FUF's correspondent in the USA, spring 2026

How has Sweden's global responsibility developed over the years?

How has Sweden's global responsibility developed during this term of office? How can the election affect Sweden's global aid? These are some of the questions that will be discussed this Thursday when FUF editorial staff Signe M. Andersson will be discussing the book "Biståndsmassakern - hur Trump och Tidöpartierna ritade om sidåndskartan" together with author David Isaksson and researcher Janet Vähämäki, who has a doctorate in results and management of aid. Time: Thursday 4 June at 11:30–13:00 Location: The Works Medborgarplatsen, Stockholm Read more and register at globalbar.se

Hello Fuf:ers! My name is Alice, and I am an inter

Hello Fuf:ers! My name is Alice, and I am an intern at @oxfamsverige through FUF's internship program. Join me tomorrow, Tuesday, for a day with Oxfam Sweden and learn what it is like to intern at Oxfam Sweden as a part of the FUF Internship Programme. ⚖️🌏 So what is Oxfam? Oxfam is a global organization that fights for economic equality and climate justice and for a more equal future. Oxfam joins the global struggle against poverty and injustice and also operates in 77 countries! 😮 Oxfam Sweden provides research, does advocacy work and provides people with knowledge and tools for change. During my internship I have joined the communications and policy team with a focus on this year's election in Sweden. We have started an election campaign about economic anxiety in Sweden and a petition to make our politicians take action on this issue. I have done research on political parties in Sweden. Assisted different communication efforts in social media, filmed and created YouTube videos, the building Oxfam Sweden's YouTube channel, and so much more! Ask me anything about interning at Oxfam and the FUF Internship Programme, and I will do my best to answer. See you on Tuesday!

Felicia Linsér, FUF's correspondent in Tirana, Alba

Felicia Linsér, FUF's correspondent in Tirana, Albania: In Albania, women remain underrepresented in local politics, many are exposed to violence and threats in political life. Women also remain overrepresented in low-paid sectors and among part-time employees, while they are responsible for most of the unpaid domestic and care work. In an increasingly internet-based society, gender-based violence has spread to digital environments. It is against this background that Albania voted through a new gender equality law in the fall of 2025. The law was met with enormous backlash from resourceful conservative movements. Swipe to learn more.

Hello! My name is Alma Rivarola Baraibar and I am

Hello! My name is Alma Rivarola Baraibar and I am an intern at Sida's communications unit through FUF's internship program. On Wednesday, you get to come to work with me at the politics festival @jarvaveckan: HMU and ask anything about Sida and interning through FUF! 🌍 But first, what does Sida do? Sida is Sweden's government agency for development cooperation. The communications unit where I work has a broad mission and an equally broad audience, from policymakers and media to teachers, partners, and the general public. What do I work with? Content creation in its many forms! I take photos, manage our social media across Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and cover important events like ministry forums, evidence days, and CSO days. Right now, I'm mostly working on Sida's presence at Järvaveckan and Almedalen, including producing audio stories that visitors will be able to listen to through headphones in our booth. Come by Sida's booth at Järvaveckan next week and listen to me, among others, talk about how you are helping to make the world a little better just by paying taxes! 🎧 What does a typical day look like? A lot of meetings, conversations, and making sure everything aligns with Sida's mission and guidelines, which is actually a big part of how communication works at a government agency. Then there's the creative side: writing, taking photos, and producing content across different channels. Why did I choose this internship? I care deeply about a just and equal world, and I believe communication is fundamental to making that possible. Sida felt like the perfect place to explore that. What do I want to do going forward? I want to keep combining my passion for social change with communication and explore different fields where those two things meet.

Jorge Enrique Rivera Anzola in Medellín, Colombia:

Jorge Enrique Rivera Anzola in Medellín, Colombia: After a career as a police officer during the war on drugs in Medellín, I was imprisoned for ten years. During this time, I became a Christian, which would prove crucial for me. It was also when I first came into contact with restorative justice – a legal philosophy that has become increasingly common in Colombia. Instead of punishment, the focus is on trying to repair the damage done to the victim and help the perpetrator reintegrate into society. For me, it was initially a challenge to accept this more forgiving understanding of justice. As a former police officer, it was difficult to see justice from that perspective, but it opened my mind and made me grow personally. After my release, I started working for the Confraternidad Carcelaria de Colombia, an organization that works for restorative justice, including through reconciliation between victims and perpetrators. For over twenty years, I have supported people who are or have been in prison and often have to meet judges who work in the city. It makes me laugh when I remember how shocked some judges have been when they learned that I myself have been in prison. During my meetings, I have often urged the judges to see criminals with a more humane gaze. I never forget the name of the judge who gave me a second chance, and hope that others will have the same opportunity to start over. Interview & portrait: Ida Ramberg, FUF's correspondent in Colombia spring 2026 Follow, like, save and comment for more knowledge for those of you who want to see a more just and sustainable world.

👋 Hi John here! I'm currently doing an internship through FUF:

👋 Hi John here! I am currently doing an internship through FUF's internship program at EBA – the Expert Group for Aid Analysis, a government committee that analyzes and evaluates Swedish international aid. I would like to inform you about a seminar on current development challenges in Southeast Asia that we are organizing on May 26 at 13:30 PM at the Medelhavsmuseet in Stockholm. The seminar will cover: 💡 Youth migration from Myanmar to Thailand 💡 Work against human trafficking in Thailand and Cambodia 💡 Swedish efforts for media support in Vietnam ✍️ Read more and register at eba.se. 💼 Curious about applying for an internship through FUF? Learn more about our internship program at fuf.se/karriar.

Why should Sweden receive aid? To what extent?

Why should Sweden have aid? To what extent should aid benefit Swedish interests? And how should the Green Party go about increasing the aid budget to 1,25 percent of GNI? During the 2026 election year, FUF is conducting an Instagram Live series in which we ask the parliamentary parties' aid policy spokespeople what their parties want with aid. In the fourth conversation in the series, we ask the Green Party's Janine Alm Ericsson, spokesperson for economy, aid and gender equality and former State Secretary for International Development Cooperation 📅 May 27 🕒 at 12:00–12:15 📍 Instagram Live @fuf.se The conversation can also be watched afterwards on FUF's Instagram account @fuf.se and YouTube channel @fufplay.

Follow Instagram

thefufcorrespondents

Do you want to continue following FUF's correspondents who

Do you want to continue following FUF's correspondents reporting from different parts of the world? 🌍 From now on, you will be able to do so on the Instagram account Fuf.se. Follow us there to see stories from Harare, Vienna, London and Belgrade this spring – and lots of other FUF material about global sustainable development! #fufkorrespondenterna

Agnes Fältman in #Vienna #Austria The War Between I

Agnes Fältman in #Vienna #Austria The war between Israel and Hamas is stirring up strong emotions around the world, including in Austria. Many have taken to the streets to demonstrate against Hamas' terrorist acts and hostage-taking, as well as Israel's response in the form of ground invasions and bombings of Gaza. In the pictures above, the organization Students of the Palestinian Cause in Austria can be seen demonstrating at Karlsplatz in Vienna. They chant “Free Palestine!” and carry banners with the text “Laut gegen Genozid” – “loud against genocide” in Swedish. Austria was one of the few countries that voted against the resolutions presented in the UN votes on calling for a ceasefire on October 27 and December 12. Karl Nehammer, the Austrian Chancellor, justifies the country's decision in the following quote on X: "A resolution that does not mention the terrorist organization Hamas, that does not condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, and that does not uphold Israel's right to self-defense, which is enshrined in international law - such a resolution cannot be supported by Austria." Read more about the debate about the war between Israel and Hamas and about the Austrian government's approach to the Russian offensive war in Ukraine in the Development magazine at www.fuf.se/magasin or via our link in bio! #fufkorrespondents Image 1: Protesters at the Technical University of Vienna, Karlsplatz. Image 2: The Austrian Parliament. Image 3: More and more students are joining the demonstration.

Agnes Fältman in #Vienna #Austria Three things you k

Agnes Fältman in #Vienna #Austria Three things you might not have known about Vienna: - Vienna is home to many international organizations. The UN has one of its four headquarters here, where, among others, The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, and The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, IICIU, work. IICIU works to investigate possible human rights violations committed by Russia in Ukraine. OSCE, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, has 57 member countries worldwide and works for stability and democracy with headquarters in Vienna. - The city has great historical significance in the area. As the former capital of the Habsburg Empire, i.e. Austria-Hungary, it is clear that Vienna is an ancient metropolis with large palaces and grand castles, such as the Hofburg seen in the picture. The traces of the dual monarchy are still clearly visible today as a large part of the city's population comes from or has roots in the countries that were once part of Austria-Hungary, including Croatia, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine. - For more than a hundred years, Vienna has built up a unique system of municipal rental apartments that today houses more than half of the residents. Due to this system, among other things, Vienna is considered one of the cities in the world with the highest standard of living, as the apartments are economically affordable and contribute to a more stable rental market in general. Read more about Vienna's unique housing policy and Agenda 2030 in the Development Magazine at www.fuf.se/magasin or via link in bio! Image 1: The UN office in Vienna. Image 2: Hofburg, the large imperial palace in the middle of the city that has become a symbol of the Habsburg Empire. Image 3: A quiet neighborhood in one of Vienna's many municipal housing complexes. #fufkorrespondents

Agnes Fältman in #Vienna #Austria Greetings! I

Agnes Fältman in #Vienna #Austria Greetings! My name is Agnes and I am this fall's FUF correspondent. I am currently studying German at the University of Vienna. Here and in FUF's online magazine Utvecklingsmagasinet, I will report on Vienna's unique housing policy in today's difficult economic situation, Austria's attitude towards the war in Ukraine and international aid, as well as other exciting things happening in the country. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you! You can already read my first text at www.fuf.se/magasin or via the link in the bio! See you soon! #fufkorrespondenterna @univienna

Vendela Permat's Hammarbäck in #Bordeaux #France

Vendela Permats Hammarbäck in #Bordeaux #France The French government's decision to raise the retirement age without going through the National Assembly has led to protests and demonstrations throughout the country, and two-thirds of the population are against the reform. Emmanuel Macron's government has decided to raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64. The decision was made by using Article 49 of the French constitution - which allows bills to be passed without a vote in the National Assembly. This has sparked controversy and opposition from both political opponents and unions, who claim the decision is undemocratic. However, Macron claims that the reform is necessary to avoid labor shortages and be able to finance an aging population and a large number of pensioners in the country. The controversy highlights the global trend of raising the retirement age due to longer life expectancy. Read more about this at www.fuf.se/magasin or via the link in our bio! #fufkorrespondents Video: Demonstration march in March 2023. Image: The entrance to the city hall in Bordeaux that demonstrators set on fire during the protests.

Amanda Rossling in #London #England Recently presented

Amanda Rossling in #London #England The UK and the EU recently presented a new agreement regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is part of the withdrawal agreement after Brexit. The new framework is intended to simplify trade in the UK and avoid political tensions between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The framework is described as the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between the EU and the UK. At the same time, the 25th anniversary of the so-called Good Friday Agreement was also celebrated – which was established in 1998 and succeeded in ending the 30-year-long wave of violence in Northern Ireland. Read more about the new framework and the previous conflict on the Irish island at www.fuf.se/magasin or via the link in our bio! Image 1: The EU delegation's office here in London. Image 2: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Source: Flickr. #fufkorrespondents

Signe Andersson in #Wollongong #Australia I cent

Signe Andersson in #Wollongong #Australia In central Wollongong is the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation (IAC), an Aboriginal non-profit organization that works to strengthen the rights and opportunities of Indigenous people in Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the indigenous groups that have lived in and used the land for over 65,000 years. When the British colonized Australia, Aboriginal people were persecuted, and to this day, discrimination continues to exist that leads to deteriorating living conditions and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Among other things, IAC works to help Indigenous people with housing, as homelessness is a major problem affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Image 2 depicts the official IAC artwork that represents the organization as a whole, interconnected by different programs, perspectives, people and community. Through this, the organization works together towards a common goal: to improve the lives of Aboriginal people in the Illawarra region. IAC's vision is to live in a just, united and caring society, where Indigenous peoples have strong cultural opportunities and are recognized and respected as the first peoples of the country. At www.fuf.se/magasin you can read more about Indigenous peoples in Australia and the referendum on increased political influence for Indigenous peoples that will be held in the country this autumn. #fufkorrespondents

Vendela Permat's Hammarbäck in #Bordeaux #France

Vendela Permats Hammarbäck in #Bordeaux #France Bonjour! My name is Vendela and I am one of this spring's FUF correspondents. When I'm not in France, I study the peace and development program at Linnaeus University in Växjö! Among other things, I will keep you updated on the ongoing political protests against the controversial pension reform and other exciting things happening in the country. Looking forward to sharing with you! À bientôt ! #fufcorrespondenterna

Image 1: Ukrainian Iryna Yetskalo is the entrepreneur

Image 1: Ukrainian Iryna Yetskalo is the entrepreneur who started Ukr Kids Hub, an education center for Ukrainian refugees in the city of Timisoara in Romania, after she was forced to flee her homeland. "I'm fighting on the front lines of education, that's how my country serves," she says. Image 2: "I woke up at five in the morning, my mother told me we had to leave home," says 15-year-old Yana Pasechniuk, one of the students at the education center. She and her classmate Vasilina Tarasova both had to flee from Russian occupiers in Sumy and Kherson. Image 3: "What is foot in English?" asks language teacher Oxana Cotelea to the 4th grade students with whom she teaches English at the education center. In addition to English, the students also learn Romanian and their native Ukrainian. Read the full report from Ukr Kids Hub at www.fuf.se/magasin or via the link in our bio. The text is written by FUF correspondent Daniel Díaz. #fufcorrespondents #Ukraine #Romania

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About FUF

The Association for Development Issues (FUF) is a politically and religiously independent non-profit organization. Since 1972, we have been a meeting place for people and actors with an interest in the world around us. Our aim is that more people in Sweden want and can act for a fair and sustainable global development.

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