The development magazine
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Debate
When aid shrinks, culture is the first to fall silent
Global aid is decreasing. Politicians talk about priorities and then mention support for democracy and human rights fighters. Then we must protect cultural practitioners.
– Continuing to work for artistic freedom is not a vested interest, but an investment in long-term sustainable and open societies, writes artist and long-time aid worker Niusha Khanmohammadi.
June 9th, 2026
News
Iraq's ancient wetlands recover after rains, but challenges remain
Of: Meklit Teklu
After several years of record low water levels, large parts of the Hawizeh wetlands in southern Iraq have been filled with water again. The winter rains and the fact that Iraq's water reserves have been strengthened by approximately 6 billion cubic meters of water are behind the recovery in what is described as one of the world's most endangered ecosystems. This is reported by several media outlets. The wetlands in southern Iraq constitute a unique water landscape in the middle of a desert environment, but have suffered extensive damage since the 1970s […]
June 10th, 2026
FUF-correspondents, Interview
Refugee boats dominate the media, but for Canary Islanders the problem is tourism & digital nomads
Of: Felicia Brodden
The Canary Islands are known for their role as one of the EU's main migration gateways for people taking the route via West Africa. Media coverage is dominated by images of rescue operations and arriving boats, but rescue workers and local residents testify to a broader story.
April 27, 2026
Debate
"Don't let refugees become a weapon in the hybrid war"
Of: Felix Engdahl
In his work with refugees in Bulgaria, Felix Engdal meets people daily who lack basic digital skills and he believes that neither the EU nor NATO is taking the problem seriously. It is not just an integration issue, but a security policy challenge that Europe cannot afford to ignore, he believes.
April 23, 2026
News, Sweden 2026
EU takes 'historic' step towards stricter migration policy
The final negotiations on the EU's new migration pact have now begun. If the proposal for "return hubs" becomes a reality, migrants could be detained and sent to migration centers in countries outside the EU to await deportation. Critics warn that the rule of law and human rights risk being disregarded.
April 16, 2026
Interview
UN chief: Protracted war and global crises are pressuring support for Ukraine
Of: Meklit Teklu and Signe M. Andersson
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is now in its fifth year. After a 2025 marked by intensified attacks and a harsh winter, the country is now also facing reduced international aid. At the same time, UNHCR's work on the ground is being hampered by a growing lack of respect for international law, UNHCR's representative in Ukraine, Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, tells Utvecklingsmagasinet.
April 16, 2026
Guest chronicle
How Sweden Leaves Mozambique Matters
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 Diamantino Nhampossa, Country Office Manager for We Effect Mozambique.
April 13, 2026
News
Human rights institutions: Israel forcibly expels Lebanese
Of: Nora Sargin
More than 1,2 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Lebanon following Israeli attacks and mass evacuation orders, with widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure threatening to violate international humanitarian law, human rights groups warn.
April 9, 2026
News, Sweden 2026
Billions go to actors who oppose gender equality
Around the same time as the world marked International Women's Day, a report was released showing how EU funds have gone to 270 actors working against gender equality and LGBTQI and women's rights. Lack of knowledge about the anti-gender movement allows it to operate in the shadows, say the report's authors and Centre Party MEP Abir al-Sahlani.
April 9, 2026
News
Migrant workers left without protection in war-torn Lebanon
Migrant workers and undocumented migrants face particular difficulties during the war in Lebanon. People from these groups have been turned away from shelters that primarily welcome Lebanese citizens and registered refugees, according to migration researcher Jasmin Lilian Diab. At the same time, many of them have difficulty leaving the country.
March 30, 2026
News
UN report: civilians targeted in South Sudan
Of: Meklit Teklu
Civilians in South Sudan are facing serious abuses, including deadly violence, systematic sexual violence, arbitrary detention and forced displacement, according to a report released by the UN Independent Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan at the end of February. The abuses come against the backdrop of intensified violence between government forces led by President Salva Kiir and opposition forces allied with the ousted […]
March 24, 2026
The texts in Utvecklingsmagasinet are written by FUF's non-profit writers and
correspondents as well as various guest writers who are knowledgeable in the field of global development.
Do you have tips on interesting topics to cover or people to interview? Please let the editors know opinion@fuf.se
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