Aid 2024: New chapter, new(t) Page?

To report » In September, Sida's new Director General Jakob Granit took office. He takes over the aid authority at a time when the world is characterized by increasing conflicts and humanitarian crises, decreasing democratic spaces and increasingly clear consequences of climate change. In addition, Sweden's aid is undergoing major changes. Exactly what these will entail is currently unclear. How does Granite look […]

November 24

Swedish aid to Palestine must not end up with terrorists

It is necessary to pause the Swedish development aid and carry out a review of the organizations to which the aid goes. There must not even be a suspicion that Swedish aid directly or indirectly goes to organizations that support terrorist activities, writes Gudrun Brunegård (KD). Photo: Israel Defense Forces/Flickr.

Of: Gudrun Brunegård

For a few years, the majority of Sweden's development aid to Palestine goes to civil society organizations that support democracy and freedom, human rights and peaceful coexistence. Sida has now been tasked with conducting a review of aid to Palestine. It must be beyond doubt that the organizations that receive Swedish aid stand for democracy, peace and tolerance and do not have collusion with or leak money to terrorist organizations. This is written by Gudrun Brunegård, the Christian Democrats' aid policy spokesperson.

October 30, 2023, Debate

Stopping aid to Palestine worsens the situation for civilians

"Palestine needs more development aid, not less." This is written by the Green Party's spokesperson for aid issues, Janine Alm Ericson, after the government's decision to pause development aid to Palestine. Photo: Wafa. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Janine Alm Ericson

These are terrible scenes we have seen from Israel and Palestine in recent weeks. With sadness and anger, we witness how civilians in Palestine and Israel pay the price with their lives for a cynical power game. But cutting off aid to Palestine doesn't stop Hamas - it hurts innocent Palestinians and exacerbates an already inhumane situation. It pwrites Janine Alm Ericson, of the Green Party spokesperson for aid issues. 

October 18, 2023, Debate

Week 41: Debate on Sweden's recognition of Palestine

Bombings are taking place in several places in both Israel and Palestine in the conflicts between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas. The escalated conflict has been discussed among several Swedish debaters and editorial writers during the past week. Photo: Wafa. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Ellinor Berglund

Den latest of the time The development of violence in Israel and Palestine has probably not gone unnoticed. Israel has declared war on the terrorist organization Hamas and thousands of civilian lives have been claimed on both sides. On Swedish debate- and leader pager have debates above all shopped om Sweden's aid to Palestine and om Sweden should dra back his seat recognition of Palestine or not 

October 16, 2023, Current debate

Week 39: Debate on research money after the outbreak of African swine fever

Researchers are critical of the government's cuts in research aid, and during the past week, Sweden's minister of aid and foreign trade, Johan Forssell (M), responded to the criticism. "The prioritization takes place in the light of a greatly deteriorated external situation," he writes. Photo: Ninni Andersson/Governingskansliet.

Of: Elin Prestgaard and Ina Carlsson

The Swedish government has recently presented the city budget for 2024. Aid is facing major changes with an increased focus on Ukraine and trade, while including the support for researchsbistand is decreasing – which has provoked reactions from academia.

October 2, 2023, Current debate

Split opinions on conditional aid

According to the Tidö Agreement, which was concluded between the government and the Sweden Democrats in October 2022, Swedish aid must be a tool to counter irregular migration. Pictured: Tidö Castle and Sweden Democrats party leader Jimmie Åkesson. Photo: Aplstedt/News Øresund. Source: Wikimedia municipality.

Of: Karin Myrdal

Dropped one percent target, withdrawn research funds for development studies and synergies between trade and aid. That's how it has sounded so far this year when the Tidö parties' reform agenda for Swedish aid policy has started to take shape. Critical voices have been raised both from civil society and from the political oppthe osition – not least that reaction to the proposal to use aid as a means of pressure to increase return migration from Sweden. 

July 12, 2023, Report

Trade and aid: "Returns don't always come in the form of money"

"Trade and aid are two sides of the same coin," says Aid and Foreign Trade Minister Johan Forssell (M) (right in picture). However, the Africa groups' secretary general Louise Lindfors (on the left in the picture) is worried that aid will become a subgroup of trade issues. Photo: FUF.

Of: Julia Lundén Azzeddine

Earlier this year, the government presented the changes to be made in aid policy - and a central part is to work more closely with trade and aid. This focus has väckt strong reactions, not least within civil societyället. - Man cannot believe that there will be a market economy model that seamlessly går to apply to development cooperation, sägst Louise Lindfors, general secretary at Athe free food groups.

July 12, 2023, Report

Thursday at Almedal Week: Experts question the aid reform

On Thursday, Muharrem Demirok (C) held his party leadership speech in Almedalen - in which he criticized the government's climate policy, among other things. FUF also interviewed Jan Eliasson, former foreign minister and deputy secretary-general of the UN, about the effects of the government's reform of aid policy.

Of: The Chancellery

During Thursday, both Magdalena Andersson (S) and Muharrem Demirok (C) criticized the government's climate policy in their party leadership speeches. The African groups' general secretary Louise Lindfors and Jan Eliasson, former foreign minister and deputy secretary general of the UN, questioned the government's reform of aid in interviews with FUF. - I think the reform is going very quickly, says Jan Eliasson.

June 30, 2023, Almedalen - current

Stenevi (MP) criticized the government's aid policy in his party leadership speech

Märta Stenevi (MP) returned to criticism of the Tidö agreement in her Almedal speech, but she also mentioned the consequences of the climate crisis around the world and criticized the government's focus on the rapprochement between trade and aid. Photo: Axel Selin and Nora Nattorp.

Of: Axel Selin and Nora Nattorp

Märta Stenevi (MP) focused on climate, integration and the current government's policy in her party leadership speech. Global issues were generally given little space in the speech, but she touched on, among other things, the oppression of authoritarian leaders around the world and criticized the government's aid policy.

June 29, 2023, Almedalen - current

Wednesday at Almedal Week: Party leader's speech on migration and interview on the government's aid reform

On Wednesday, FUF asked Johan Forssell (M) questions about the government's reform of aid - and the cuts in funding for development research. Photo: Felizia Livskog.

Of: The Chancellery

On Wednesday, Ulf Kristersson (M) held his party leadership speech in Almedalen, where he touched on migration and Sweden's EU presidency, which is beginning to suffer towards its end, among other things. FUF also asked questions to Aid and Foreign Trade Minister Johan Forssell (M) and Sida's Director General Carin Jämtin about the connection between trade and aid.

June 28, 2023, Almedalen - current