"In a world with almost endless needs, joint efforts are required. Then it is reasonable that the level of aid is set based on a decision in principle and not needs-tested on an ongoing basis," the Christian Democrats responded in SVT's election compass 2022 to claims that Sweden should reduce international aid.
Of: Alexa Fagerberg
During the 2026 election year, FUF's foreign affairs coverage guides you through the parties' aid policies. What do the Christian Democrats want with aid and Sweden's role in the world? FUF's foreign affairs officer Alexa Fagerberg account for the party's priorities and compromises in Tthe idea collaboration.
June 23, 2026, Analysis, Foreign Affairs, Election 2026
This week, the journalist's continued imprisonment in Turkey, Trump's rollout of global staff tariffs, and reflections on global gender equality work have dominated the debate. Image: Collage in Canva.
Of: Meklit Teklu and Nora Sargin
Previous vThe debate in the corner has been characterized by demands to bring back the imprisoned journalist Joakim Medin and criticism of Sweden's quiet diplomacy. At the same time, USA newly introduced customs aroused strong reactions. Ballowance policy has also been on the agenda, and not least gender equality work, in the surge after the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Women.
April 8, 2025, Current debate
Are national vested interests tearing apart global cooperation? Image: Collage in Canva/Utvecklingsmagasineet.
Of: Michelle Fetwi and Nina Kedia
Aid budgets are shrinking worldwide and the rules-based globalthe order is challenged. This week has two debate texts argued for to the shift taking place in foreign policy in Several countries, including Sweden, are undermining long-term goals for global development and human rights.
March 17, 2025, Current debate
Of: Helena Anthony
The XNUMX% target leads to more efficient ways of conducting assistance, such as issuing guarantees, being prioritized because they generate few payments and therefore do not contribute to meeting the target. Sida should instead upgrade the guarantee instrument for effective assistance.
- It is becoming increasingly clear that the one percent goal is a black on the foot for effective development assistance activities, says Helena Antoni, responsible for development aid and development issues within the Moderates.
June 23, 2021, Debate
Of: Andreas Celan and John Manders
In a reply to my article (FUF 26/2) about the many shortcomings of development assistance, SSU's chairman Pavlos Cavelier Bizas writes that Swedish development assistance is needed more than ever and that the 1% target must be defended. A goal that is almost to be regarded as a holy cow in Swedish political debate. Leaving this principle that the development assistance budget should be designed as a predetermined share of the state budget unchallenged is at best wasteful and at worst directly counterproductive to achieving the goals the development assistance is intended to meet, say Andreas Celan and John Manders from the Moderate Youth Association.
March 23, 2021, Debate
Of: Pavlos Cavelier Bizas
MUF Uppsala County's second vice chairman Andreas Celan argues that the Swedish development assistance budget needs to be reduced with reference to the fact that the money is not used efficiently and goes to corruption. We at SSU are of a different opinion: the development assistance budget should not be reduced and the 1% target should be defended, writes Pavlos Cavelier Bizas, chairman of SSU Uppland.
March 18, 2021, Debate
Of: Andreas Celan
Several cases of failed aid projects show that Sida cannot ensure that the aid money goes where it is supposed to. For this reason, the development assistance budget should be reduced and a larger part of the development assistance money will go to making the necessary investments in Sweden, says Andreas Celan, the Moderate Youth Association in Uppsala.
February 26, 2021, Debate
We should talk about achieving a fair standard of living for all rather than fighting poverty, the debaters write.
Of: Gunilla Palm and Gunnel Axelsson Nycander
Should the goal of international development work continue to be to reduce poverty? Perhaps it is time to see instead a fair standard of living for all as the goal of development work that is firmly rooted in human rights. That is the opinion of Gunnel Axelsson Nycander and Gunilla Palm at the Church of Sweden.
November 20, 2018, Debate
Of: Jan Pettersson and Marcus Burman
The very starting point for international development cooperation is to contribute to lasting change. At the same time, there is often a lack of knowledge about the long-term results of development assistance - after the financing has been completed. Aid must to an increased extent be designed and evaluated with the existing changes in focus, writes the Expert Group for Aid Analysis (EBA).
January 11, 2018, Debate
