The umbrella organization CONCORD organized a breakfast mingling during the Almedal week to run the campaign #RäddaBiståndet on the streets of Visby together with various member organizations. Photo: Christina Wassholm, CONCORD Sweden.
Of: Hibo Yusuf Ahmed
Sweden's settlements on aid meant 40 percent cut annual budgets for several civil society organizations and their partner operations. Utvecklingsmagasinet has interviewed five organizations that warn that their partner organizations are losing confidence in Sweden and finding it difficult to maintain their work against, among other things, child marriage and female genital mutilation.
July 21, 2022, Almedalen - article, Report
On April 20, Nicaragua's parliament shut down 25 NGOs. Since the mass protests against President Daniel Ortega's government in 2018 triggered a political crisis, more than 165 civil society organizations have been banned by the government. Photo: Ismael Francisco / CELAC Cuba. Source: Flickr.
Of: Linnea Ljungar
Nicaragua's parliament, which is controlled by allies of President Daniel Ortega, shut down 20 NGOs on April 25, several of which work on human rights and social issues. The opposition believes that this is another attack on civil society.
April 29, 2022, Notis
Kunal Anerao stands in a circle of students from Parsharam Wadi School, a school outside the town of Devrukh in the Indian countryside. Photo: Frida Viklund Rundgren
Of: Frida Viklund Rundgren
Covid-19 poses new challenges for the Indian environmental organization Srushtidnyan, whose school project has been allowed to continue online. Environmental work with farmers has stopped, but the organization hopes for an increased interest in organic farming methods when migrant workers return to their home villages to invest in agriculture. Positive changes can also be seen when the government has opened up for increased cooperation with civil society organizations in vulnerable areas.
February 11, 2021, Interview
Civil society is important for driving changes in attitudes and influencing public opinion, but cannot take full responsibility. Photo: 2014 Peoples' Climate March NYC 85 by Stephen D. Melkisethian under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Of: Frida Viklund Rundgren
Women - especially in low-income countries - are hardest hit by climate change. A report from CONCORD shows the need for a rights-based strategy to strengthen the link between gender equality and sustainable development. Progress has been made through Sweden's feminist foreign policy, but increased cooperation is needed at all levels of society.
January 18, 2021, Report
Reducing aid and grants to youth organizations is dangerous for both peace and democracy, writes Emelie Weski. Photo: Thomas Ulrich, Pixabay
Of: Emelie Weski
The organization of young people is one of the most effective preventive measures against armed conflict. This is confirmed by an independent report from the UN Population Fund. To stop financing young people's organization is to counteract sustainable peace. The Social Democrats, the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats get homework, writes Emelie Weski from LSU.
November 18, 2019, Debate
In Tunisia, the unions played a crucial role in reducing tensions after the Arab Spring, writes debater Ruben Wågman. Photo: Gilbert Scossar and private
Of: Ruben Wågman
Through the work for decent wages, social security, and the pursuit of dialogue, democratic unions have a unique ability to work for peace and prevent conflict. It shows examples from Sudan, Tunisia, South Korea and Brazil, among others. More voices and actors, both in Sweden and in the world, need to stand up for people's right to organize and work in a union.
October 29, 2019, Debate
Democratic space is shrinking at the global level. The government therefore wants to invest in democracy and increase democracy assistance. Photo: Pixabay
Of: Alice Agneus
Sweden's foreign policy must invest extra in safeguarding democracy. That was the message from the new government that came into place in January this year. But what does this mean for Sweden's aid actors? Sida's Birgitta Weibahr and Diakonia's Magnus Walan talk about their views on the matter.
July 12, 2019, News
Civil society in Cambodia has been strengthened with the help of Swedish aid. That is the opinion of the debaters who have evaluated 20 years of aid to the country.
Of: Henny Andersen, Joakim Öjendal and Karl-Anders Larsson
Swedish democracy aid has had a positive influence in Cambodia, despite the country's government becoming increasingly authoritarian. It is written by Henny Andersen, Karl-Anders Larsson and Joakim Öjendal, authors of a unique study that looks at support over a 20-year period.
June 25, 2019, Debate
In connection with a climate policy debate in the Riksdag, Greenpeace carried out an action at the Riksdag. Photo: Jana Eriksson / Greenpeace
Of: Sarah Hyde
Contrary to all targets, Sweden's greenhouse gas emissions increased last year. Greenpeace now demands a national emergency for the climate. The Climate Policy Council and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation want sales of fossil fuels to be stopped.
May 28, 2019, News
When RFSU chooses partners, they must have a feminist foundation. At the same time, it is not RFSU that will control their struggle, writes Julia Schalk. Here Argentines demonstrate for abortion. Photo: Dianela Jael Gahn (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Of: Julia Schalk
How can we provide assistance on the terms of the recipients and at the same time be driven by a commitment to change? For RFSU, long-term cooperation must be based on a common feminist will to change, but it is our partners who can best concretize what this means in practice. The key is the conversation, writes Julia Schalk.
May 6, 2019, Guest chronicle
