In November, the International Center for Local Democracy (ICLD) concluded the 2022 round of the Women's Leadership Program. The final workshop was held in Kigali, Rwanda. In the picture, this year's participants can be seen together with the Swedish politicians who through Sweden's Municipalities and Regions (SKR) are mentors in the program, as well as Rwanda's Minister for Gender Equality Jeannette Bayisenge and Sweden's ambassador to Rwanda Johanna Teague. Photo: ICLD.
Of: Agnes Durbeej-Hjalt
Every year, the International Center for Local Democracy (ICLD) organizes a leadership program for women in local political positions of power in low- and middle-income countries. The aim is to strengthen women in their leadership role to contribute to the development of local democracy. Development magazine has interviewed Anne Scheffer Leander, responsible for the program, about how the promotion of local democracy actually works in practice.
January 23, 2023, Interview
Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) received sharp criticism during last week's debate - among other things for having called Turkey a democracy. Photo: Reinis Inkēns, Saeima's Administration. Source: Wikimedia commons.
Of: Elianne Kjellman and Ella Sjöbeck
Foreign Minister Tobias Billström's (M) statements about Turkey have stirred emotions during the past week's debate. The new government's aid and climate policy has also been debated.
November 7, 2022, Current debate
Brazil uses electronic ballot boxes and technological solutions to identify voters in political elections. But this technology has been both praised and criticized. Pictured: Brazil's newly elected president - the left-wing leader Lula da Silva. Photo: Alexander Bonilla. Source: Flickr.
Of: Fredrik Govenius
Brazil is one of the few countries in the world that uses electronic ballot boxes and technology to identify the voter. The electoral authority in the country considers the system to be secure, while critics say it is vulnerable to hackers and that the lack of physical evidence of votes is problematic.
November 1, 2022, Development magazine explains
September 11 is election day in Sweden, and even more people should show their commitment to global development issues on the ballot. That is what FUF member Marcus Karlén writes in a column. Photo: Jens OZ Ehrs/Southerly Clubs. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Of: Marcus Karlén
Election day is a day of celebration for Swedish democracy, freedom of expression, freedom of association and political equality. And even more should demonstrate their commitment to global development issues on the ballot and through political engagement. That's what Marcus Karlén, non-profit active within FUF, writes in a column about the parliamentary election on 11 September.
September 9, 2022, Think piece
Maidan Square where the 2014 riots launched Ukraine's quiet revolution. The silence refers to the engine of democracy that decentralization has been in Ukraine. Photo: Juan Antonio Segal. Source: Wikimedia commons.
Of: Andreas Klawitter
The decentralization reform which has ongoing in Ukraine since 2014 has been described as one of the main reasons for the country's valiant resistance in the war against Russia - which was not included on the spreadsheets of analysts around the world. Sweden has a decisive importance for the continued survival of the reform.
July 28, 2022, Almedalen - article, Reportage
In Johan Perhrson's (L) party leadership speech during Almedalen Week, he raised several foreign policy issues - including the EU, NATO and Swedish democracy assistance.
Of: Julia Lundén Azzeddine, Andreas Klawitter and Elin Malmqvist
"The school's biggest champion". This is how the Liberals' party leader Johan Pehrson was introduced at Tuesday's second party leadership speech during Almedalen Week 2022. When Pehrson left Sweden and the school world for a while, he highlighted, among other things, the security policy situation in the world and Swedish democracy assistance.
July 6, 2022, Almedalen - article, News
The Liberals want Sweden to set aside at least one percent of GNI for development assistance. In addition, the party believes that sometimes the additions require assistance - for example, to Ukraine right now. It writes the Liberals' foreign policy spokesman Joar Forssell. Photo: manhhai. Source: Flickr.
Of: Joar Forssell
For the Liberals, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights are the most important goals of aid. Swedish development assistance money should never go to finance those who oppress or counteract a democratic development. Free people in free societies build prosperity. In all contexts, it must be clear which side Sweden is on, namely those who are free. It writes Joar Forssell, foreign policy spokesman for the Liberals.
June 3, 2022, Debate
Tunisia has been in a serious political crisis since President Kaïs Saïed dissolved the country's parliament, and civil society organizations in Tunisia are following developments in the country with concern, says Carin Norberg, former head of the Nordic Africa Institute and board member of Civil Rights Defenders. Photo: Houcemmzoughi. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Of: Carin Norberg
After a visit to Tunisia at the end of April, the image of a country in limbo emerges. The country is partly in a political crisis, partly in an economic crisis and the crises reinforce each other. Rising food prices and declining supply of wheat, which is a staple food in Tunisia, are therefore creating a very unstable situation ahead of the referendum on a new constitution announced by the president. It writes Carin Norberg, former head of the Nordic Africa Institute and board member of Civil Rights Defenders.
May 23, 2022, Guest analysis
One of Inema Arts Center's many initiatives is Art with a Mission, where orphans are trained as Rwanda's next generation of artists. When their art is sold, they can pay school fees and other living expenses. Photo: Inema Arts Center. Source: Inema Arts Center, Rwanda.
Of: Agnes Durbeej-Hjalt
Enema Arts Center is an art gallery in Rwanda with many outstretched hands to Rwandan society. It is primarily a platform for promising artists, but creative workshops are also organized for orphans, schoolchildren and women from vulnerable areas. In a country where a terrible genocide was committed almost 30 years ago, community is both a fragile and a strong concept.
May 12, 2022, FUF-correspondents, Think piece
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has been controversial during his tenure, and the introduction of Bitcoin as the official currency in the country has diluted this. Photo: PresidenciaSV. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Of: Hanne Karlsson
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele is facing massive criticism and is increasingly mentioned as a dictator. This after the development during the past year that has been fraught with the removal of judges from the Supreme Court, changes to the country's constitution and the introduction of Bitcoin as the official currency.
May 5, 2022, Analysis
