Week 7: Debaters criticize the aid policy and lack of support for Syria

During the week, several debaters have pointed out the difficulties in getting help to people in north-eastern Syria who have been affected by the earthquake. Photo: Begum Iman, European Union. Source: Flickr.

Of: Sidra Amir

During the past week, writers on Swedish debate and editorial pages have both directed criticism at Sweden's aid policy and at the fact that aid does not reach those in need in Syria after the earthquakes. The Swedish environmental target system has also been the subject of debate. SD's environmental policy spokesperson calls it a "resource-demanding monster", while civil servant Magnus Eriksson highlights the strengths of the system.

February 21, 2023, Current debate

Diana Janse on the government's aid policy: "To prioritize is to prioritize away"

- We have had to look at the priorities and prioritize after that, it is based on a need to find funding for Ukraine, says State Secretary Diana Janse about the government's new aid policy, which includes cuts in several areas. Photo: The Association for Development Issues (FUF).

Of: Alice Mutambala

The government's new aid policy means increased support to Ukraine, but also several reductions – including in support to the UN, information work and research. These priorities and away priorities were in focus when Diana Janse, State Secretary for International Development Cooperation, met civil society in an armchair conversation at FUF.  

January 25, 2023, News

New Swedish aid policy: Conversation with State Secretary Diana Janse

State Secretary Diana Janse

Date and time: 24 Jan, 16:30 - 18:00

To report » The aid's one percent target and the role of development cooperation have been widely discussed recently. At the same time, we see the importance of short- and long-term support worldwide as a result of the consequences of climate change, diminishing democratic spaces, the unimaginable lack of equality, and humanitarian disasters - even in our immediate area. Sweden got a new government last autumn. The budget bill and […]

January 11, 2023, Calendar, Seminars

New foreign policy makes the future uncertain for gender equality projects in Latin America

Maja Magnusson, press officer and information officer at Svalorna Latinamerika, is concerned that reduced aid and scrapped feminist foreign policy could affect gender equality work in Latin America. Photo: Swallows Latin America.

Of: Vilma Ellemark

The new direction of Swedish foreign policy has caused concern among many organizations that work with global development issues. - We are worried about severe cuts, says Maja Magnusson, press officer and information officer at Svalorna Latin America.

December 9, 2022, Interview

This is the criticism of the government's aid and climate policy

Sweden's government, led by Ulf Kristersson (M), faces criticism for its aid and climate policy. Photo: European People's Party. Source: Flickr.

Of: Karin Sjöstrand

At the beginning of November, Sweden's government presented the new budget. Reactions have come from many quarters regarding which political changes will be implemented. Aid and climate policy have been in focus among the global issues.

December 7, 2022, Development magazine explains

Swedish aid - What are the consequences of the cuts?

Date and time: 30 Nov, 17:30 - 18:30

To register » During the autumn, Sweden's new government was appointed and in connection with that, focus was placed on the new budget. Aid became a symbolic issue during the negotiations and a reduction in aid was clear, 0.88% of GNI must now be spent on aid, a reduction of 1,4 billion for next year. What consequences will the reduction have [...]

November 22, 2022, Calendar, Seminars

The real debate about aid has been forgotten

Sweden, like other countries in the global north, has an obligation to take responsibility for global issues, says FUF's non-profit writer Karin Sjöstrand. Photo tv: micheile dot com. Source: Unsplash. Photo th: Janwikifoto. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Karin Sjöstrand

Before the election, I felt that global issues have been absent from the political debate in Sweden. The climate debate was more about nuclear power plants than about the consequences of climate change and now Sweden's one percent goal has been scrapped.

November 14, 2022, Chronicle

Eight years of feminist foreign policy - now it is being scrapped

The purpose of the feminist foreign policy has been to raise the ambition for the global work with women's rights. Now Sweden's new government chooses to drop the term feminist foreign policy. Image from Hingoli, India. Photo: Amol Sonar. Source: Unsplash.

Of: Ella Sjöbeck

In October 2014, Sweden became the first country in the world to present a feminist foreign policy. Eight years later, the concept will be abolished. It confirms that newly appointed Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M). But what has feminist foreign policy really meant? What results has it produced so far? And what happens to foreign policy now? The development magazine clears up your doubts. 

November 2, 2022, Development magazine explains

Which parties touched on global issues in their Almedal speeches?

During Almedal Week 2022, FUF's editors analyzed all the party leadership figures. Photo: The Left Party's image bank/Wikimedia Commons, Kristian Pohl – Government Office/Wikimedia Commons, Adriel.seb/Wikimedia Commons, Centerpartiet/Flickr, FarbrorAnna/Wikimedia Commons, politik.in2pic.com/Wikimedia Commons, Frankie Fouganthin/Wikimedia Commons, News Øresund/ Wikimedia Commons.

Of: The Chancellery

During Almedal Week, FUF's editors analyzed all party leaders' speeches and summarized whether, and if so which, global development issues the party leaders mentioned. The Moderates, the Christian Democrats and the Sweden Democrats basically focused solely on Sweden in their speeches, while the other parties in the Riksdag, for example, touched on the climate, the war in Ukraine, NATO and Swedish aid. You will find all analyzes listed below.

September 6, 2022, Almedalen - article

The organizations about development aid settlements: "The outside world is losing confidence in Sweden"

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