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

Civil society in a meeting with the minister of aid: "Uncertainty and lack of clarity in politics"

Aid Minister Johan Forsell (M) and State Secretary Diana Janse invited civil society to get input on the aid reform agenda - which will be drawn up during the year. During the meeting, several organizations highlighted that it is unclear what the government actually means by effective aid. Photo: FUF.

Of: Alice Mutambala

During Friday met several civil society organizations Aid Minister Johan Forssell (M) and State Secretary Diana janse for to discuss the reform agenda for the aid – to be designed under 2023. The link between trade and aid and what effective and transparent aid actually means were some of them the discussion points.  

May 5, 2023, News

Reduced aid and increased poverty: "A development heading in the wrong direction"

Agricultural aid is a low priority in Swedish aid, but the Africa Groups' secretary general, Louise Lindfors, believes that it is central to development in southern Africa. Photo: Department of foreign affairs and trade/Africa groups. Source: Flickr/Africa groups.

Of: Amanda Rossling

It is a revolutionary time for Sweden's civil society organisations. The restructuring as the Swedish government has done in aid has meant both cuts to developing countries and to civil society in Sweden.

April 12, 2023, Interview

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