Of: Penny Davies
Discussions are currently underway within the OECD's Development Assistance Committee DAC on what can be counted as development assistance. Today, 9 March, the Committee will take a position on new types of instruments aimed at increasing private sector participation in development assistance. This reform can have very major consequences for development aid and therefore requires in-depth discussion. Otherwise, there is a risk that the reform thumbs up on important principles for aid effectiveness, writes Penny Davies, policy adviser in development financing at Diakonia.
March 9, 2017, Debate
Of: Alina Östling
A new report from the organization Open Government Partnership shows that Sweden has made progress in terms of transparency in development assistance, but that there are still a number of shortcomings. In particular, better information is needed on when, to whom and why development assistance funds have been paid out. The government must also allocate sufficient resources to ensure transparency in the implementation and follow-up of the policy for global development (PGU), writes the report's author Alina Östling.
January 25, 2017, Debate
Of: Karl-Anders Larsson
Corruption in Cambodia existed long before aid was planned, but the influx of aid funds affects corruption and its effects. Short-sightedness and a lack of understanding of power relations make development a contributing factor. But for effective and situational assistance, it is possible to contribute to the fight against corruption, writes Karl-Anders Larsson, former embassy councilor in Cambodia.
July 14, 2016, Debate
Of: Annelie Andersson
Swedish pension money contributes to small farmers in Latin America losing land that guarantees their livelihood. Human rights and democracy must never be the prize for maximizing economic gain. Therefore, Sweden must take its responsibility in land issues, writes Annelie Andersson from the Latin American groups.
April 20, 2016, Debate
Of: Alina Östling
A new report from the organization Open Government Partership shows that Sweden has made great progress in terms of transparency in development assistance. At the same time, there is a lack of sufficient transparency in arms exports, refugee costs and tax-financed development assistance projects carried out by the business community, writes researcher Alina Östling.
April 14, 2016, Debate
Of: Gabriella Irsten
Sweden must stop patting itself on the shoulder and become more self-critical. It is time to see the problems that Swedish arms exports create, not least for women around the world. Make feminist foreign policy a reality and abolish Swedish arms exports, writes Gabriella Irsten, an expert on disarmament and security issues.
October 20, 2015, Debate
Of: Bertil Odén and Lennart Wohlgemuth
When the Paris Declaration was negotiated in 2005, it was seen as a paradigm shift in international aid policy. Donors and recipients would take joint responsibility and assistance would be more effective. But today very little of the agreements remains, write Bertil Odén and Lennart Wohlgemuth.
April 15, 2015, Debate
Of: Jesper Bengtsson
The debate has been heated about Sweden's arms agreement with Saudi Arabia. Many have questioned whether Swedish exports should be subject to human rights requirements. Now we must ask ourselves in what way trade can be part of a coordinated policy for global development, writes journalist Jesper Bengtsson.
March 12, 2015, Debate
Of: Joachim Beijmo
The reformulated assignment for OmVärlden does not prevent the Sida-funded newspaper from reviewing the development assistance. However, it must primarily be the task of other newsrooms to review the development assistance, as OmVärlden can never be perceived as completely independent as long as Sida owns the brand. It writes Sida's communications manager Joachim Beijmo
December 16, 2014, Debate
