The reform agenda

All published articles with the tag "reform agenda".

Sweden reduces support for local democracy amid global decline

The government's decision to end support for ICLD is part of the restructuring of Swedish aid that has affected several organizations active in international development cooperation. The minister responsible is Minister for Development Cooperation and Trade Benjamin Dousa. Image: Collage. Portrait of Kristian Pohl/Government Office

Of: Alexa Fagerberg

The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) is critical of the announcement that the government is ending support for the International Center for Local Democracy (ICLD). 

February 18, 2026, News

Health and SRHR are prioritized in rhetoric, but not in the aid budget

A nurse in Afghanistan goes through family planning in a USAID-funded project. Globally, there have been major declines in funding for global health and SRHR, not least after the closure of USAID. Image: Hassan Zakizadeh, USAID/Pixnio

Of: Mehreen Hayat

The government emphasizes that sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as well as global Health is a priority area for Swedish development assistance. But their statements are contradicted in two new reports. 

February 17, 2026, News

Reduced aid hits global SRHR and LGBTQI work hard

Amplifying Rights Network (ARN) brings together organizations that work in various ways to support sexual and reproductive health and rights in Liberia. RFSU's project coordinator Aminata Kamarh-Sneh is on the far left in the picture. Image: Amplifying Rights Network

Of: Meklit Teklu

The proportion of Swedish aid that goes to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) has decreased by 35 percent since 2018, according to a new report from RFSU. The development magazine has spoken w/ Liberian Amplifying R Network (ARN) and with svenska RFSL om the cuts consequences. 

December 17, 2025, Interview

Sweden Cared and Its Planned Closure in Liberia Hurts

One of the projects that Charles Lawrence managed during his time at the embassy was a project run by AIFO Liberia, which empowered entrepreneurs with disabilities. Mr. Lawrence standing to the furthest left. Image: Karin Klerby/private

Of: Charles Lawrence

A couple of weeks ago, the Swedish government announced the closure of the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the end to over ten years of bilateral development cooperation. In this think-piece, Charles Lawrence, a former member of the Embassy team, reflects on the blue, yellow-crossed footsteps that Sweden leaves behind and hopes that Sweden and Liberia will nurture the legacy of Swedish development cooperation long after the Embassy closes its doors.

December 16, 2025, Guest chronicle

Young people must be given tools to build the future of global cooperation

For young people to have the chance to contribute to Sweden's global work, they must gain knowledge and experience of global issues, argue Lennart Wohlgemuth and Jonas Ewald.

Of: Lennart Wohlgemuth & Jonas Ewald

By reducing young people's opportunities to build knowledge, commitment and global experience, Sweden risks sawing off the branch on which future international cooperation rests, argue Jonas Ewald, senior lecturer in peace and development research, and Lennart Wohlgemuth, who has researched and worked with international development cooperation for decades.

October 8, 2025, Debate

Tougher priorities in focus when aid policy leadership met with civil society

The development cooperation policy leadership speaks during the meeting. Karin Juhlin, newly appointed State Secretary for International Development Cooperation, emphasized the importance of continuing to work on SRHR issues: "We will not back down. We will be a clear voice for giving others the security to continue as well." Photos: Anna Sjöberg Tibblin/The Association for Development Affairs

Of: Anna Sjöberg Tibblin and Karin Klerby

· Aid should be transparent, effective and act as a catalyst for economic development. · Support for Ukraine will displace more aid strategies. · Humanitarian aid continues to be a priority · A Swedish development bank will not be relevant within the current mandate. These were some of the main messages when representatives from civil society organizations, Sida and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs gathered at the Civil Society Forum 2025.

October 2, 2025, Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports

Development economist warns of consequences when research funding shrinks

Development economist and researcher Ann-Sofie Isaksson talks about the research project in Malawi. The results indicate that aid projects that contribute to households' improved financial conditions to control their own situation have a positive effect on reducing chronic malnutrition in children. Images: Ann-Sofie Isaksson, Canva.

Of: Elina Malmberg

In June 2023, the government decided that the Swedish Research Council would no longer be tasked with financing new projects under the area Udevelopment research. Research support in international development has thus decreased by two-thirds in two years. Developmentklingsmagasinet has spoken with Ann-Sofie Isaksson, development economist and researcher at the Institute for Futures Studies and the University of Gothenburg, om developmentaleeconomic research and the consequences of cuts.

June 9, 2025, Interview

Week 3: The editor tips – The result of the government's reform agenda for aid and development cooperation as an investment for peace and security

In Svenska Dagbladet, Carl Björkman and Ulrika Schenström debate the important role of development cooperation in peacebuilding, and in Dagens Arena Göran Holmqvist writes about the government's transformation of aid.

While waiting for the spring FUF editorial staff to start covering the debate on global issues, here are a couple of reading tips from the debate on global issues in recent weeks.

January 13, 2025, Current debate

Week 40: An unethical budget, the morality of war and the blame for developments in the Middle East

This week's debate has revolved around right and wrong in conflict and aid policy. Collage: Canva.

Of: The Chancellery

Today, one year has passed since the events in Israel the October 7, 2023 and in the past week has developments in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine been constantly present in the debate. A debate which revolved around ethics, morality and guilt.  

October 7, 2024, Current debate

Week 37: New ministers and debate about Sweden's role in the world

The new foreign minister has previously been migration minister in Ulf Kristersson's government. Opinions on the editorial pages differ on which parts of the world Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) should focus on in her new role. Photo: News Øresund, Henrik Smångs. Source: Flickr.

Of: Agnes Fältman

Maria Malmer Stenergard succeeds Tobias Billström as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Johan Forssell becomes the new Minister of Migration and Benjamin Dousa, former CEO of Företagarna and think tank Timbro, takes over as Minister of Aid and Foreign Trade. The ministerial changes have sparked a great deal of debate about the government's foreign and aid policy and what role Sweden should play in the international arena.

September 16, 2024, Current debate