The reform agenda

All published articles with the tag "reform agenda".

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

Week 36: The foreign minister resigns, accusations against Sida's director general and debate on climate policy

Tobias Billström announced on Wednesday that he is resigning from his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The announcement has raised many questions about the reasons for his resignation and who will succeed him. Pictured: Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström. Photo: Josefine Stenersen/Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU/Flickr.

Of: Benjamin Frisk

The budget statement on climate policy has been overshadowed by it sudden the resignation letter from Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, who has come to dominate debatten on the leader pages that timena week. In the discussions about the government's reform agenda for aidthe politics SvD has published two texts with criticism of Sida's performance reporting and information that previously general directorör Carin Jämtin will have made decisions in strid with the government's instructor.  

September 9, 2024, Current debate