Time for Sweden to support Somaliland's development fund

Of: Samir Dualeh

The Somaliland Development Fund (SDF) is the most effective aid agency to have operated in Somaliland for the past 25 years. For the first time, Somaliland is experiencing ownership and significant progress in development projects, and the business is welcomed by the public. It is extremely important that SDF receives continued support from the outside world, and therefore Sweden should immediately join the development fund, writes Samir Dualeh at Somaliland Committee in Sweden.

November 1, 2016, Debate

Nurture relationships for increased aid efficiency

Of: Stein-Erik Kruse

Ownership, realism, coherence and relationships with partners are some of the internal factors that need to be given greater attention - and reflection - in bilateral development cooperation. This is shown by a new report from the Expert Group for Development Aid Analysis (EBA), which looks at Sweden's long-term development cooperation with Uganda. The reporting of results must also be reviewed to adapt to real conditions, writes the report's author Stein-Erik Kruse.

October 25, 2016, Debate

Sweden's development assistance needs a new strategy

Of: Jan Rudengren and Lars Rylander

Despite the fact that Sweden has long provided aid to states, it has led to little democratic progress in the countries. Now we need to rethink and create a new strategy. Investing in migration and non-governmental organizations can be a way to go, write development assistance consultants Lars Rylander and Jan Rudengren.

March 10, 2016, Debate

LGBTQ-certify all Swedish aid organizations

Of: Tobias Peterson

The Swedish LGBTQ movement and the government are on their toes about LGBTQ issues in development aid policy. Sweden provides aid to homophobic countries and through the recognition of Palestine, homophobic forces were recognized. In order to send the right signals, Sweden must include LGBTQ rights in each recipient country's performance strategy. In addition, all Swedish aid organizations should be LGBTQ-certified, writes Tobias Petersson who is an LGBTQ activist and writer with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa.

August 3, 2015, Debate

Wrong focus when we set the road construction towards new schools

Of: Annie Sturinge (f. Sturesson)

Build roads and hydropower plants or raise teachers' salaries and invest more money in healthcare? In Uganda, the government and donors have different views on what to prioritize. But the debate about priorities and budget shares risks missing the real core question - how the state should implement its budget, writes Annie Sturesson who works at the Ministry of Finance in Uganda.

June 1, 2015, Debate

General welfare - not just for Swedes

Of: Erik Lysén and Gunnel Axelsson Nycander

General welfare systems reduce poverty more effectively than support targeted specifically at those living in poverty. Sweden has great opportunities to share experiences about why and how general systems can be built. Unfortunately, we do not take advantage of that, the report shows "Not just for Swedes - on general welfare as a goal in Sweden's development cooperation" which the Church of Sweden presents today.

May 7, 2015, Debate