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
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
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
Of: Annika Sundén
This year's Nobel laureate in economics, Angus Deaton, thinks that traditional aid in the long run does more harm than good. I do not agree. Reality shows that development assistance can contribute to poverty reduction, more schooling and longer life, writes Annika Sundén, chief economist at Sida.
December 7, 2015, Debate
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
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
Of: Leif Jonsson, Marielle Pettersson and Ylva J Strömberg
The earthquakes in Nepal and their tragic consequences were unfortunately no surprise to us who work with disasters. Now we need assistance that invests resources to a much greater extent than today within a disaster. Aid that reduces risks, saves lives and saves money, writes the Red Cross.
May 21, 2015, Debate
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
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: Erik Pleijel
Development aid's pursuit of results is ill-considered and can lead to the undermining of civil society. To fight poverty, we should work with problem solving instead of hunting for results, writes aid worker and author Erik Pleijel.
March 10, 2015, Debate
