Swedish Developmental Aid

Swedish developmental aid

Sweden has been a pioneer in developmental assistance already for half a decade. Sweden gives 1% of their gross national income for developmental aid, which equals to 10 kronor per every Swedish person every day. Sweden is the only country in the world who is practicing this custom. Sweden exports the practice of human rights. Nowadays it isn't anymore about good will, but a remaining change in mind set of individuals, companies and the whole society. The question whether Swedes are willing to continue contributing this amount of money is regularly asked and repeatedly 70 % of Swedes answer yes.

In the developmental aid panel discussion organized by Accosiation of Foreign Affairs of Malmö was an interesting debate about the practice of Swedish developmental aid participles. Mainly the developmental aid is directed and organized through Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, SIDA. In the developmental aid practiced by SIDA, the principles followed are cooperation, collaboration and coordination. In current strategy key reforms taken by current government are stronger country focus, new steering model, long term thematic priorities, transparency guarantee, new model for aid and focus on those who are most in need. When establishing new projects and programs have been adopted combining new business model innovation, which increases the local ownership, where 50 % of the baseline budget comes from developmental aid and the rest 50 % from involvement by private local companies.

New Swedish development agenda 2015 bases Swedish leadership for sustainable development, the win-win situation for all parties and risk ensurence, where SIDA takes the investment risk. Results from the projects has to do with contributions to the user, sustainable results. All the work and funding are public to increase transparency. In 71 evaluation reviews of SIDA, there are 4 main success principals; commitment, political and economical assessment, ownership and political will. The reports and outcomes from projects has to be represented with measurable indicators.

On the other hand, aid is more than money. It's not always straightforward possible to pinpoint how much the aid has contributed to GDP of the developing countries.

Differences within countries contribute to poverty. India for instance has more poor people than entire Africa together, but is not considered anymore as a developing country. In 5 years 7 African countries will grow fastest in the world, but the income differences will increase because 1 % development in developing country can't be compared to 1 % development in western world, because it contributes to less in a developing country. 

According to Gapminder there already is enough knowledge available and therefore the emphasis of the work could transfer from fixing problems to existing knowledge. Welfare and welfare can also be measured also in many different ways except the different levels of poverty, such as measuring happiness in the World Happiness Report.

The Red Cross has drawn an international code of conduct in disaster response which includes important principles to consider in developmental assistance;

1. The humanitarian imperative comes first.

2. Aid is given regardless of race, creed, and nationality of the recipients, and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated on the basis of need alone.

3. Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious view point.

4. We shall endeavour not to act as instruments of government foreign policy.

5. We shall respect culture and custom.

6. We shall attempt to build disaster response on local capacities.

7. Ways shall be found to involve the beneficiaries in the management of relief aid.

8. Aid must strive to reduce future vulnerabilities to disaster as well as meeting basic needs.

9. We hold ourselves accountable to both those we seek to assist and those from whom we accept resources.

10. In our information, publicity and advertising activities, we shall recognise disaster victims as dignified humans, not hopeless objects.