International development cooperation

Sweden is increasing support to middle-income countries that receive many refugee, such as Jordan and Lebanon. During a panel debate in connection with the World Bank’s spring meeting in Washington, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate Isabella Lövin announced that Sweden will increase its support to the Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF) by almost SEK 90 million (USD 10 Million) in additional funds.

In the spring amending budget for 2017, it is proposed that SEK 1.3 billion be restored to the development assistance budget as a result of reduced offsets for asylum costs. The money will be used to meet the growing humanitarian needs following the drought in sub-Saharan Africa, and to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and international climate efforts. This is part of an agreement between the Government and the Left Party.

Minister for Finance Magdalena Andersson and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate, and Deputy Prime Minister, Isabella Lövin will attend the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 20–23 April in Washington D.C. The main themes of the meetings are the state of the global economy, inclusive growth, and the future role and resources of the World Bank.

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström, 5 April 2017. Check against delivery.

On Wednesday 15 February 2017, Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström presented the Statement of Foreign Policy to the Riksdag. Check against delivery.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven spoke today with the Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi. Mr Löfven congratulated Mr Modi on his party’s recent successes in four important state elections and commended the Indian Government’s economic and development reform programme.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven received the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Roberto Azevêdo, for talks on current trade issues, including how Sweden and the WTO can work together to ensure continued strong support for free trade around the world.

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Press release from UNDP. World’s most marginalized still left behind by global development priorities: UNDP report Millions of people are not benefiting from progress, with the gap set to widen unless deep-rooted development barriers, including discrimination and unequal political participation, are tackled.

The purpose of the strategy is to manage Sweden’s humanitarian aid via the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The overall objective of Sweden’s humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity for the benefit of people in need who have been, or are at risk of becoming, affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters or other disaster situations. The strategy applies during the period 2017–2020 and covers the funds allocated in the appropriation directions of Sida for each budget year.

Media Advisory from UNDP.

Opinion piece by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate Ms Isabella Lövin and seven European colleagues in Svenska Dagbladet, 8 March 2017.

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Press release from UNICEF on the occasion of the visit to Stockholm by Justin Forsyth, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director.

New York, 15 February 2017. Check against delivery.

At the ‘She Decides’ conference in Brussels today, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate Isabella Lövin will announce an increase of SEK 200 million in support to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

On 2 March, an international conference entitled ‘She Decides’ will be held in Brussels. The conference is being co-organised by Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark. “She Decides is taking a stand for women’s rights, in particular their obvious right to decide over their own bodies,” says Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate Isabella Lövin.

Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo is hosting on 2 March 2017 the Brussels International Conference SHE DECIDES. This conference is coorganised with Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, Isabella Lövin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate of Sweden and Ulla Tørnæs, Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark in support of the Global Fundraising Initiative SHE DECIDES.

Opinion piece by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate Ms Isabella Lövin, and Executive Director of UNICEF Anthony Lake in Project Syndicate, 27 January 2017.

On 15–16 February, development issues and the oceans will be in focus in New York. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate Isabella Lövin will take part in the preparations for the largest UN conference that Sweden is helping organise since the Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972. An important part of the efforts to save the world’s oceans will be based on voluntary commitments from Member States, civil society and the business sector.