Sweden's policy for global development

Political decisions in Sweden and the EU often impact on poor people in developing countries. The core of the coherence policy is therefore to ensure that decisions taken in Sweden also take the effects on poor countries and people into account.

The entire government shares the responsibility to contribute to the objective of achieving an equitable and sustainable global development. The policy for global development requires all policy areas to formulate and implement policies in a way that takes the effects on developing countries into account and makes use of every opportunity to help achieve the objective.

Lack of coherence across policy areas poses a risk that measures or decisions in a given sphere will counteract or nullify the government´s attempts and progressin promoting global development and poverty reduction.A lack of coherence also has consequences for poor countries and people, and can also weaken Sweden´s and the EU´s credibility as global actors.

Two perspectives

Two fundamental perspectives guide the design of Sweden´s development policy. The perspective of poor people on development means that the starting-point for poverty reduction and the promotion of equitable and sustainable global development shall be the needs, circumstances, interests and priorities of poor women, men and children.

A human rights perspective puts human rights, democracy, gender equality and the rights of the child in the centre. Fundamental principles of the rights perspective are non-discrimination, participation, openness and transparency along with the principle of responsibility and accountability. The perspectives complement and support each other and partially overlap.

Six global challenges

The starting-point for the coherence policy is a joint responsibility for meeting global challenges that hampers an equitable and sustainable development. Six global challenges have been identified as areas where Sweden, by acting in a coherent way across policy areas, can make an effective contribution to global development. The challenges are:

  • Oppression
  • Economic exclusion
  • Climate change and environmental impact
  • Migration flows
  • Communicable diseases and other health threats
  • Conflict and fragile situations

Three focus areas have been identified for each of these
six challenges. The purpose of these is partly to keep a
closer watch on a number of issues and processes that
are central to meeting the global challenges, and to
stimulate cooperation and make it possible to monitor
results

Background for the policy for global development

The policy for global development was adopted by the
Swedish Riksdag in 2003. Its adoption was preceded
by a parliamentary committee which was given a broad
mandate to examine how a Swedish policy for global development should be designed. The committee ascertained that Swedens contribution to global development and poverty reduction cannot be limited to development cooperation alone. The overarching objective of the policy for global development - to contribute to the achievement of equitable and sustainable global development - therefore applies to all policy areas.

Ministry responsible

Related

Ministry for Foreign Affairs (email to the Ministry)
Published 27 March 2008
Last updated 12 August 2011