International Development cooperation
Development plays an important role when working to promote human rights for all. Development assistance aims to promote development and is thus an important tool in efforts to realise human rights.
Sudan, 2006. Photo: Mikael Östlund /MFA
Development cooperation can promote and support democracy and human rights and processes leading to the realisation of these two goals. There are three main methods:
1. The political dialogue: Regular discussions on why we are interested in supporting particular countries' development policies are held with every country with which Sweden is engaged in development cooperation. At these discussions, Sweden is able to explain the principles on which its policy is based and its fundamental values. The cooperating country, in turn, develops its own points of departure and values. This dialogue can widen and deepen understanding between both countries and contribute to greater reciprocity in their relationship.
2. Direct initiatives for democracy and human rights: A large proportion of the development assistance budget in this area goes to public administration projects in Sweden's cooperation partners. This is in order to build up well-functioning, skilled, open and efficient agencies in such fields as tax, statistics, financial management and accounting, legislation and civil registration, etc. NGOs working in different ways to promote democratisation and the realisation of human rights are also important cooperation partners, both Swedish and international organisations, and groups in the cooperating countries themselves.
3. Indirect initiatives: The largest proportion of the Swedish development assistance budget goes to programmes that at first glance do not appear to be related to democracy and human rights, such as support to rural development and agriculture. However if consideration is given at the planning stage and when programmes are being implemented to such issues as the equal value of women and men, the special difficulties that poor people have in participating in public decision-making and the lack of education and health and medical care, these initiatives can be of great significance for the realisation of human rights and achieving democracy.
Sweden primarily works through the agency Sida. About two-thirds of the development assistance budget is channeled via this agency. One-third goes through various international institutions, primarily through UN funds and programmes but also via the so-called development banks. The most well-known of these is the World Bank. In all these institutions and organizations Sweden is an active member and promotes democracy and human rights using methods it believes will achieve the greatest impact.
Last edited 2007-12-17
