Guiding documents Sweden’s support to Somalia is based on a number of guiding documents which provide a framework for Swedish assistance. Those are presented below:
The ApproachThe Swedish support to Somalia is currently based on Sweden’s Approach to Development Cooperation for Somalia adopted on 15 February 2007 by the Government, which sets out a Policy Framework for Sweden’s Development Cooperation with Somalia (see document to the right). The Approach defines the promotion of lasting reconciliation, stability and the re-establishment of effective governance needed to achieve the overall objective of poverty reduction as the overarching goal of Sweden’s involvement in Somalia.
As stated in the Approach, EU and UN agreed policies with regard to Somalia provide a platform for the Swedish support and the following two documents are therefore major references for the Swedish support:
The UN/World Bank Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP)Sweden supported, with a total of SEK 3,385 million in 2005-6, the Joint Needs Assessment exercise carried out by the UN agencies and the World Bank. A five year Reconstruction and Development Programme will be the result of this major endeavour. It forms a basis for the international community’s assistance to Somalia, and of course, also guides Swedish development cooperation.
The EU/Norway Country Strategy Paper (CSP)An EU Country Strategy Paper has been prepared as a response to the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and will be discussed with Somali actors in 2007. Sweden is participating in the process and will continue to contribute to the strategic oversight of the implementation of the programme.
Swedish Cooperation with Somalia in figuresThe volume of the assistance provided to Somalia is growing, which reflects Sweden’s commitment to sustainable reconciliation and development in Somalia. The assistance planned for 2007 is expected to amount some SEK 150 million (with SEK 50 million for long-term assistance and SEK 100 million for humanitarian assistance), a clear increase with regard to 2006 figures, when the assistance to Somalia totalled SEK 95 million distributed as follows:- SEK 29,1 million under Sida’s bilateral development cooperation (country allocation),- SEK 10,6 million through non-governmental organisations,- SEK 53,4 million as humanitarian assistance,- SEK 1,8 million through other channels.
The amount disbursed in 2006 (SEK 95 million) was slightly lower than what had been planned due to several factors, not least the uncertainties and insecurity caused by political developments over the second half of the year.
Sweden may expand Swedish development assistance to Somalia as opportunities arise and conditions are created to support the development of national, regional and local administrations that fairly reflect the mosaic of clans and other groups making up Somali society. Click on highligthed text for a more detailed overview of:
Improving the lives of Somali peopleThe overall goal of Sweden’s assistance to developing countries is poverty reduction. Click on the areas of intervention listed below to find some concrete examples of support to Somalia and how this contributes to improving the lives of poor people in the main areas of intervention.
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