Eradicating poverty is one of the key challenges of our time. There has been impressive progress. But while many countries are making progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, some are falling behind.
Development is particularly held back in countries affected by conflict. It is in this group of countries - trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and conflict, and where one in seven children dies before the age of five - we should focus international efforts. To better support these countries we need to enhance the international system by: 1. improving effectiveness and strengthening coordination, and, 2. providing adequate, flexible, rapid and predictable financing.
These two dimensions are interlinked and progress must be made in parallel. It takes political courage to provide flexible and rapid financing as it involves risks. Improving donor engagement in financing for peacebuilding must therefore include better risk management. At the same time we must ensure that the relevant organisations and funding modalities are effective, efficient and accountable. We also need better coordination among political, development, security and humanitarian actors. In this regard, the upcoming report of the Secretary-General on peacebuilding will generate important momentum for necessary reform.
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As donors we have a responsibility. Financing affects the way needs are defined and priorities are set. Donor decisions can drive or inhibit coordination and effective international response. Depending on the financing modality, it can result either in the empowerment or in the disempowerment of various actors. In other words, it provides incentives for particular types of behaviour. At the 2007 OECD-DAC High Level Meeting we endorsed a set of Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations. We committed ourselves to making rapid and flexible financing available. This includes revising our policies and procedure.
Within OECD there are task-teams in the International Network on Conflict and Fragility. The purpose is to translate commitments into practice. Under the chairmanship of Sweden, the task team on financing and aid architecture is focusing on transitional financing. Sweden is committed to work towards having the policy guidance and operational recommendations concluded during 2010.
For too long, the solution to linking relief and development has been to extend humanitarian activities to also cover development goals. Our efforts should instead focus on using development funds to finance early recovery and peacebuilding in a timely and flexible manner.
In 2007 the Swedish Government adopted a new development strategy called “Global Challenges – Our responsibility”. The strategy reinforces our commitment to support post conflict countries. We also focused our bilateral development cooperation. This focus will ensure predictability and sustainability in our support to peacebuilding efforts. I have increased the share of development funds to countries in post conflict situations. I am committed to continue to increase this share and I encourage other donors to follow this example.
Post conflict situations require a holistic approach from donors. To manage this challenge we decided to launch an organisational reform of the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). We are now better equipped to deliver adequate financing for peace building. For example, the introduction of Country Teams with mixed humanitarian and development staff will ensure a more strategic approach to transitional needs.
In our support to post conflict countries, Sweden will enhance efforts to address the particular needs of women and girls, most often the worst affected in these situations. For example, in our new development cooperation strategy with the Democratic Republic of Congo, we will increase support for strengthening women’s rights and implementing the Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
Sweden has a long-standing tradition of supporting multilateralism. Almost half of Sweden's development cooperation is channelled through multilateral organizations. Pooling of resources through the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Commission will contribute to a more effective and coordinated international response. I welcome recent agreements by these organisations to conduct joint needs assessments in post conflict situations. This is an important step for more synergy and better complementarity.
I would also like to mention the European Council Conclusions on European Union response to situations of fragility, as well as on Security and Development. During the Swedish EU presidency in the second half of this year, we will work with EU members to adopt concrete action plans for the implementation of these significant framework documents.
Sweden is an active member of the Peacebuilding Commission and chairs the country specific configuration for Burundi. The PBC has the potential to become a political driver for a more coherent and effective international response to post conflict situations. It has a unique composition of members states providing global legitimacy. In partnership with the affected country the PBC can indentify, monitor and support urgent priorities for peacebuilding.
In conclusion, supporting countries trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and conflict is a moral obligation and responsibility of the international community. We cannot fail to meet this challenge. It is my hope that efforts to improve financing for peacebuilding will contribute to this end.
Thank you.