Embassy reports are found on the Swedish language section of the website:> Aktuella rapporter
The budget for development cooperation remains high. The sum set aside in the Budget Bill for 2008 was SEK 32 billion (≈ USD 4,5 billion) which corresponds to one per cent of GNI.
After taking office the new Government of Sweden initiated a process of change aiming at further strengthening the emphasis on quality, efficiency and results in Swedish development cooperation. Attention to quality and results-oriented efficiency is seen as closely linked and key to Sweden’s ability to help achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals.
One of the first steps taken was to review the total number of partner countries with a view to focus on fewer countries and thus sharpen focus and impact. Bangladesh was identified as a long-term development cooperation partner country in Asia.
All of Sweden’s bilateral and multilateral development cooperation is governed by strategies. Within this context special priority will over coming years be given to the following themes:
The changes now being implemented are in line with the Paris Declaration, the common agreement between donors and partner countries on how development cooperation should be designed to best contribute to reduced poverty.
Sweden is a major donor to several international organisations and in many cases is one of the largest single donors. Another important part of the ongoing process of change is to ensure the quality and efficiency of the Swedish involvement in such bodies as UN organisations, the World Bank and in various development banks.