ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN THE SWEDISH POLICY FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

The Minister for Development Assistance has announced additional changes in the Swedish policy for global development (PGD). Concentrating cooperation to fewer countries was the first step.

"I am in favour of the changes, and have begun a dialogue with the Minister for Development Assistance, the State Secretary, and others at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in order to additionally clarify Sida's assignment," says Anders Nordström, the Director-General of Sida.

Anders Nordström feels that Sida should work closely with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Government with regard to global development.

"Good relations between us are important in order to find clear duties and delineation of roles. The decision to focus on fewer countries in only a part of the policy, which enables us to prioritise resources and expertise in order to improve results and quality," explains Anders Nordström.

Anders Nordström will be in charge of the work of improving Sida as an organisation at a time when both Swedish and international development cooperation is changing. Internationally, development cooperation is being changed through what is known as the Paris Declaration, a document meant to achieve better results from development cooperation. All and all, this will mean new methods for Sida and an organisational change, in which a greater presence in Sweden's partner countries is an important part.

"There is a strong will to change and improve at Sida, and I want to manage this properly. Sida should be an attractive and efficient partner, and Sida can become more efficient. That is why we are changing our organisation. New methods and clearer roles enable us to better contribute to fulfilling the goals of the Swedish policy. Cooperation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Development Assistance is important, and we must also improve our relations with many other parts of the Government, other agencies, organisations and businesses In order to achieve this, we at Sida must be cooperative, focus on results, and ensure quality at all levels," Anders Nordström concludes.