prop · H103131en · 2014-03-18 00:00:00 — The majority of the worlds population who live in poverty currently Comm. 2013/14:131 live in middle-income countries. Through support to multilateral channels, can also reach people who live in poverty in these countries where does not have any bilateral aid. However, the countries must contribute domestic resources to a greater extent with the aim of reducing the exclusion of the poor, creating shared welfare and reducing inequality. Through multilateral organisations, lessons learned from aid in these countries can be spread globally, also to poorer countries, and contribute towards increased cooperation between them. The international humanitarian system is founded on General 46/182, which gives the UN a strong leading role in coordination and sets up a number of multilateral mechanisms for ensuring that the system is effective. commitment to international humanitarian policy is based on the multilateral structure and is simultaneously very actively involved in strengthening the system. Swedish humanitarian aid must largely be carried out by multilateral actors and must be directed towards people in humanitarian crisis. 7.2.2Global impact for Swedish aid priorities The multilateral system forms a framework for international collaboration. Multilateral organisations are forums in which shared norms, standards and goals can be developed into potential benefit for individual people. They also play an important role in collecting and spreading knowledge and information on global development and the situation, particularly in areas that do not recognise national borders. Knowledge of this type increases aid effectiveness. Bilateral aid can also provide knowledge of the situation of people living in poverty, allowing to act constructively and in an evidence-based in the steering bodies of the multilateral organisations in which is involved. The Governments assessment is that is well placed to influence the focus of the multilateral system and of aid and drive and support reform efforts for increased efficiency, better results, greater transparency and actively combatting corruption. position as a major trustworthy donor that advocates multilateral and rights-based solutions and has a strong commitment to the humanitarian system provides an opportunity for real influence. A large proportion of Swedish multilateral involvement is expressed in globally normative work, for example by setting up international agreements, because this is an important means of achieving concrete results for the individual person. By systematically promoting Swedish priorities in the multilateral system, priorities and goals can also have a greater impact at global level than they would were merely driving them bilaterally. 2013/14:131 7.2.3 Effective and results-oriented multilateral aid The Government wishes multilateral aid to be run in a strategic, goal-oriented and coherent way to increase the opportunity to gain greater traction for the priorities of Swedish aid within the multilateral system and thereby achieve good results. and guidance are given in the Strategy for Multilateral Development In the multilateral results strategies the Government clearly sets out the results that it wishes to contribute towards in collaboration with and through multilateral organisations. goes beyond aid. For this reason, other political goals and priorities are also important in work with certain multilateral organisations. important to ensure a coherent Swedish approach both in multilateral organisations and between bilateral and multilateral aid. The Governments concrete expectations in terms of the results of initiatives and globally normative work must be clearly set out in results The aim is for the Governments priorities to gain impact in the organisations initiatives and thereby contribute to making their operations as effective and result-oriented as possible. results must contribute towards effectively attaining the six sub- objectives of Swedish aid and thereby the Governments three thematic In cases where an organisation is financed by means other than aid (expenditure item 7), the expected results will contribute towards objectives and priorities associated with that source of financing. The strive towards improved cost efficiency, better results, greater transparency and anti-corruption must continue. In the future too, must be an , demanding and constructive partner to organisations in the multilateral system, with clear goals for its work in the governing bodies and supplementary negotiations. Governments assessment of the results, efficiency and relevance of the respective organisation forms the basis for decisions on the level of This level of ambition assumes that the flow of information on results and problems between Swedish actors is improved through more efficient collaboration between Swedish public actors and an improvement in the follow-up of results achieved. To continue to strengthen the international system, the management by results of the multilateral organisations and the Swedish follow-up and analysis tools need to be developed further. The UN reform Delivering as One on greater collaboration at country level between the UN organisations is an important step in this work and the Government will continue to support that reform. In the same way, the Government welcomes closer cooperation and coordination between all kinds of aid actors at country level. Clearer allocation of work and collaboration between multilateral organisations is also an important aspect in increasing aid efficiency, particularly in areas such as the environment and climate, as well as health. must continue to work to promote synergies between different multilateral actors and reduce the risk of In principle, non-earmarked aid and long-term financing are preferred. This increases the likelihood of a long-term, stable multilateral system in which the Governments policy priorities gain a greater impact. The core Comm. 2013/14:131 support is steered through results strategies for the respective organisation in which the Government sets out the results that are expected, while the targeted earmarked multi/bilateral support is steered through thematic and geographical results strategies. The objective is to adopt a more strategic approach in governance of multi-bi aid by contributions being focussed to a greater extent than previously on the global thematic programmes, regional programmes or country programmes of the organisations, or alternatively support to entire sectors in a specific organisations country programme. Ahead of strategically important decisions in governing bodies, must actively drive clear and appropriate result expectations and demand thorough follow-up and reporting of results. The core support funded by aid that provides to different multilateral organisations must help to create preconditions for better living conditions for people living in poverty and under oppression, in other words we must ensure that the contributions are used to achieve the result. Swedish financing in addition to the compulsory membership fee must thereby be coupled with progress in terms of meeting the objectives. 7.2.4 Prioritisation criteria for Swedish aid via multilateral organisations The allocation of aid to multilateral organisations builds on two main principles with the aim of achieving good results – relevance and Relevance is judged on the basis of whether an organisations activities and results contribute to meeting the overarching objective of Swedish aid and the sub-objectives of this framework. The assessment of the degree of relevance is, in other words, closely linked to the question of whether the organisations goals are in line with the Governments assessments and priorities. Fundamentally this is largely about determining whether the organisations operations contribute towards added value, also in relation to other organisations. The other main criterion when prioritising aid funding to and via multilateral organisations is effectiveness, both external and internal. level of an organisations effectiveness is assessed by asking the questions: does the organisation contribute towards development (results) in line with the relevant objectives set, is it organised such that activities lead to results and is the aid used cost-effectively? is thus about assessing whether the organisation is meeting the objectives Internal effectiveness covers structural factors such as whether governance is appropriately structured and organised. formulated clearly and are there are long-term and reasonable visions, and sound follow-up and evaluation systems? The outcome of the classification will provide guidance in prioritising financial support and as a starting point for influence on, policy dialogue with and financial contributions to the multilateral organisations. organisation demonstrates deficiencies in the form of sub-standard 2013/14:131 results or excessively sluggish progress towards reform, conditional contributions may become necessary. must also be able to leave organisations or funds which fail to adhere to overarching objectives or whose operations demonstrate poor effectiveness and an insufficient for change. Where positive changes are seen regarding relevance or effectiveness, must be able to re-join. 7.3Active influence on and collaboration within EU aid 7.3.1The EU as an aid actor The EU and its member states are jointly a central aid policy actor responsible for approximately 55 per cent of the total financial flows classified as aid. and other EU member states, through their EU membership, have undertaken to contribute towards the EUs aid budget. Contributions are determined using fixed calculation keys, and the Swedish proportion of the aid managed by the EU institutions is currently approximately three per cent. The Swedish financial contribution towards the EU aid budget is thus determined in advance and is not negotiable. opportunities for influence lie in political advocacy work in drawing up, implementing and following up the EUs aid policy. supports institutional coordination and collaboration within the EU, which is one of the prerequisites for the EU being able to be a dynamic and effective global actor. The Government considers that the EU, as a strong global actor within in the field of development cooperation, has good opportunities to drive political work for change, for example through dialogue on sensitive issues or in sensitive situations. The EU has also established clear requirements whereby budget support must be linked to democratic development and respect for human rights. 7.3.2Swedish influence on the EUs aid policy The EUs foreign policy through (), within which development cooperation and humanitarian aid are included, gives the EU considerable political weight in political dialogues with third countries. The EU is also a major actor in the multilateral system. This gives an opportunity, through the EUs development policy, to tangibly increase the impact of the Governments political priorities. The Government also recognises a major responsibility in working to ensure that the aid initiatives financed through the EUs foreign administration budget are well managed and that they are characterised by input values and political priorities that have been jointly agreed on within the EU. Swedish work to influence the EUs development policy is guided by the priorities of Swedish aid policy. work to influence the EUs development policy is also guided by the Swedish EU priorities. One priority that is particularly relevant to aid is helping to strengthen the EU as a global actor. is well placed to influence the Comm. 2013/14:131 continued design and implementation of the EUs development policy and the direction of aid, as well as to drive and support reform efforts for greater efficiency, better results, greater transparency and actively combatting corruption. This ongoing work will be run strategically and with a focus on objectives. For optimum impact of the priorities of Swedish aid policy, lobbying must be run actively in , at capital level and in the field. Within the EU, also actively drives the issue of EU member states meeting the internationally agreed target of setting aside of GNI for international aid. 7.3.3The importance of coordination The importance of the EU as an actor in the field of development policy will increase further with fully integrated EU delegations and the implementation of the EUs updated development policy, known as Agenda for Change. Its implementation requires close cooperation between EU delegations and member states in the field. The implementation of Agenda for Change partly involves EU Joint Programming as well as coordination of the approaches and regulatory framework of different donors regarding budget support. will be in EU Joint Programming, which involves the EU and its member states and, where relevant, together with other donors. The purpose is to reduce fragmentation of aid and optimise the results of total aid, and for planning and coordination of aid to be carried out on the basis of the development plans, poverty strategies or equivalent of the partner countries themselves. is and must be the driving force in implementing the EUs Policy Coherence for Development and working to ensure that the EUs development cooperation makes high demands in terms of democracy and respect for human rights when considering which initiatives are to be carried out in each individual country. This is particularly true within the framework of the EUs budget support. In this context, great emphasis on the Swedish side is placed on encouraging the EU to work with a combined approach in crisis management, from prevention to transition and long-term development cooperation. 2013/14:131 1 List of consultation bodies Statements in consultation on the Communication have been received from the following bodies: , the Swedish Prison and , , , , , , , the (Sida), , the Swedish Armed Forces, the , the (), , and Planning, the , the , the for Participation, the , the Authority, the Swedish Enforcement Authority, the Debt Office, the , Statistics , the for , (), , (human rights at the Faculties of Humanities and Theology), the for Higher Vocational Education, , , , the , the for and , the , the , , , Sciences, the , Lantmäteriet, the , the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, (), the Swedish Patent and Registration Office, the , the Geological Survey of , the for Economic and Regional Growth, , , the , the , the Swedish Work Environment Authority, Action Aid, , Swedish Section, Civil Rights Defenders, Concord , , Fairtrade , Folac, , Forum Syd, , (), Islamic Relief , the (), Kvinna till Kvinna, without Borders (CHwB), , the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, the , Equally Unique, the LO-TCO Secretariat of International Trade Union Development Co-operation, (), Medicins Sans Frontieres , the Swedish Teachers Union, the Conservation, Operation 1325, Pingstmissionens Utvecklingssamarbete (PMU), Plan , , , , Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL), , Save the Children , the Swedish Red Cross, , , the Resilience Center, Svalorna , , , the Church of , the , the Authorities and Regions, the Swedish Womens Lobby, Swecare, , , WWF , Water Aid, We Effect (formerly the ), the Worlds Foundation. Statements have also been received from Erikshjälpen, för de areella näringarnas bärkraftiga utveckling (ten members), , (), Swedish section of the for Peace and Freedom (IKFF), Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation (SweFOR), and The Swedish Peace and (), , , (), PRO Global – pensioners without borders, (), National Criminal , Svensk Projektexport, TCO, (), UN Women national committee, and one private individual. The following bodies have been invited to comment but have refrained from comment. Audit Office, the Swedish , the Swedish Prosecution Authority, the Swedish Guard, the , , the for Government Employers, the Financial Supervisory Authority, the Legal, Financial and , the , the Swedish Schools Inspectorate, the , the Swedish Meteorological and , , the National Mediation Office, Expertgruppen för utvärdering och analys av internationella bistånd, Swedish Confederation of (), , internationella stiftelse, Chemsec, , the Natural Step, , Hand in Hand, , Individuell Människohjälp, , Chapter, , Médecins du Monde , MyRight – Empowering people with disabilities, Center, Reporters without Borders , Samarbetsorganet för etniska organisationer i (SIOS), , SOS , , Swedish Section of the International Commission of Jurists, the of , , , the . 2013/14:131 1 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Extract from the minutes of the Cabinet Meeting, 13 2014 Present: Prime Minister , chair, and Ministers , , , , , , , Adelsohn , , , , , , , Elmsäter- , , , , The Government hereby adopts Communication 2013/14:131 Aid policy framework Production: MFA, Communications Department Printed by: 2014 Article no UD 14.024 Additional copies can be downloaded from or requested from the Management and Methods in Development Cooperation Department: