Swedish Bilateral Development Cooperation

(in essence Reform Cooperation) introducing

the Partnership Programme

Annika Palo, Policy Specialist EUDepartment for Reform Cooperation in Europe

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida

The Partnership Programme

• A specific decision of the Swedish Government of December 2008

• Aiming at increasing the bilateral cooperation with the most recent EU Member States in development cooperation/reform cooperation in Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans

• Sida given the task to make it happen – two year special effort (2009-2011)

Structure in which the Partnership Programme works: Governance in

Development Cooperationthe Min of Foreign Affairs and Sida

• Formal MFA governance of Sida:annual instruction + specific Government

Decisionsannual budget [frames and global direction]country cooperation strategies• Informal governance: continuous dialogueregular consultations• Focus on Results – Sida annual reports

Governance in Development - Country Cooperation Strategies

Govern all bilateral development cooperation to a given country

Do not govern multilateral or humanitarian aid (specific strategies for this) Goal- and results oriented3-5 years, harmonisation with EC financial

perspectiveDo not govern other policy areas but analyse

how other Swedish policies and actors influence the development in the country - conflicts and synergies

Three thematic priorities for all Swedish bilateral

development cooperation

1. Democracy and human rights2. Environment and climate3. Gender equality and the role of

women in development

New goal from 2008 guiding the Swedish development cooperation with Eastern Europe and Western

Balkans:”Reform Cooperation in

Eastern Europe”” Strengthened democracy, equitable

and sustainable development and closer ties with the European Union

and its values.” - i.e. using the ”soft powers” of the EU

as an engine for development

Status of relevant bilateral development cooperation

strategies

• New cooperation strategies for Albania, Serbia, Ukraine (2009-) Kosovo (2009)

• Assignments to elaborate strategies for Georgia (received) and Turkey (awaiting)

• Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia 2010; Belarus, Moldova 2011;

• Fewer sectors (maximum three): - increased focus on results

the Partnership Programme

An effort to increase the collaboration between Sweden and EU:s most recent Member States in development cooperation/reform cooperation

Intent of SE Govt to make better use of transition knowledge/EU approximation processes in relevant MS: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia;

Target countries are European partner countries; Albania, Belarus, BiH, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Macedonia, Serbia & Ukraine

Increasing aid effectiveness

• Intention of the PP is in line with the principles of aid effectiveness (as agreed in the Paris Declaration/Accra Agenda for Action):

Better coordinationDeparting from partner’s national priorities Increased use of relevant actors (=comparative advantages)Fewer donors for partner countries to

manage Increase predictability of aid

Contents of the Partnership Programme

Work Plan 2009-2011: • sharing information • mapping of EU MS systems & plans; • networking; • training/advice/joint meetings with MS & partner

countries/ development of methods • concrete areas for cooperation within the

frames of the regular development cooperation/EC-instruments

Not a funding mechanism; Two-year effort; Specific effort to analyse the effects of the global

recession

Principles of the Partnership Programme

Concrete areas for cooperation – deriving from partner country’s own priorities

Sharing information/networking in order to move to joint platforms &strategies & programming; delegated cooperation; programme based approaches using comparative advantages;

Areas for joint EU MS actions within the EU-context – ENPI, IPA, Eastern Partnership;

Increased cooperation within the frames of EU-Twinning

= Increased efficiency and predictability of aid

Expected results

Increased knowledge of joint areas of interest (sectors in partner countries, EU-mechanisms)

Established network for exchange of views and ideas

Seminars in partner countries/Brussels/etc, aiming at practical cooperation, joint ventures

Increased number of joint undertakings SE-MS-EC-Other donors

Thank you for your attention!Questions?