OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews: Sweden 2019
The OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) conducts periodic reviews of the individual development co-operation efforts of DAC members. The policies and programmes of each DAC member are critically examined approximately once every five years. DAC peer reviews assess the performance of a given member, not just that of its development co-operation agency, and examine both policy and implementation. They take an integrated, system-wide perspective on the development co-operation and humanitarian assistance activities of the member under review.
This review commends Sweden for its consistently generous levels of official development assistance and its global development leadership on peace and conflict prevention, environmental sustainability and gender equality. It also welcomes Sweden’s strong focus on and comprehensive toolbox for leaving no one behind. The review suggests that Sweden could benefit from consolidating its development co-operation policy framework and further enhancing the connections between its country, regional and thematic co-operation strategies.
Sweden’s structure and systems
This chapter reviews Sweden’s organisational structures and management systems for its development co-operation, and examines the extent to which these are fit for purpose and have appropriate capabilities to deliver on Sweden’s development objectives.Sweden has strengthened co-ordination between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and its main implementing agency, Sida, enabling a more coherent and cohesive programme. Steps have also been taken to better align the Ministry and its other implementing agencies, but further work remains to be done, particularly with respect to strengthening the alignment of Swedfund’s investments to its development policy, including creating closer links between Swedfund and Sida’s activities.Sida is working hard to ensure a better balance between efficiency, quality control and risk management within its programming processes. A comprehensive toolbox for tackling corruption is in place and Sweden has given priority to addressing this issue. Sida is engaging in innovative partnerships and financial instruments.Sweden has enhanced its human resource planning and improved its staff capacity since the last review, but it needs to adopt a more long-term plan to ensure adequate staff capacity in light of a growing ODA budget and increasingly complex programme. Its decentralised workforce remains a major asset.