Development Sweden #68. How the Sida boss became the puppet of the populist right wing
A newsletter on Swedish development cooperation and policy
Dear readers,
Welcome to a new issue of Development Sweden. This time we are a bit earlier than usual. The reason is some very (most would argue) politically motivated decisions by the Director General of Sida Jakob Granit: Singlehanded he decided to defund the development programs of Palme Center and SILC. Also, he gave green light to populist right wing foundation Hepatica, despite warnings by E&Y for risk of corruption. Has the Sida boss become the puppet of the populist right wing or what can explain his actions?
And – maybe most important! Our Swedish sister publication Global Bar Magazine has received the Anna Lindh Award and we are immensely proud
With holiday season on the way Development Sweden will resume publication every second week, if nothing urgent happens, of course.
Development Sweden is providing you with exclusive insight about everything that happens in Swedish aid politics. Development Sweden depends on readers like you. If you would like to read the full newsletter you are most welcome to upgrade to a paid subscription.
David Isaksson
Editor-in-Chief, Global Bar Magazine
Monika Gutestam Hustus
Editor, Development Sweden
What do you think we should write more about? Please give us feedback and suggestions. Write to: david@globalreporting.net
For subscription related issues, contact: lisa@globalreporting.net
Our headlines
Sida boss shuts down Palme Center programs
The decision is scandalous says liberal foundation SILC
How the Sida boss became the puppet of the populist right wing
Sida boss shuts down Palme Center programs
Sida's Director General has made a decision that means that the Palme Center can no longer receive money from Sida's strategy for civil society. At the same time, the Sida director has changed rules that make it easier for SD to get money.
- This is a clear political attack on the Palme Center. It is obvious that this is politically orchestrated, says Oscar Ernerot, Secretary General of the Palme Center.
Global Bar Magazine has previously reported on how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has tried to stop the Palme Center from receiving support through Sida's strategy for civil society. In December 2023, Camilla Nevstad Bruzelius, then Deputy Head of the Ministry's Department for Development Cooperation, sent an email "under the table" to Sida asking for more information about the Palme Center.