As the world shifts from the millennium declaration to the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, new ideas and strategies are needed for a readjustment of Swedish development cooperation. Sweden has a long-standing tradition of providing foreign aid and is a powerful actor in global health issues. Yet, meeting the world’s most pressing challenges and living up to the new global goals will require interdisciplinary cooperation and reinforcing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

In 2015, the number of people living in extreme poverty fell below 10 percent according to the World Bank. This shows clear progress in achieving the goal of eradicating poverty by 2030, which encompasses progress in all of the SDGs. At the same time however, socioeconomic gaps are growing worldwide. Extreme poverty remains concentrated in countries that have not been able to reach the Millennium Goals. This is particularly true in so called fragile states.

The Global Health and Development program has a wide stance on Sweden’s development assistance priorities and contributes with policy recommendations for how development cooperation can be modified to accelerate sustainable development.

We want to show, through research and good example, how social investments are a prerequisite for economic sustainability. How a country develops is heavily dependent on investments in human capacity; a strong economy requires a healthy educated workforce. Health and education are thereby crucial for social investments.

Good health is achieved through access to health care, though a long-term healthy lifestyle is equally important. A functioning system with a proper healthcare system and healthy lifestyle promotion cannot be achieved separately. It requires progress and achievements in other areas of the 2030 Agenda. Clean air and water, food security and appropriate housing are some examples.

While investments in health and education benefit an entire population, investments in sexual and reproductive health, SRHR, are particularly crucial for strengthening young girls’ and women’s rights in society.

Ongoing projects

Re-Inventing Development Policy in the Global Era

Publications

Global health in perspective – The Swedish development cooperation and the 2030 Agenda

“Reduced Health assistance – a poor signal when the 2030 Agenda is launched”

Seminars and conferences

The 2030 Agenda and the Swedish health aid. Global health in perspective report launch

Global health in Conflict, Poverty and Fragility – Achieving the 2030 Agenda #GUhealth16

Urbanisation and global health – sustainable cities and social investments

Sweden’s future role in global health, in cooperation with RFSU and doctors without borders.

Contact: Rosanna Färnman, Project Leader rosanna.farnman@globalutmaning.c3177.cloudnet.cloud