Press release
04 March 2011
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
New strategy for Sweden's cooperation with the World Bank
Yesterday, 3 March, the Government adopted a new strategy for Sweden's cooperation with the World Bank Group for the period 2011-2014. Drawing up strategies for a number of large and important multilateral development organisations is part of the work to strengthen Sweden's focus on, and advocacy in, multilateral cooperation.
The strategy is based on the Government's assessment of the organisation's relevance and effectiveness and establishes objectives and forms of cooperation for the strategy period. The Swedish assessment is that the World Bank Group is a highly relevant and effective organisation.
"The strategy builds on our efficient collaboration with the World Bank Group, but is to contribute to more focused, strategic and results-oriented Swedish work," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson. The cooperation will focus on economic growth, gender equality, the environment and climate, post-conflict countries and fragile situations, as well as on making the World Bank Group's institutions as efficient as possible.
"These are areas in which Sweden is particularly willing to contribute to continued strengthening of the Bank's work," says Ms Carlsson.
Sweden will work for increased initiatives for developing the private sector, strengthened integration of the gender equality perspective, increased investments in renewable energy, well-adapted support to post-conflict countries and strengthened results-based management.
"We also enjoy a valuable exchange of knowledge and experience with the World Bank, which I would particularly like to develop in the areas of openness and transparency. This is an area of work in which the World Bank has come a long way," says Ms Carlsson.
Sweden's positive view of the World Bank's results and reform efforts was expressed through the largest Swedish replenishment contribution ever to the Bank's fund for lending to the poorest countries, the International Development Association (IDA) in 2010. Sweden has undertaken to contribute SEK 7.4 billion in the replenishment period, which makes Sweden the ninth largest donor.
