Wars and conflicts not only cause death, suffering and destruction. In countries and regions characterized by armed conflicts, development often comes to a standstill and efforts related to combating poverty become more of a challenge. Reducing the risk of war and conflicts and working towards peace and reconciliation in conflict areas are therefore the obvious areas of investment for Swedish development aid.
Sida is also supporting peaceful efforts to prevent conflicts. Violent situations do not arise by chance; they tend to result from a series of events that can be identified and, in some cases, prevented. We also know that democracy and respect for human rights reduce the risk of armed conflicts.
Sida’s peace and security work covers six principal areas:
- Peace and conflict-prevention efforts
One example is support for centres in Iraq that work with human rights, and the rights of women and children in particular. This project is being run by Swedish aid organization Diakonia.
- Demining
Sida is backing demining programmes in countries including Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan, through its support for the UN’s Mine Action Service and the Danish Demining Group (DDG) .
- Support for the UN’s peace-building efforts in post-conflict areas
Sida is contributing to The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia, which works to heal the wounds between different groups in the country after many years of conflict, and to strengthen civil parties’ ability to engage in dialogue in areas of armed conflict, such as Colombia.
- Security systems and reforms
Sida is supporting institutional reforms in countries including Serbia, Rwanda and Liberia.
- Efforts to control light weapons
The International Action Network on Small Arms’ (IANSA’s) support for stronger gun laws in Colombia is one of several programmes within this area.
- Demobilizing child soldiers
Sida is engaged in efforts to help children in Uganda who have been forced into working as soldiers.
Co-ordination vital
Many countries, organizations and bodies are active within the area of peace and security. In most cases, the requirement is for the players to co-operate and for the efforts to be co-ordinated to make the work effective.
Sida co-operates with about 100 national and international players within this area, particularly through financial support for various efforts. We are also a driving force in developing and strengthening international co-ordination.
The organizations that receive the most support from Sida include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), the Life and Peace Institute , the Organization of American States (OAS) , International Alert and Swedish non-government organizations Diakonia and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation .
Peace and security: the facts
- In 2008 SEK 3.3 billion, or 20 per cent of Sida’s funds, went into efforts that had peace and security as the principal or secondary target.
- Financial support for the peace and security sector in 2008 amounted to SEK 438 million: about 3 per cent of Sida’s total budget.
- More than half of the funds went into efforts related to peace and conflict prevention. The other major investment areas are demining and support for the UN’s peace-building efforts in post-conflict areas.
- Colombia is the country that receives the most support from Sida within peace and security. Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Kosovo, the West Bank and Gaza and the Democratic Republic of Congo are other major co-operational territories.
- The region that has received the most support (SEK 170 million) is sub-Saharan Africa. After that comes Latin America with SEK 88 million, then Asia (excluding Central Asia) with SEK 85 million.
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