The Nordic countries, with a combined population of some 25 million souls, contribute more than 10 per cent of global aid. Each year, Development Today analyses the Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and Finnish development assistance budgets. Here is an overview of headlines back to 2005:

2010:
• Norway holds back Africa aid to finance climate and refugees (Read)
• Swedish budget 2010: Africa, WFP sheltered from dramatic cuts (Read)
• Marginal increase in Väyrynen's aid budget for 2010 (Read)
• Danes reduce UN funding, step up private sector aid (Read)

2009:
• Budget 2009: Norway plays down UN, Africa (Read)
• Sweden launches untied mixed credit scheme, punishes UNDP (Read)
• Stalled again. Finnish aid growth fails to keep up with targets (Read)
• Denmark holds back on UNDP, World Bank as Africa aid expands (Read)

2008:
• Socialist Left Minister makes u-turn, boosts World Bank funding (Read)
• Swedish Conservatives aim for bigger programmes, fewer countries (Read)
• Finland boosts country support in 2008 budget (Read)
• Denmark steps up Africa aid, UN support at standstill (Read)

2007:
• SEK 30 billion budget, Swedish aid remains at 1 per cent of GNI (Read)
• Finland plans massive boost in budget support to EUR 52m by 2009 (Read)
• Denmark proposes cutting long-term aid commitment to Africa (Read)
• Norway

2006:
• Frafjord Johnson’s last aid budget focuses on Africa (Read)
• Sweden scales up support to UN and World Bank, Africa key priority (Read)
• Finnish NGOs receive large funding increase in 2006 (Read)
• Danish aid level to drop to 0.8 per cent of GNI in 2006 (Read)

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