Swedish budget 2010: Africa, WFP sheltered from dramatic cuts

Though almost all areas in Swedish aid face dramatic cuts in next year’s budget, a few have been sheltered: bilateral aid to Africa, the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF. Sweden also steps up funding of special efforts to support democratisation and freedom of speech.

Latin America aid drops by a third, core funding to UNDP by SEK 90 million and some small UN agencies will see half their funds vanish. Simultaneously, Sweden strengthens all its main bilateral aid agencies, including Sida, by providing more funds.