Sweden

Background

Sweden has been a member of African Development Fund  (ADF) since 1973 and became a member of the ADB in 1982. In 1974, a grant of SEK 26 million, equivalent to UA 2.46 million, was provided to the Bank through the Swedish Agency for Technical and Economic Cooperation (BITS) for the period 1973-88. Subsequently, the Bank officially entered into a cooperation agreement with BITS in 1989 totaling SEK 12 million, equivalent to UA 1.136 million*.

In 1993 a grant of SEK 15 million, equivalent to UA 1.4 million, was provided under a Short Term Consultancy Trust Fund Agreement. The BITS was, in 1995, merged with other Swedish development agencies to form the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and a Technical Cooperation Agreement of SEK 15 million, equivalent to UA 1.4 million, was signed in 1998 between the Swedish government and the ADB/ADF to assist in the preparation and implementation of development projects and programmes sponsored and supported by both the ADB and ADF. This technical cooperation agreement was replenished in December 2000 with a total amount of SEK 15 million, equivalent to UA 1.4 million, and again in November 2001 with SEK 10 million, equivalent to UA 0.947 million. The fund is 80% tied to Swedish consultancy services.

From October 1, 2008, SIDA was completely restructured and its new organization has now three main pillars: Policy, Operations and Management. Policy and Management are responsible for supplying expertise and qualified personnel, as well as developing methods to implement agency operations. The operations pillar is responsible for the implementation of the actual development cooperation.

Joint Initiatives

  • The Swedish Consultancy Trust Fund financed activities in different sectors. Under this fund, SIDA has, since 2005, assisted the AfDB by financing a team of urban specialists to work with the AfDB Operations Policies and Compliance Department (ORPC) in drafting an AfDB Integrated Urban Development Policy and Strategy. SIDA and AfDB also jointly organized and financed a major stakeholders’ workshop to complement the policy preparation process. SIDA will support the AfDB’s policy and strategy preparation process and implementation of the ADB Urban Policy and Strategy for the period 2008-2009.

Formal agreements and financial contributions

  • The first technical cooperation agreement between the Swedish government and the AfDB was signed in 1974. Subsequently, the Bank officially entered into a cooperation agreement with BITS in 1989 and a technical cooperation agreement was signed with SIDA in 1993. This technical cooperation agreement was replenished in December 2000 with a total amount of SEK 15 million and again in November 2001 with SEK 10 million. SIDA has contributed SEK 46,547,238, equivalent to UA 4.4 million, to the Swedish Consultancy Trust Fund (80% tied) since 1998.
  • SIDA has, since 2005, contributed SEK 45 million, equivalent to UA 4.26 million, to the African Water Facility and in May 2008, an additional contribution of SEK 75 million, equivalent to UA 7.1 million, has been committed by SIDA for 2008-2010 period. SIDA also contributed SEK 100,000, equivalent to UA 9,471, to the First African Water Week held in March 2008 to sponsor the participation of regional organizations.
  • The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency’s (SIDA) contribution to the Nordic Trust Fund for Governance since 2002 amounts to US$ 1.29 million. The trust fund has, since 2002, financed 40 operations for about US$ 5.18 million since 2002. The Bank is negotiating the replenishment of a new multi-donor untied trust fund for governance with SIDA.
  • SIDA will make a cash contribution to the Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A) Initiative of US$ 200,000 as a contribution to the budgetary needs of the 2008-2010 work plans of the MFW4A Partnership Secretariat that is being hosted by the Bank since June 2008. In addition to the cash contribution, SIDA will second a financial sector specialist to the MFW4A Secretariat.
  • SIDA will second a microfinance specialist to the Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME) Development and Microfinance Division in the Private Sector Department (OPSM)
  • SIDA is also considering to participate in the NEPAD-IPPF and to second an expert to this initiative.

* UA = Units of Account:  UA 1= US$1.48797

AfDB-Sweden partnership and cooperation focal point

Veronica Giardina
Senior Cooperation Officer
Partnerships and Cooperation Unit (ORRU)
Email: v.giardina@afdb.org
Phone: (216) 71 10 2519

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