Whose results? Whose ownership? Swedish policy on development cooperation and the increased demand for results

• Over the last decade the focus on results has increased within the international development cooperation, leading to a stronger demand for accountability and aid effectiveness. Although many development actors, both donors and development partners (i.e. countries and organizations receiving aid) agree on the necessity of an increased demand for results, it has also rendered criticism for being donor driven and for changing the relations between donor and development partners; from a development cooperation owned and driven by development partners towards one where the results of the development cooperation should be measured against, and attributed to, donor countries development objectives and aid agendas. The increased focus on results has thus raised a number of questions related to ownership and accountability: Whose results are asked for and for what reasons? Who is setting the development agenda, and based on what? Is it the goals and objectives of the development partner, or is it the donors’ demand for development results? Sweden’s relations with developing countries have historically been characterized by a strong belief in supporting development partners in their efforts to improve the lives for poor men and women, where mutual accountability and development partner ownership have been emphasized. This relation is now contested by the demand for results, which has become a top priority in Swedish development cooperation. With example from Swedish development cooperation and Swedish aid relations with Uganda, this paper explores how the Swedish relations with development partners have changed with the increased demand for results.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Statsvetenskap -- Globaliseringsstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Political Science -- Globalisation Studies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

development results evaluation

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