|
GIWA partners: Sida
The
Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is a government agency.
Sweden is working with development cooperation in approximately 100 countries
in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. The overall goal of that work
is to raise the standard of living of poor peoples. To this end, the Swedish
Parliament has adopted six specific objectives in order to achieve the
overall goal:
-
Economic
growth. To help increase the production of goods and services.
-
Economic
and social equality. To help reduce differences between rich and
poor and ensure that everyone's basic needs are met.
-
Economic
and political independence. To help to ensure that countries can
make their own decisions on their economies and policies and create
the conditions necessary for national self-determination.
-
Democratic
development. To help to ensure that people are given greater opportunities
to influence developments locally, regionally and nationally.
-
Environmental
protection. To promote the sustainable use of natural resources
and protection of the environment.
-
Gender
equality. To promote equality between men and women.
Sida's
Mission Statement is that a world without poverty and oppression will
be better for everybody: "In order to solve the major challenges
of our era —
poverty, environmental degradation, and conflicts —
great co-operative efforts are necessary. International development co-operation
is an investment in ensuring poor people a better life, in environmental
conservation and peace, in democracy and equality. It should pave the
way for equal relations and make itself redundant. Sweden participates
in this co-operation, in this global assumption of responsibility. Development
co-operation mobilises Swedish society and contributes to an internationalisation
of the country. Sida's task is to create conditions conducive to change
and to socially, economically and environmentally sustainable development.
Peace and security are key prerequisites for development. The prevention
of conflicts and catastrophes is an important part of our charge. The
partner countries are responsible for their own development. Sida contributes
resources and develops skills and competence and activities span a wide
variety of fields. We are often forced to make choices in unique situations.
We shall have in-depth knowledge of countries, development problems and
methods of co-operation. Sida should be characterised by a holistic approach,
clarity and adaptability. Sida creates the preconditions for change and
sustainable development."
Integrated
water resource management is one of Sida's areas of work and as part of
Sweden's commitment to Agenda 21, Sida will give higher priority to this
aspect in development co-operation — "the nature of Sida's support
to the water sector has expanded to also include support to sustainable
management of water resources". Sida
Water includes a number of areas around the world.
Sida
is hosting the Secretariat of the Global
Water Partnership (GWP). The Partnership, founded in 1996, is an international
network open to all parties involved in water resources management, e.g.,
governments of developing as well as developed countries, UN agencies,
multilateral banks, professional associations, research organisations,
the private sector and NGOs.
|
