The main task of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency is to manage grants and other forms of financing for initiatives that aim to meet the policy objectives of aid, according to the Swedish government.
The clarification on Sida’s role was included in a new instruction to the aid agency issued July 22.
The new instruction underscores the importance of promoting cost-efficiency, combating corruption, and disseminating information on Sweden’s development cooperation activities. It forms part of Sweden’s effort to reform its foreign aid program.
In May, the nation adopted the “Open Aid” initiative, which seeks to foster transparency in Sweden-backed development initiatives and increased involvement of more development actors. The initiative is being implemented through five projects, namely a transparency guarantee, active anti-corruption, courage to speak out, more actors and more knowledge, and freedom, women and the Internet.
The government in July also replaced SIDA’s advisory council with a governing board to help address the organizational, operational and financial challenges of the aid agency.
“The new instructions clarify Sida’s responsibilities and tasks, and gives the government an additional instrument for effective and good governance of the authority,” Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson said in statement.