Swedish aid is expected to decrease by two billion

According to calculations made by SVT News, Swedish aid will shrink by two billion next year. The aid represents one percent of GDP. A prudent estimate from the government is that Swedish GDP will fall by four percent, which would mean that at least two billion will disappear from the aid, unless the Riksdag decides to push for extra money.

It is not very likely that this is politically possible given the huge expenditure the Treasury is facing with unemployment and crisis companies.

It is not only Swedish aid that will shrink, donor countries around the world pay, in principle, 0.8-1 per cent of their GDP on aid, and all have been hit financially by falling economies.

In addition, the African continent's total GDP is expected to fall by at least 2.5 percent.

This causes great concern among the most vulnerable countries.

- We are facing enormous challenges. Now global solidarity applies, says Mohamed Adow to SVT News.

He is one of Africa's most experienced climate experts and runs the power company Power Shift Africa in Kenya. He points out that even before the pandemic, rich countries had failed to make their promise to provide $ 100 billion annually in climate assistance to the most climate-vulnerable countries, a goal that has not yet been achieved.

Now, the hurricane season also stands at the door and will hit many vulnerable island nations in the Caribbean.

Kenya has been hit by severe flooding and Mohamed Adow points out that close to 200 Kenyans have died in floods while 40 people have died in corona.

- Strategically, the corona and climate crisis belong together, it is about equipping communities so that they become more resilient, both against pandemics and natural disasters.

But is it not understandable that the aid of rich countries must shrink because we have been hit so hard by coronapandmein?

" No one is safe from corona until everyone is safe, even the poorest in Africa," says Mohamed Adow.

Sida is preparing as best for how to control the aid to invest more in disaster response. And already, we have started to think about priorities when aid may shrink as a consequence of Swedish growth falling.

"It's about a lot of money, we really hope it doesn't have to happen," says Ulrika Åkesson, climate analysis manager at Sida.

She agrees with Mohamed Adow that the corona and climate crisis require similar efforts.

- We are thinking best about how to broaden our programs so that we contribute to building more resilient societies, against both pandemics and the climate crisis.