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1. Governance

2. Cross-sectorial cooperation

Governance

The objective of Sweden’s Policy for Global Development is fair and sustainable global development. Sweden´s international development cooperation focuses on creating opportunities for better living conditions for people living in poverty and oppression. 

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Utrikesdepartementet) and Sweden´s missions abroad are responsible for Sweden’s foreign policy, development cooperation and trade policy.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, is the government agency working on behalf of the Swedish parliament and government, with the mission to reduce poverty in the world. In cooperation with others, Sida contributes to implementing Sweden’s Policy for Global Development.

The Swedish Institute (Svenska institutet) a government agency with responsibilities covering foreign policy, education, international aid and development. The Swedish Institute´s activities span over fields such as culture, society, research, higher education, business, innovation, democracy and global development.

Non-public actors

United Nations Association of Sweden

United Nations Association of Sweden (Svenska FN-förbundet) works for a better and stronger United Nations. The Swedish UN Association works with information, education and advocacy, reviewing how Sweden lives up to its obligations to the UN, international development cooperation and support to the UN´s work in the field.



The association has a close cooperation with 30 certified upper secondary schools, UN schools, that want to develop their global school profile. Activities are aimed at increasing students´ and teachers´ skills and involvement in global issues. The Swedish UN Association encourages and supports individual students to start and run UN school clubs at their schools in order to act locally to inform of and influence in pressing global issues.

Nature and Youth Sweden

Nature and Youth Sweden (Fältbiologerna) is a nationwide association for children and young people interested in nature and environmental issues. Nature and Youth Sweden is an independent youth organisation connected to the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. Young people, members being between 6 and 25 years of age, run the entire organisation from local level up to the National Association.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation

The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Svenska Naturskyddsföreningen) is a charitable environmental organisation. The priority areas of work are climate change, seas and fishing, forests, agriculture and environmental toxins. Members and others who wish to volunteer are recommended to contact Volontärbyrån (Voluntary Office).  Volontärbyrån is an on-line matching tool for volunteering opportunities in Swedish non-profit organisations.

Greenpeace

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and promote peace. Greenpeace organises local voluntary groups in six Swedish cities. It provides a way for volunteers and local groups to participate in campaign work, but a large part of local work is also based on what the volunteers themselves are inspired to do. 

Cross-sectorial cooperation

Sida

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, cooperates with schools by providing training opportunities and materials on global development issues. The material is primarily intended for upper secondary level education, and aims at creating commitment and changing attitudes and prejudices, by problematising and explaining global developments. 

Sida also arranges an annual conference, 'The school meets the world', for teachers, school leaders and others. Learning for global sustainable development is enrolled in the Swedish curriculum, and therefore it is necessary for the school to work with internationalisation as well as sustainability in all respects. 

National Agency for Education

The Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket) cooperates with various actors in order to contribute to international work in the field of education for sustainable development. For instance, the agency has an exchange of experience with CSOs that are active in the field. Same examples are:

• Life Link, promoting international exchange between upper secondary schools, with focus on sustainable development 
• WWF, linking learning of entrepreneurship with sustainable development
• Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation (Håll Sverige rent), coordinating the international Eco Schools programme (Grön Flagg)

The  National Agency for Education cooperates with the Swedish Council for Higher Education (Universitets- och högskolerådet) regarding the Global School. The Global School focuses on teaching sustainable development, both in Sweden and internationally. See section 9.4, Educators' support, for more information on the Global School.