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Self Report 2018

The self-report on WHS Commitments below is organized according to the 24 transformations of the Agenda for Humanity. It is based on commitments pledged at the time of report submission. Click on the 'Expand' symbol to expand each section and read the reporting inputs by transformation.

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  • 1B
    Act early

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to supporting and reacting to early warning systems and emerging crises analysis.
    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to act early upon potential conflict situations based on early warning findings and shared conflict analysis, in accordance with international law.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Commit to make successful conflict prevention visible by capturing, consolidating and sharing good practices and lessons learnt.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Since the number of violent conflicts in the world has increased, with humanitarian crises as a consequence, there is a need to focus more efforts towards early warning, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. 

    • As chair of the UN Security Council in January 2017, Sweden called for a an open debate in the UN Security Council on prevention of conflicts and sustaining peace, chaired by the UN Secretary-General.
    •  As a result of Swedish co-chairmanship in the International Dialogue on Peace- and State-building the Stockholm Declaration was adopted in April 2016. Implementation took place during 2017.
    • Sweden has adopted a third National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security 2016-2020.
    • A network of female mediators has been established as well as a support function for political dialogue and peace processes enabling Sweden to be more proactive in peace-building processes. Continued effort in integrating a conflict perspective in Swedish development cooperation enables a more preventive approach to conflict.
    • Sweden adopted in 2017 a new strategy for Sustainable Peace focusing on prevention of violent conflict and inclusive peace building processes. It aims at improving synergies between development cooperation and political dialogue in peace-building processes.
    • Sweden supported the UN and World Bank joint report Pathways for Peace – inclusive approaches for prevention of violent conflict, including taking recommendations to action.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-ups with multilateral and bilateral partners.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    • Moving from policy level to operational reform demands new funding modalities.
    • Efficiency and capacity require new methods of working and strengthening joint coordinated efforts for early warning/conflict prevention.
    • Successful prevention requires an integrated gender perspective on all levels.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden will continue to support early warning systems, emerging crises analysis, peace-building and conflict prevention activities. Sweden will continue to be engaged in international dialogue on implementing the sustaining peace agenda and strengthening efforts of international support to conflict prevention and peace building and will host the Stockholm Forum in May 2018 focusing on "Politics of Peace", aiming to contribute to increase concretization of peace-building.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    • Strengthen national and regional capacities for early warning and conflict prevention.
    • Mainstream conflict prevention and capacity for early action into the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs) and World Bank's country strategies.
    • Develop stronger synergies between the United Nations Department of Political Affairs (UN DPA) and United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs).

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See actions under question 1 and under commitment 1C.

    Keywords

    Gender, Humanitarian-development nexus

  • 1C
    Remain engaged and invest in stability

    Individual Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to continuing to support the conflict prevention capacity of national governments, the UN, civil society, regional and sub-regional organizations.
    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Sweden commits to ensuring an integrated conflict perspective on all aid and strengthening its internal conflict analysis capacity.
    • Capacity
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Sweden commits to implementing the Stockholm Declaration on Addressing Fragility and Building Peace in a Changing World, on addressing the root causes of vulnerability and using the New Deal principles to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in fragile and conflict-affected countries.
    • Policy
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    Core Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to improve prevention and peaceful resolution capacities at the national, regional and international level improving the ability to work on multiple crises simultaneously.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Commit to sustain political leadership and engagement through all stages of a crisis to prevent the emergence or relapse into conflict.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Commit to address root causes of conflict and work to reduce fragility by investing in the development of inclusive, peaceful societies.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Conflict prevention is a long standing priority within Swedish foreign policy and development cooperation. Sweden is a member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council 2017-2019 and conflict prevention is a priority also in the work in the Council. 

    • As a substantial core funder of UN funds, programmes and agencies, Sweden contributes to building conflict preventive capacity within the UN. Sweden also provides substantial support to regional organisations, particularly the African Union (AU). This enables flexibility and opportunity for organizations to remain engaged and contribute to stability.
    • Sweden also funds targeted catalytical support to improve capacities and peaceful conflict resolution at national, regional and international level.
    • As a result of Swedish co-chairmanship of the International Dialogue on Peace-building and State-building, the Stockholm Declaration was adopted in April 2016. The Declaration and the Agenda 2030/SDG-16 (Sustainable Development Goals) was followed up at the Stockholm Forum in May 2017, "Sustaining Peace - What Works?"
    • An integrated conflict perspective is mandatory in all Swedish development cooperation, as of 2015, enabling a more preventive approach to conflicts as well as focus on addressing root causes.
    • Sweden's new strategy on sustainable peace is sharpening focus on targeted programmes on peace-building and political leadership on national, regional and international level. https://www.government.se/country-and-regional-strategies/2018/01/strategy-for-sustainable-peace-20172022/
    • Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), has elaborated concrete tools on how to integrate a conflict perspective in practice when assessing and monitoring programmes funded by Sweden. For more information on Sida's work see https://www.sida.se/English/how-we-work/our-fields-of-work/humanitarian-aid1 .

    See also commitment 1B.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow ups with multilateral and bilateral partners such as strategic dialogue with UN funds, programmes and agencies. 

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Field conditions, including insecurity and access
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    • Access and coordination are pre-conditions to successful context adapted early warning, conflict prevention and conflict resolution.
    • Lack of multi-year funding modalities based on needs assessments hamper positive outcomes regarding stability and long-term engagement.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden is a member of the UN Security Council 2017-2019 and conflict prevention and peace building are key priorities. Actions planned for the coming year are, i.a.

    • Take recommendations from the UN-WB (United Nations-World Bank) study Pathways to Peace further.
    • Strengthen further conflict prevention is furthermore in Swedish foreign policy and its development cooperation, i.a. through a dialogue and mediation initiative and through an integrated conflict perspective in development cooperation strategies.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Sweden is committed to continue to support conflict prevention capacities at different levels. To achieve collective progress there is a need for i.a.

    • Stronger political leadership.
    • More coordinated action based on joint analysis and joint planning of relevant multilateral and bilateral actors.
    • More adapted funding modalities to remain engaged and invest in stability.
    • Stronger analytical capacities.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See under item 1 and well as under commitments 1B and 5C.

  • 1D
    Develop solutions with and for people

    Individual Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Sweden commits to strengthening conflict prevention and sustainable peace by supporting local, regional and international networks of women mediators.


    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Leave No One Behind

    • Sweden commits to strengthening the influence and meaningful participation of women and young people in peace-building according to UN Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, as well as UN Security Council resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security.


    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Sweden has since 2015 a female mediation network, see https://fba.se/contentassets/60a55614ae434d2dbc745cf454c3af33/factsheet-swedish-women-mediation-network.pdf

    The goal is to strengthen national capabilities but more importantly to encourage and create cooperative networks with women peace builders and mediators across the globe. The engagements of the network are diverse, ranging from collaborations with local women’s groups in a particular conflict context, to more traditional diplomacy. As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 2017-2018 Sweden has in 2017 actively promoted the WPS-agenda (Women, Peace and Security) which has led to the following achievements:

    • The informal experts group on country situations through the lens of WPS created and has established itself as a place where important information is being shared and discussed ahead of Council meetings.
    • Several briefs from civil society have been invited to inform the Security Council, thus adding valuable information on women’s situations and rights to the discussions.
    • Mission mandates increasingly reflect the Women, Peace and Security agenda throughout the different aspects of the mandates.
    • A new standard has been set with all UN Security Council Presidential Statements on crisis situations in 2017, including reflections on women’s situations.
    • Terms of References for Security Council missions have increasingly included meetings with women’s groups or a review of the situation for women, in political processes.
    • Sanctions – a new listing criterion was introduced in the sanctions regime for the Central African Republic.
    • Sweden has adopted a new strategy on sustainable peace, including support to local networks of women mediators. See attachment.

    See also commitments 3F, 2D and 3D.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-ups with multilateral and bilateral partners. 

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Field conditions, including insecurity and access
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The lack of involvement of men, women, girls and boys in decision making risks to make any actions taken less effective and the societies fragile to further conflict and inequality.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden is engaging in youth, peace and security and have developed an internal working plan for the agenda and is engaging with youth networks to further girls and young women as peace-builders. See also under commitments 3F, 2D and 3D. 

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    By supporting effective participation in peace negotiations and political processes, equal and meaningful participation can be attained, contributing to solidify the work towards peaceful societies with less inequality. 

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    The network of women mediators have in e.g. Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Somalia and Syria, built alliances with local women’s organizations and brought back valuable lessons. In 2017 network members has i.a. contributed to the formal Geneva talks about Syria and facilitated training sessions for women peace builders from all of Afghanistan’s provinces.

    Keywords

    Gender

  • 2A
    Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to supporting impartial humanitarian actors' efforts to engage in dialogue with, and operate according to the humanitarian principles in areas controlled by non-state armed groups.
    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    • Sweden provides substantial financial, and to large extent unearmarked, support to humanitarian partners who apply International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in their daily work in armed conflicts.
    • Sweden gives substantive financial support to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its work to promote respect for international humanitarian law and its implementation in national law.
    • Sweden supports organizations and professionals in the field working to strengthen respect for IHL and humanitarian principles by developing technical capacity, methods, practical tools and training for local use.
    • Sweden has continued to raise awareness on IHL and gender in order to improve dissemination and implementation of IHL and international human rights law in international dialogue.
    • Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), has established a multi-year funding window to enable its implementing humanitarian partners to operate, according to the humanitarian principles, in hard-to-reach areas where humanitarian needs are most urgent, including those controlled by non-state groups. Multi-year funding enables humanitarian actors to establish contact with relevant parties with capacity to ensure access, including parties to the conflict. 
    • Sida's needs-based allocation model at global and national level is a key tool for reaching the most vulnerable in humanitarian crises and in accordance with the principle of impartiality.

    In addition, Sweden is committed to continuing support for impartial humanitarian actors efforts to engage in dialogue with, and operate according to the humanitarian principles in areas controlled by non-state armed groups. 

    See also commitments  2C, 2D, 2E.
     

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow ups with multilateral and bilateral partners.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Adherence to standards and/or humanitarian principles
    • Field conditions, including insecurity and access
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Supporting impartial humanitarian actors’ efforts to engage in dialogue and operate according to the humanitarian principles in areas controlled by non-state armed groups is crucial. Further, the politicization of humanitarian assistance is a growing issue that causes concern for the integrity of the humanitarian principles.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden will take the following actions to advance implementation of the commitments.

    • Continue to be a strong voice for IHL in the UN Security Council for the remainder of 2018.
    • Continue to support ICRC and its humanitarian work. 
    • Continue to support organisations like Geneva Call focussing on respect for IHL of non-state armed groups.
    • Prepare for and analyse how the theme "Protection of Civilians" may be raised in an effective manner at the Red Cross/Crescent conference (2019).
       

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    The insufficient compliance with IHL and the humanitarian principles coupled with the insufficient safe and unhindered humanitarian access is a growing challenge. There is a prompt need for a follow up mechanism on IHL and supporting international efforts that aim to track and collect data and report on violations of IHL.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See question 1 as well as commitment 2C, 2D and 2E.

    Keywords

    IHL compliance and accountability, Protection

  • 2B
    Ensure full access to and protection of the humanitarian and medical missions

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to putting protection at the centre of humanitarian action and providing protection for all according to need and without discrimination.
    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to ensure all populations in need receive rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Commit to promote and enhance efforts to respect and protect medical personnel, transports and facilities, as well as humanitarian relief personnel and assets against attacks, threats or other violent acts.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    • In the UN Security Council (UNSC), Sweden has continuously advocated for full access and the protection of humanitarian and medical care in the conflicts on the Council’s agenda, in particular Syria,Yemen and South Sudan.
    • Sweden was instrumental in formulating a Presidential Statement on Yemen in June 2017 demanding that the parties respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians, civilian objects and medical care, and refrain from recruiting/using children as soldiers.
    • On Syria, Sweden together with Japan and Egypt, successfully extended the cross-border resolution 2165 (UNSCR 2393) thereby ensuring a life-line to millions of Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance in north-west and southern Syria from Turkey and Jordan.
    • In UNSCR 2406 extending the mandate for the peace-keeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Sweden contributed to strong language on the obligation to protect medical care by all parties to the conflict.
    • Sweden has established a working group within its Delegation for international law and disarmament, to map and analyse how to enhance protection of medical mission in armed conflicts; for example how can the UN strengthen data collection, analysis and reporting of incidents and how may military policies more effectively protect medical missions.
    • Sweden's strategy for humanitarian assistance through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)  emphasises focus on protection of civilians: "Area 2: Increased protection for people affected by crises and increased respect for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law (IHL).

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-ups with multilateral and bilateral partners. 

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Adherence to standards and/or humanitarian principles
    • Data and analysis
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The lack of full implementation of IHL, IHRL (International Human Rights Law) and humanitarian principles in relation to protection of civilians, medical and humanitarian missions remains a key challenge for the humanitarian system, not least in Syria and Yemen. There is a need for comprehensive data and analysis to be able to assess the needs and achievements. 

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    As a UN Security Council member throughout 2018, Sweden will continue to make sure that protection of civilians, medical and humanitarian missions are included in the Council's formal and informal deliberations. Further, Sweden will continue to fund agencies with clear protection mandates through core support and country level support.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    There is a need for improved adherence to applicable international law and standards as well as a principled approach to humanitarian crises.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See item 1 as well as commitment 2A, 2C and 2D. 

    Keywords

    IHL compliance and accountability, Protection

  • 2C
    Speak out on violations

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to support international efforts that aim to track and collect data and report violations of IHL.
    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to speak out and systematically condemn serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations and abuses of international human rights law and to take concrete steps to ensure accountability of perpetrators when these acts amount to crimes under international law.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    During the reporting period 2017 Sweden has taken a number of concrete actions listed below:

    • Spoken out on ongoing violations and the importance of upholding international law in official statements, social media and in various international fora, including the Human Rights Council and as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
    • Initiated several meetings on the situation in Myanmar in the UNSC, including active contribution to a presidential statement and ensuring that the UNSC continues to monitor the issue closely.
    • Condemned the violations in Syria, highlighting the systematic violations of international law in the UNSC.
    • Repeatedly spoken about conflict-related sexual violence in the UNSC.
    • Systematically strengthened the UNSC's resolutions and statements by including references to the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence, including the Sahel resolution (S/RES/2359) and the Iraq resolution (S/RES/2367).
    • Implemented Sweden's humanitarian strategy including a priority area on "Increased protection for people affected by crises and increased respect for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law, focussing on:
    • Reduced the risk and vulnerability of people affected by crises – particularly those who are the most vulnerable – in the face of threats, abuse and violence; guarantee the dignity and physical safety of people subjected to violence and abuse; reduce the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence and improve opportunities for providing support to those affected by violence; improve opportunities for safe and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow ups with multilateral and bilateral partners.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Adherence to standards and/or humanitarian principles
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The lack of adherence to standards and principles, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) coupled with the lack of an integrated gender perspective is a risk to deteriorate the humanitarian system as a whole as well as a cause of human suffering.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    • Sweden is committed to continue to support international efforts that aim to track and collect data and report violations on IHL/IHRL, and take concrete steps to ensure accountability where applicable.
    • Sweden will continue to speak out on violations in the UNSC.
    • Sweden’s strategy for humanitarian assistance through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) 2017-2020; under Area 2 it specifically notes that: "Increased protection for people affected by crises and increased respect for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law, it is outlined that women, girls, men and boys are to be involved in efforts to prevent sexual and gender-based violence"  

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Sweden believes in the importance of a principled humanitarian action and in leading by example. More efforts to speak out and systematically condemn serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations and abuses of international human rights law and to take concrete steps to ensure accountability of perpetrators when these acts amount to crimes under international law are needed.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Sweden is committed to raising awareness on IHL and gender in order to improve dissemination if international law. Sida only funds programmes with an integrated gender analysis. Gender-disaggregated data is an assessment criteria, supporting measures strengthening the humanitarian system’s capacity to mainstream gender in humanitarian work. See also 2A, 2B, 2D.

    Keywords

    Gender, Humanitarian principles, IHL compliance and accountability, Protection

  • 2D
    Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

    Individual Commitments (8)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Sweden commits to building a truly coordinated global approach with ambitious commitments to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in crisis contexts through the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies. As Chair of the Call to Action in 2016, Sweden commits to increasing the number of governments and civil society agencies by the end of its leadership term.


    • Policy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to continue cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), for example through financial support to the ICC Trust Fund for Victims.
    • Financial
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    • Sweden commits to continuing to raise awareness on IHL and gender in order to improve dissemination and implementation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.


    • Advocacy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind

    • Sweden commits to continuing to support joint efforts with international and national actors to strengthen responses at national level to investigate and prosecute sexual and gender-based crimes and to enhance access to justice for victims.


    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind

    • Sweden commits to encourage the UN to include gender mainstreaming and measures against gender-based violence in the mandate of UN humanitarian coordinators by 2018.


    • Policy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to promoting improved compliance with IHL in all contexts through support to organizations and professionals in the field working with strengthening respect for IHL and the humanitarian principles and increased focus on developing technical capacity, methods, practical tools and training for local use.
    • Advocacy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Sweden commits to promoting the involvement of men and boys in violence prevention work.
    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Sweden commits to providing significant humanitarian support to organisations with a protection mandate, including to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and to promote integration of protection in all humanitarian sectors.
    • Policy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (4)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Commit to speak out and systematically condemn serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations and abuses of international human rights law and to take concrete steps to ensure accountability of perpetrators when these acts amount to crimes under international law.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Implement a coordinated global approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in crisis contexts, including through the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Fully comply with humanitarian policies, frameworks and legally binding documents related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and women's rights.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability

    Sweden played a leading role in compliance initiatives on a global and European Union (EU) level e.g. partook in the drafting of the first report on the implementation of the EU guidelines on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and took part in the Third Formal Meeting of the Intergovernmental Process on Strengthening Respect for International Humanitarian Law. Sweden expressed its support for the rules-based international system in all its actions, including efforts in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to strengthen the respect for international law and accountability for violations. 

    Sweden is strongly supportive of initiatives with the aim of strengthening accountability for violations of international law in armed conflicts, including in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria. Until the International Criminal Court (ICC) or other international criminal accountability mechanisms have jurisdiction, other options must be explored. Documentation and evidence-gathering, and a continued push for third-country jurisdiction, constitute an important start. Sweden supports the international, impartial and independent mechanism (IIIM) and granted a contribution amounting to € 350,000 in 2017 for its activities.

    Gender-based violence prevention and response

    Sweden has taken a wide range of measures on gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), see commitments 2A, 2C, 2E and 3D. It is central to consider specific humanitarian needs and opportunities when developing a humanitarian response (protection and assistance) for a principled approach.

    Sweden has a specific focus on combating discrimination against women and girls that often results from the marginalisation of and violence against women and girls. Women as actors and the inclusion of men and boys in the prevention of SGBV are key prioritiy.

    Sweden is committed  to continue cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), for example through financial support to the ICC Trust Fund for Victims. Sweden continues to support joint efforts with international and national actors to strengthen responses at national level to investigate and prosecute SGBV crimes and to enhance access to justice for victims.

    Sweden encourages the UN to include gender mainstreaming and measures against GBV in the mandate of UN humanitarian coordinators by 2018.

    Other-2D

    Sweden continues to give its full support to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Sweden tirelessly emphasizes in various international forums the importance of accountability for the preservation of the rules-based international system, and that the international community must continue to support the ICC in its ongoing efforts to end impunity.

    Sweden also advocates for the cooperation between international organizations, civil society and independent accountability mechanisms to prepare the ground for accountability in the future. Sweden actively works with its national proceedings alongside the work of the ICC. A number of individuals have been convicted of war crimes in Swedish courts based on Sweden's application of universal jurisdiction.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-ups with multilateral and bilateral partners.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Challenges related to the Call to Action include:

    • SGBV must be placed high up in hierarchy to be given priority.
    • A challenge has been to broaden the partnership outside of Europe and North America.

    Further challenges lays in the national and regional capacities and political will for implementation of to end impunity for IHL/IHRL violations.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    • Successful implementation of the new strategy on humanitarian assistance.
    • Successful implementation of the new Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (see item 1).
    • Promote more leadership and that more states and organisations must make concrete commitments to end SGBV.
    • Call to Action: Sweden will hand over the leadership to the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and continue to be an active partner in the implementation of the Call to Action.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    See under question 1 on achievements and 4 on actions planned.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See under question 1 on achievements and 4 on actions planned and under commitments 2A, 2C, 2E, 3D and 3F.

    Keywords

    Gender, IHL compliance and accountability

  • 2E
    Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to actively promoting compliance of IHL through dialogue with State Parties and experts and supporting the intergovernmental process as set out in Resolution 2 of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2015.
    • Partnership
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    • Sweden is consistently raising the issues of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and women, peace and security in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to promote compliance.
    • Sweden gives substantial financial support to humanitarian partners like International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) who apply IHL in their daily work.
    • Sweden supports organizations and professionals in the field working to strengthening respect for IHL and the humanitarian principles for the development of technical capacity, methods, practical tools and training for local use.
    • Sweden has continued to raise awareness on IHL and gender in order to improve dissemination and implementation of IHL and international human rights law in international fora.

    The Swedish Strategy for Humanitarian Assistance through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) includes the following language under priority Area 2: "Increased protection for people affected by crises and increased respect for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law. Concrete activities are:

    • Reducing the risk and vulnerability of people affected by crises – particularly those who are the most vulnerable – in the face of threats, abuse and violence.
    • Guaranteeing the dignity and physical safety of people subjected to violence and abuse.
    • Reducing the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence and improve opportunities for providing support to those affected by violence.
    • Improving opportunities for safe and unhindered humanitarian access to people affected by crises.
    • Increasing knowledge about international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow ups with multilateral and bilateral partners,

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Adherence to standards and/or humanitarian principles
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Compliance of IHL/IHRL and humanitarian principles such as safe and unhindered humanitarian access is more challenging in the world today than ever. There is a prompt need for a monitoring mechanism on IHL and supporting international efforts that aim to track and collect data and report violations.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden is committed to actively promote compliance of IHL through dialogue with State Parties and experts and supporting the intergovernmental process as set out in Resolution 2 of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2015.

    Sweden is also committed to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Explore ways and means to establish a compliance mechanism for violations of IHL.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See question 1 as well as commitment 2A, 2B, 2D and 3D.

    Keywords

    Gender, Humanitarian principles, IHL compliance and accountability, Protection

  • 3A
    Reduce and address displacement

    Individual Commitments (6)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to continuing substantial financial support to UNHCR, WFP, UNRWA, OCHA, ICRC and non-governmental organisations meeting the needs of the forcibly displaced.
    • Financial
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to continuing to support durable solutions for refugees, including through a gradual increase of its yearly resettlement quota through UNHCR, from the current level of 1,900 people a year to 5,000 people by the end of 2018.
    • Policy
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to supporting data collection and assessment of needs of urban IDPs/refugees and the impact of displacement on host communities.
    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to supporting durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced populations.
    • Policy
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to supporting innovative approaches for self-reliance of refugees and IDPs through job creation, vocational training and income-generating schemes.
    • Policy
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to supporting longer-term and durable solutions that benefit the displaced and their host communities, including in urban areas.
    • Policy
    • Leave No One Behind

    Core Commitments (5)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new approach to addressing forced displacement that not only meets immediate humanitarian needs but reduces vulnerability and improves the resilience, self-reliance and protection of refugees and IDPs. Commit to implementing this new approach through coherent international, regional and national efforts that recognize both the humanitarian and development challenges of displacement. Commit to take the necessary political, policy, legal and financial steps required to address these challenges for the specific context.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Commit to promote and support safe, dignified and durable solutions for internally displaced persons and refugees. Commit to do so in a coherent and measurable manner through international, regional and national programs and by taking the necessary policy, legal and financial steps required for the specific contexts and in order to work towards a target of 50 percent reduction in internal displacement by 2030.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Acknowledge the global public good provided by countries and communities which are hosting large numbers of refugees. Commit to providing communities with large numbers of displaced population or receiving large numbers of returnees with the necessary political, policy and financial, support to address the humanitarian and socio-economic impact. To this end, commit to strengthen multilateral financing instruments. Commit to foster host communities' self-reliance and resilience, as part of the comprehensive and integrated approach outlined in core commitment 1.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Commit to collectively work towards a Global Compact on responsibility-sharing for refugees to safeguard the rights of refugees, while also effectively and predictably supporting States affected by such movements.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Commit to actively work to uphold the institution of asylum and the principle of non-refoulement. Commit to support further accession to and strengthened implementation of national, regional and international laws and policy frameworks that ensure and improve the protection of refugees and IDPs, such as the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol or the AU Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala convention) or the Guiding Principles on internal displacement.
    • Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Refugees

    Sweden has been actively engaged in the consultations led by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) aimed at developing a Global Compact on Refugees, and also seconded national experts to several Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) roll-out countries.

    The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has strengthened synergies between its humanitarian and development cooperation to ensure both short-term humanitarian assistance as well as support to more long-term solutions strengthening IDPs, refugee and host community self-reliance and resilience. 

    Finally, Sida has increased focus on forced displacement in development cooperation strategies and programmes, such as in Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

    IDPs (due to conflict, violence, and disaster)

    The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has entered a multi-year agreement with the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) to ensure continued internally displaced people (IDP) data collection, including data collection on urban internally displaced persons.

    Sida has also strengthened synergies between its humanitarian and development cooperation to ensure both short-term humanitarian assistance as well as support to more long-term solutions strengthening IDPs, refugee and host community self-reliance and resilience. 

    Finally, Sida has increased focus on forced displacement in development cooperation strategies and programmes, such as in Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-up with multilateral and bilateral partners as well as through being an active partner both in relevant fora (negotiation, political, development). 

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    There is a need for continued improvement of linkages and synergies between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation. Better data collection and assessment of urban IDPs/refugees is required and the impact of displacement on host communities.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden continues to provide substantial financial support to organizations meeting the needs of the forcibly displaced, both unearmarked core support as well as loosely earmarked support at country and regional levels. Sweden will have increased the yearly resettlement quota through UNHCR to 5,000 people per year by the end of 2018. 

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Successful adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees can contribute to making collective progress.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See questions 1 and 4 as well as commitments 4C and 5A. 

    Keywords

    Displacement, Humanitarian-development nexus, Urban

  • 3D
    Empower and protect women and girls

    Individual Commitments (11)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Sweden commits to building a truly coordinated global approach with ambitious commitments to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in crisis contexts through the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies. As Chair of the Call to Action in 2016, Sweden commits to increasing the number of governments and civil society agencies by the end of its leadership term.


    • Policy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to continuing the implementation of targets for the 2030 Agenda on maternal and newborn health and making sure that partners provide maternity care for women in emergencies.
    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Sweden commits to continuing to raise awareness on IHL and gender in order to improve dissemination and implementation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.


    • Advocacy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind

    • Sweden commits to continuing to support joint efforts with international and national actors to strengthen responses at national level to investigate and prosecute sexual and gender-based crimes and to enhance access to justice for victims.


    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to demanding that partners apply the IASC, ECHO or other gender and age markers in all humanitarian operations by 2018 and only funding operations that include a gender perspective.
    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Sweden commits to encourage the UN to include gender mainstreaming and measures against gender-based violence in the mandate of UN humanitarian coordinators by 2018.


    • Policy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to encouraging humanitarian and development organisations to partner and strengthening the capacity of local women's organisations and groups, e.g. through capacity-building and mentoring.
    • Advocacy
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to increasing the number of targeted interventions carried out by partners to meet women's and girls' immediate humanitarian needs by 2018.
    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Sweden commits to only funding humanitarian interventions that explicitly include a gender analysis with sex and age disaggregated data by 2018, and supporting the humanitarian system's capacity to ensure that women's and girls' human rights and empowerment are integrated in the humanitarian response.
    • Financial
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Sweden commits to strengthening conflict prevention and sustainable peace by supporting local, regional and international networks of women mediators.


    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Leave No One Behind

    • Sweden commits to strengthening the influence and meaningful participation of women and young people in peace-building according to UN Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, as well as UN Security Council resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security.


    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Leave No One Behind

    Core Commitments (4)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Empower Women and Girls as change agents and leaders, including by increasing support for local women's groups to participate meaningfully in humanitarian action.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the Outcome documents of their review conferences for all women and adolescent girls in crisis settings.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Ensure that humanitarian programming is gender responsive.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Fully comply with humanitarian policies, frameworks and legally binding documents related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and women's rights.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Sweden is committed to strengthening the influence and meaningful participation of women and youth in peace-building according to UN Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security as well as UN Security Council resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security.

    • Sweden has since 2015 a woman mediation network that builds upon the ongoing work to empower women as peace makers, where the goal is not only to strengthen national capabilities, but also more importantly to encourage and create cooperative networks with women peace builders and mediators across the globe.
    • The informal experts group on country situations through the lens of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) has established itself as a place where important information is being shared and discussed ahead of Council meetings.
    • Several briefers from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been invited to inform the Security Council, adding valuable information on women’s situations and rights.
    • Mission mandates increasingly reflect the Women, Peace and Security agenda throughout the different aspects of the mandates.
    • A new standard has been set with all UNSC Presidential Statements on crisis situations in 2017 including reflections on women’s situations.

    See also 1D, 2D and 3F.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-up with multilateral, multi-stakeholder and bilateral partners. Further, as a non-permanent member of the Security council 2017-2018 Sweden has in 2017 actively promoted the WPS-agenda which has led to a number of achievements (see 1D).

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Field conditions, including insecurity and access
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The WPS-agenda and women’s effective participation in peace negotiations/political processes is a key priority for Sweden. Without equal and meaningful participation, the work to peaceful societies will be fragile and risk to further inequality. Sweden is committed to encourage humanitarian and development organisations to partner with and strengthen the capacity of local women's organisations. 

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden is committed to encouraging the UN to include gender mainstreaming and measures against gender-based violence (GBV) in the mandate of UN humanitarian coordinators by 2018. As a non-permanent member of the Security council 2017-2018 Sweden will continue to actively promote the WPS-agenda with the achievements mentioned in question 1.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    More counties need to prioritise and take meaningful action on these issues, develop methods where needed and make use of the available mechanisms and competencies that already exist, as well as fully comply with humanitarian policies, frameworks and legally binding documents related to gender equality 

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    The Nordic Women Mediators network cooperation with other regional mediation networks and local peacebuilders build upon the ongoing work to empower women as peace makers. See also commitments 1D, 2D and 3F. 

    Keywords

    Gender, Youth

  • 3F
    Enable adolescents and young people to be agents of positive transformation

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Sweden commits to strengthening the influence and meaningful participation of women and young people in peace-building according to UN Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, as well as UN Security Council resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security.


    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    • Sweden adopted a Strategy for Sustainable Peace 2017–2022  where one priority is national and local support during critical stages of prevention of armed conflicts and in peacebuilding and statebuilding processes, including in forgotten and protracted conflicts as well as strengthened participation of young people and other key stakeholders during critical stages of national and local dialogue and peace processes and reconciliation.
    • Sweden (through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida) is supporting youth organizations' activities related to peace building and conflict management.
    • The Swedish agency Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) was given an assignment by the Swedish Government to analyze opportunities for implementing resolution 2250. The report was presented to the Government on 29 September 2017.
    • Sweden, through FBA, has a specific funding envelope since 2016 to support projects targeting youth and youth organisations focusing on disarmament, security policy, peacebuilding, conflict management and conflict prevention.
    • Sweden's engagement in the UN Security Council is progressing successfully (see information under 1D).
    • Regarding to UN Security Council resolution 2250, Sweden is in the process of exploring approaches, strategies and priorities for successful engagement. The report from FBA will serve as an important tool for strategizing Swedish engagement in youth, peace and security, based on ongoing activities supported through Sida and FBA.

    See also https://fba.se/en/newspress/nyhetsarkiv/2017/youth-engaged-to-foster-peace/

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-up with multilateral and bilateral partners.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    See information under commitments 1D and 3D. 

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    • Ensuring synergies between UN Security Council resolution 1325, resolution 2250 and the Sustaining Peace Agenda.
    • The initiated process of implementation of the recommendation of the FBA report on resolution 2250 will serve as an important tool for strategizing Swedish engagement in youth, peace and security, based on ongoing activities supported through Sida and FBA. 
       

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Directed and committed efforts from the international community to ensure the effective and meaningful participation of youth in peacebuilding on a local, national and international level by strengthening the influence of women and youth according to the UN Security Council resolutions on Women Peace and Security as well as Youth, Peace and Security. 

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    The Swedish government commissioned FBA to analyse how Sweden best could implement Resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security. The recommendations were presented during the autumn 2017. Youth are also included in the new Strategy for Sustainable peace 2017-2022, covering funds allocated in the directions of SIDA and FBA.

    Keywords

    Local action, Youth

  • 4A
    Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems

    Individual Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to encourage humanitarian partners by 2017 to equally consider cash along with other modalities throughout humanitarian response, particularly multi-purpose cash wherever relevant and appropriate.
    • Advocacy
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Sweden commits to taking a more joint and systematic approach to risk and resilience through joint analysis, common planning and more flexible development support towards reducing risks and building resilience at local, national and global levels, including risk-sensitive social protection systems and risk insurance.
    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Core Commitments (6)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to reinforce national and local leadership and capacities in managing disaster and climate-related risks through strengthened preparedness and predictable response and recovery arrangements.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to increase investment in building community resilience as a critical first line of response, with the full and effective participation of women.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to ensure regional and global humanitarian assistance for natural disasters complements national and local efforts.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to increase substantially and diversify global support and share of resources for humanitarian assistance aimed to address the differentiated needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises in fragile situations and complex emergencies, including increasing cash-based programming in situations where relevant.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to empower national and local humanitarian action by increasing the share of financing accessible to local and national humanitarian actors and supporting the enhancement of their national delivery systems, capacities and preparedness planning.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Strengthening national/local leadership and systems

    Sweden is committed to reinforce national and local leadership and capacities in managing disaster and climate-related risks through strengthened preparedness and predictable response and recovery arrangements. Sweden therefore (through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida) has supported its United Nations (UN) and international non-governmental organizations (INGO) partners in capacity strengthening and cooperation with national actors.

    Cash-based programming

    • Sweden's strategy for humanitarian assistance stipulates that Sida should encourage partners to consider cash-based support when relevant and appropriate.
    • Sweden promotes increased use of cash programming, in dialogue with partners and through flexible funding.
    • Sweden has initiated dialogue with partners on capacity for cash programming and to systematically distinguish between cash and vouchers.
    • Sida is conducting a study to gain further knowledge on partners’ capacity to assess optimal aid modality, including cash, through response analysis.
    • Sweden is supporting cash research, enhanced coordination of cash and development of guidelines and standards.

    Building community resilience

    Sweden is committed to taking a more joint and systematic approach to risk and resilience through joint analysis, common planning and more flexible development support towards reducing risks and building resilience at local, national and global levels, including risk-sensitive social protection systems and risk insurance.

    To this end, Sida has, to meet immediate humanitarian needs and at the same time reduce risk and vulnerability and strengthen resilience, developed a model jointly applied by its humanitarian and development cooperation. This includes:

    1. Common analysis, planning and programming based on context specific risks and vulnerabilities.
    2. Increased flexible, innovative and complementary development funding for the most vulnerable people, focusing on underlying causes of crises and vulnerability.
    3. Promotion of increased dialogue and coordination on risk, resilience and synergies between humanitarian and development cooperation.

    Further, Sida has initiated specific development funding window for resilience programming in the Horn of Africa.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-up with multilateral, multi-stakeholder and bilateral partners. See Sweden's reporting to Grand Bargain for more information.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The ambition is to increase the use of cash-based programming while taking into account risks linked to: 

    • Gender analysis and gender mainstreaming.
    • Protection.
    • Cash as a modality is not appropriate to meet all needs.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden will:

    • In dialogue with partners focus on quality outcome, coordination, delivery, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms as well as reporting on cash transfers, including to distinguish between cash and vouchers.
    • Identify a number of contexts suitable for scale-up of cash, in particular multi-purpose cash.
    • Link humanitarian cash to development approaches, such as in social protection programmes.
       

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Continued commitment to i.a. the Grand Bargain and the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) agenda, including to reinforce national and local leadership, upholding humanitarian principles, increase and diversify support and investment in community resilience. 

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See under question 1 and commitment 3D as well as Sweden's reporting to Grand Bargain. 

    Keywords

    Cash, Community resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction, Local action

  • 4B
    Anticipate, do not wait, for crises

    Individual Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Sweden commits to investing in developing capacity for analysis of risk and vulnerability in national systems.


    • Capacity
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity

    • Sweden commits to supporting global actors such as the World Bank Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) as key actors for implementing the Sendai Framework.


    • Policy
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity

    • Sweden commits to supporting risk reduction and resilience-building efforts at national and local levels from development budgets with support from the humanitarian side.


    • Financial
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity

    Core Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to accelerate the reduction of disaster and climate-related risks through the coherent implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, as well as other relevant strategies and programs of action, including the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to improve the understanding, anticipation and preparedness for disaster and climate-related risks by investing in data, analysis and early warning, and developing evidence-based decision-making processes that result in early action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    • Sweden has, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), continued to support the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) in 2017.
    • Sweden is providing core support to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) (amounting to SEK 15 million in 2017 and SEK 40 million in 2018).
    • Sweden chaired the Friends of ISDR (Geneva based) in 2017.
    • Sweden has through Sida successfully piloted the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD's) Resilience System Analysis (RSA) in 2016-2017. See commitment 4C and Sweden's Grand Bargain Report. 
    • The new Swedish bilateral development strategies, for example to Iraq and Sudan, have increased focus on risk and resilience and the humanitarian and development nexus.
    • Sweden, through Sida, has worked more systematically to increase risk and resilience in development cooperation and strengthen synergies between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation in order to reduce future humanitarian needs. 1) strengthen common analysis, based on risk and vulnerability, 2) increase focus on resilience and synergies in Sweden's development strategies, 3) increase flexible, innovative and effective development funding and 4) strengthen dialogue and coordination between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is measured through bilateral and multilateral strategic dialogue, annual reports on Sweden's humanitarian strategy and Sweden's development strategies as well as through core funding reports from United Nations (UN) agencies, strategic international non-governmental organizations (INGO) partners, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (ICRC/IFRC).

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Without strengthened joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning and funding projects that are aimed at supporting risk reduction and resilience-building efforts at national and local levels will be hampered.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden will during the next two years continue to strengthen further the common analysis, based on risk and vulnerability, increase focus on resilience and synergies in Sweden's development strategies and strengthen dialogue and coordination between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Further highlighting and improve the understanding, anticipation and  preparedness for disaster and climate-related risks. Solve the financing issue for humanitarian-development projects with focus on resilience.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Sida has identified a three pillar-approach to systematize the work on risk, resilience and strengthened synergies between humanitarian and development assistance. See also commitment 4C and 5B as well as Sweden's Grand Bargain Report.

    Keywords

    Community resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction, Humanitarian-development nexus

  • 4C
    Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides

    Individual Commitments (4)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to actively exploring ways to transcend the humanitarian-development divide, by supporting information sharing, common needs analysis and the achievement of collective outcomes over multiple years.
    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Sweden commits to increasing synergies between the humanitarian and development sectors through a joint and systematic approach to risk, resilience and protracted needs at local, national and global levels.
    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Sweden commits to strengthening the humanitarian system's capacity to plan and allocate resources based on coordinated and impartial multi-sector needs assessments and analysis.
    • Capacity
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Sweden commits to supporting the UN RC/HCs' leadership on the coordination of international engagement and mobilising resources to support the delivery of collective outcomes.
    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis and planning towards collective outcomes

    • Sweden is committed to supporting the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator's (RC/HC) leadership on the coordination of international engagement and mobilising resources to support the delivery of collective outcomes.
    • To meet immediate humanitarian needs and at the same time reduce risk and vulnerability and strengthen resilience the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) had developed a model jointly applied by its humanitarian and development cooperation including 1) common analysis, planning and programming based on context specific risks and vulnerabilities, increased flexible, 2) innovative and complementary development funding for the most vulnerable people, focusing on underlying causes of crises and vulnerability, and 3) promotion of increased dialogue and coordination on risk, resilience and synergies between humanitarian and development cooperation.
    • Sida continues to integrate risk and resilience in Sida strategy processes based on experienced with implementing the Resilience Systems Analysis (RSA).

    Other-4C

    • Sweden has provided support for One UN Funds or multi-partner trust funds in support of collective outcomes in several countries.
    • During alarms of famine in 2017 Sweden acted proactively with diplomatic, development and humanitarian support.
    • Country strategies for development cooperation includes reference to explore opportunities to strengthen the linkage between humanitarian and development cooperation support.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-up with multilateral, multi-stakeholder and bilateral partners.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Stronger links between the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs) and Human resource plans (HRPs) are key to success while at the same time safeguarding humanitarian principles and humanitarian space.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden is committed to actively exploring ways to transcend the humanitarian-development divide, by supporting information sharing, common needs analysis and the achievement of collective outcomes over multiple years. For the coming year, Sweden will:

    • Incentivize increased cooperation between humanitarian and development initiatives.
    • Further analyse possibilities to fund humanitarian-development projects.
    • Further include investments in women’s and girls’ empowerment and capacity in all stages of conflict and crisis.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    To make collective progress, there need to be an increased focus on, i.a.

    • Resilience and risk by investing in risk-informed analyses and programming.
    • Tackling the underlying drivers of risks, crises and vulnerability as well as prevention, early action and durable solutions to recurrent and protracted crises. 
       

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Sweden, through Sida, has identified a three pillar-approach to systematize the work on risk, resilience and strengthened synergies between humanitarian and development assistance. For examples of progress within the pillars see Sweden's Grand Bargain report as well as commitment 4B and 5D.

    Keywords

    Community resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction, Humanitarian-development nexus

  • 5A
    Invest in local capacities

    Individual Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden aims to provide at least 15 percent of Swedish funding for humanitarian response plans through country-based pooled funds, where such funds exist and function efficiently, in line with the target of the UN Secretary-General.
    • Financial
    • Invest in Humanity
    • Sweden commits to increase the share of Sida's humanitarian support which is channeled to local organizations and first responders, including through support to UN country-based pooled funds.
    • Financial
    • Invest in Humanity

    • Sweden commits to investing in developing capacity for analysis of risk and vulnerability in national systems.


    • Capacity
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to empower national and local humanitarian action by increasing the share of financing accessible to local and national humanitarian actors and supporting the enhancement of their national delivery systems, capacities and preparedness planning.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Country-based pooled funds

    Sweden (through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida) is the second largest donor to country-based pooled funds (CBPF) which channels 24% on average in 2017 to local organisations in major humanitarian crises. Some CBPFs such as Pakistan, Lebanon and Turkey allocated a majority of funds through local organisations.

    Sweden is also among the largest donors to the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. A large part of the support to the Swedish Red Cross is channeled to national Red Cross/Red Crescent national societies, including capacity-strengthening components of the national societies on crisis preparedness.

    Direct funding to national/local actors

    At least 12 percent of Sweden’s humanitarian aid, through Sida, is estimated to be allocated to local actors (2017). This includes financing through joint funds and traceable financial flows from Sida’s partners to local organisations.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-up with multilateral and bilateral partners. “Localization” is included in the strategy for humanitarian assistance provided through Sida; the strategy has four focus areas, one of them being “Enhance the influence of crisis affected people and improve the interaction with local organisations”.

    . 

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Please see Sweden's Grand Bargain report.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Please see Sweden's Grand Bargain report.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Please see Sweden's Grand Bargain report.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Please see question 1, commitment 4A as well as Sweden's Grand Bargain report.

    Keywords

    Country-based pooled funds, Local action

  • 5B
    Invest according to risk

    Individual Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to expanding from development budgets preventative and risk-driven public-private partnerships such as through risk insurance and social protection.
    • Financial
    • Invest in Humanity

    • Sweden commits to supporting global actors such as the World Bank Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) as key actors for implementing the Sendai Framework.


    • Policy
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity

    • Sweden commits to supporting risk reduction and resilience-building efforts at national and local levels from development budgets with support from the humanitarian side.


    • Financial
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to accelerate the reduction of disaster and climate-related risks through the coherent implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, as well as other relevant strategies and programs of action, including the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to invest in risk management, preparedness and crisis prevention capacity to build the resilience of vulnerable and affected people.
    • Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    • Continued support to the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN ISDR) (SEK 15 million in 2017).
    • Chair of Friends of ISDR (Geneva based).
    • The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has during the last years worked more systematically to increase risk and resilience in development cooperation and strengthen synergies between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation in order to reduce future humanitarian needs.
    • Since 2016 Sida has promoted a four-pronged approach to 1) strengthen common analysis, based on risk and vulnerability, 2) increase focus on resilience and synergies in Sida’s development strategies, 3) increase flexible, innovative ad effective development funding and 4) strengthen dialogue and coordination between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation.
    • Scaling up social protection has been identified by Sida as one of the core avenues to enhance resilience of vulnerable populations. Sida development cooperation has supported the strengthening of social protection systems and its link to humanitarian assistance in contexts with large humanitarian needs such as Ethiopia.

    See also commitment 4B and 4C as well as Sweden Grand Bargain report. 

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is measured through bilateral and multilateral strategic dialogue, annual reports on Sweden's humanitarian strategy and Sweden's development strategies as well as through core funding reports from United Nations (UN) agencies, strategic international non-governmental organizations (INGO) partners, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (ICRC/IFRC).

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Information management/tools
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Challenges persist in terms of improved synergies between humanitarian and development actors. Principles, culture and ways of working can vary. Key to addressing this challenge is joint analysis and joint planning between humanitarian and development actors.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden will continue to further strengthen common analysis, based on risk and vulnerability, increase focus on resilience and synergies in Sida’s development strategies, and strengthen dialogue and coordination between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation. That common analysis should then be clearly reflected in both the Humanitarian Crises Analysis as well as in development strategies.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    See commitment 4B and Sweden's Grand Bargain report.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See commitment 4B and Sweden's Grand Bargain report.

    Keywords

    Community resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction

  • 5C
    Invest in stability

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to supporting the implementation of the new UN peacebuilding agenda and the new concept "sustaining peace" in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2282 and UN General Assembly Resolution 70/262, including increased focus on conflict prevention, an enhanced role for the UN Peacebuilding commission, and helping to mobilize resources for the UN Peacebuilding Fund.
    • Operational
    • Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    • Sweden is one of the top donors to the United Nations (UN) Peacebuilding Fund.
    • Sweden's membership in the UN Security Council is giving priority to contributing to a relevant and effective peacebuilding architecture within the UN.
    • When chairing the UN Security Council in January 2017, Sweden gave priority to organizing an open debate on sustaining peace with the new UN Secretary-General.
    • Sweden continues to be one of the major donors of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other funds and programmes with a key mandate for taking the sustaining peace agenda to the operational level.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is assessed by regular follow-up with multilateral and bilateral partners. An important process is the UN Secretary-General's report on Sustaining Peace which follow up the implementation of the work within the UN. Other important reports are the annual report from Sida and the Folke Bernadotte Academy.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Challenges include how to move from agreements on the policy level to reform of organizations, developing new methods of working and strengthening joint coordinated efforts.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    • Sweden gives priority to sustaining peace during its membership of the UN Security Council from 2017-2018.
    • Sweden to supports peacebuilding and conflict prevention activities and will to be engaged in international dialogue on implementing the sustain peace agenda, strengthening efforts of international support to conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
    • Sweden will e.g. host the Stockholm Forum in May focusing on sustaining peace, aiming to contribute to increase concretization of peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    See commitment 1B and 1C.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See commitment 1B and 1C.

  • 5D
    Finance outcomes, not fragmentation: shift from funding to financing

    Individual Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to consistently meeting the target of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing to provide at least 30 percent of funding to humanitarian UN agencies in the form of non-earmarked, core contributions.
    • Financial
    • Invest in Humanity
    • Sweden commits to increase multi-year humanitarian financing based on multi-year plans.
    • Policy
    • Invest in Humanity

    Core Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to enable coherent financing that avoids fragmentation by supporting collective outcomes over multiple years, supporting those with demonstrated comparative advantage to deliver in context.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to promote and increase predictable, multi-year, unearmarked, collaborative and flexible humanitarian funding toward greater efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of humanitarian action for affected people.
    • Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to broaden and adapt the global instruments and approaches to meet urgent needs, reduce risk and vulnerability and increase resilience, without adverse impact on humanitarian principles and overall action (as also proposed in Round Table on "Changing Lives").
    • Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Sweden firmly believes in the efficiency of flexible humanitarian financing given that it allows for a need-based approach and caters for needs both in forgotten and protracted crises.

    • Sweden’s commitment to flexible financing and pooled funding, is illustrated by substantial support to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), increasing global core funding to United Nations (UN) humanitarian agencies as well increased funding to Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs).
    • Sweden has participated actively in the CERF Advisory Group and the CBPF working group with the aim to enable coherent financing avoiding fragmentation.
    • Sweden has co-convened the Grand Bargain work stream on reduced earmarking together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with the aim to push for changed donor behaviour towards less earmarking.
    • Sweden has taken policy decision to sign 4-year agreements with four core support partners (the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and CERF).
    • Continued substantial core support to UN Agencies, ICRC, and the CERF and country-based pooled funds. (See Grand Bargain report section 8 for more details).
    • Multi-year funding is included in Sida´s humanitarian strategy as an important part of a flexible and effective humanitarian response. A small proportion of Sida´s humanitarian budget was set aside (2017) in the allocation process for 2017 to finance strategic multi-year programmes from 2017–2019 in protracted crises.
    • For ICRC and UN partners, Sida uses the organizations' appeals as a basis for Sida's allocation (i.e. no additional project proposals are needed); the organizations' global reports are used for reporting.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    • Through multi-stakeholder processes or initiatives (e.g. IASC, Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, etc).
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    The Grand Bargain self reports as well as the Grand Bargain synthesis report are key vehicles for measuring progress as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee's (OECD-DAC's) regular peer reviews.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Buy-in
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    • Other: Lack of political will.
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Lack of political will and institutional/internal constraints are key obstacles. Agencies must become better at making the case that core funding and other flexible funding approaches enable more principled and effective and efficient humanitarian assistance.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Sweden together with ICRC as co-conveners of work stream 8 will continue to push for reduced earmarking.

    2017-2018 Sida increased support to multi-year projects, 22 multi-year projects were funded in early 2018, to enable partners with a multi-year programming to work to strengthening beneficiary self-reliance and reduce dependency on short-term humanitarian aid.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    • Key with clear evidence and stronger advocacy from implementing agencies of how un-earmarked funding is both more principled, not least needs-based, and cost-effective.
    • Clearer link between un-earmarked contributions and humanitarian results.
    • A clear and transparent allocation process contributes to trust.
    • Increasing data collection.
    • Reduced earmarking should be unpacked along the “transaction chain".

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See Grand Bargain Report on work stream 8.

  • 5E
    Diversify the resource base and increase cost-efficiency

    Individual Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Sweden commits to actively support initiatives to increase the transparency of humanitarian financing flows at all levels.
    • Operational
    • Invest in Humanity
    • Sweden commits to continuing to provide significant support to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), and advocating for CERF vis-a -vis other donors, to help meet the target of the UN Secretary-General to expand CERF to US$ 1 billion by 2018.
    • Financial
    • Invest in Humanity
    • Sweden commits to working with other donors and partners to simplify and harmonise donor reporting requirements.
    • Policy
    • Invest in Humanity

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to increase substantially and diversify global support and share of resources for humanitarian assistance aimed to address the differentiated needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises in fragile situations and complex emergencies, including increasing cash-based programming in situations where relevant.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to promote and increase predictable, multi-year, unearmarked, collaborative and flexible humanitarian funding toward greater efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of humanitarian action for affected people.
    • Invest in Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    • Sweden has a long-standing position as a top donor to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and has continued with a substantial contribution in 2017.
    • Sweden has advocated actively for reaching the USD 1 billion target of the CERF; in the donor community, in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) (through including this target as well as the Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPF) target in the UNGA humanitarian omnibus resolution).
    • At humanitarian donor conferences, Sweden has actively advocated for quality of funding in terms of pooled flexible funding modalities as the CERF and CBPF.
    • Sweden’s allocation is based on the UN/ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) appeals/report (using the agencies’ own format).
    • Sweden (through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida) generally approves non-governmental organization (NGO) partners “applications for proposals” and reporting using their own format.
    • Sida usually signs global agreements allocation (and also for the CBPFs), to reduce management costs and increase efficiency.
    • Sweden contributed to the development of a standard format for reporting for CBPF.
    • In terms of transparency, the web portal openaid.se provides all information on Sida funding. Sida is now using the updated IATI standard to improve timeliness and harmonization.
    • Sweden keeps close track of the Financing Tracking System (FTS) to ensure correct funding flows.

    See Sweden's Grand Bargain report as well as commitment 4C and 5D for more information.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Multi-stakeholder processes and initiatives are obviously key to success for change in the direction of the transformation.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Buy-in
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The lack of political will as well as institutional constraints coupled with funding modalities such as earmarking hampers change to diversify resources and cost-efficiency.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    See question 1, Sweden's Grand Bargain report as well as commitment 4C and 5D

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    See Sweden's Grand Bargain report as well as commitment 4C and 5D.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    See Sweden's Grand Bargain report as well as commitment 4C and 5D and a description of Sida's work in the humanitarian field https://www.sida.se/English/how-we-work/our-fields-of-work/humanitarian-aid1/

     

    Keywords

    Country-based pooled funds, Transparency / IATI

Attachments

  • WHS Commitments Attachments
    Transformation - 1D | Gender, People-centred approach, Protection, Youth