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Self Report 2017

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 Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Since the number of violent conflicts in the world is increasing with humanitarian crises as a consequence there is a need to focus more efforts towards early warning, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. Sweden is member of the UN Security Council 2017-2019 and conflict prevention and peacebuilding is a Swedish priority both within the work of the UN Security Council and as co-chair of the International Dialogue on peace-building and state-building. Conflict prevention is furthermore a long standing priority within Swedish foreign policy and its development cooperation.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - 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-building and State-building the Stockholm Declaration was adopted in April 2016.
    - Sweden supports efforts to create mechanisms at the country level for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, sustaining peace and the New Deal.
    - Sweden has adopted a third National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security Resolutions 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 peacebuilding processes. Continued effort in integrating a conflict perspective in Swedish development cooperation enables a more preventive approach to conflict.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Progress is assessed by regular follow ups with multilateral and bilateral partners. An important process is the UN Secretary-General's report on Sustaining Peace which will follow up the implementation of the work within the UN. Other important reports in the Swedish system are annual reports from Sida and the Folke Bernadotte Academy on how they contribute to conflict prevention.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

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

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Sweden will continue to support early warning, peace-building and conflict prevention activities and will also continue to be engaged in international dialogue on implementing the sustain peace agenda and strengthening efforts of international support to conflict prevention and peace building.

    Sweden will host the Stockholm Forum in May 2017 focusing on "Sustaining Peace – What Works?", which aims to contribute to increase concretization of peacebuilding, early warning and conflict prevention.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Act early', what would it be

    - Stronger national and regional capacities for early warning and conflict prevention.
    - Mainstreaming of conflict prevention and capacity for early action into UNDAFs and World Bank's country strategies.
    - Stronger synergies between UN DPA and UNCTs.

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1C - Remain engaged and invest in stability

1C
Remain engaged and invest in stability

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Since the number of violent conflicts in the world is increasing, with humanitarian crises as a consequence, there is a need to focus more efforts towards early warning, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. Sweden is a member of the UN Security Council 2017-2019 and conflict prevention and peace building are a Swedish priority both within the work of the UN Security Council and as co-chair of the International Dialogue on peace-building and state-building. Conflict prevention is furthermore a long standing priority within Swedish foreign policy and its development cooperation.

  • Achievements at a glance

    For achievements, please also see the information presented under 1B.

    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 AU. This contributed to create mechanisms at the country level for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG-16 and the New Deal.

    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 will be 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. Sweden, through Sida, has elaborated concrete tools on how to integrate a conflict perspective in practice when assessing and monitoring agencies /programmes funded by Sweden.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    - Strategic dialogue with UN funds, programmes and agencies.
    - Membership within the UN Security Council 2017-2018.
    - Please also see the information presented under 1B.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Please see the information presented under 1B.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Please see the information presented under 1B.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Remain engaged and invest in stability', what would it be

    Please see the information presented under 1B.

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1B - Act early ☑ 5C - Invest in stability

1D
Develop solutions with and for people

Individual Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    UN Security Council resolution 1325 and its 7 subsequent resolutions establish that women’s participation – in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts, and in peacebuilding and post conflict reconstruction efforts – is a prerequisite for attaining sustainable peace and security. The resolutions highlight the necessity of taking account of different needs and perspectives of women, men, girls and boys and to protect women and girls from violence and the impact of conflicts more effectively. The resolutions condemn conflict-related sexual violence and emphasize the responsibility of Member States to combat impunity for such violence. The resolutions confirm that gender equality is key for building peaceful communities.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - 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 peacebuilding processes. The network is meeting regularly.
    - Women, Peace and Security is a key priority in Sweden's membership of the UN Security Council 2017-2018.
    - Sweden is implementing its new (2016) National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security with the key purpose to strengthen women as actors for peace and security.The action plan is based on conditions in countries affected by conflict, through consultations in five conflict countries. The action plan identifies twelve priority countries, enabling context-specific activities and strong partnerships. The thematic focus is women's influence and meaningful participation in peace processes, conflict prevention, better protection from violence and integrating a gender perspective into all work for peace and security.
    For more information, please see: https://www.government.se/reports/2016/05/swedens-national-action-plan-for-the-implementation-of-the-united-nations-security-councils-resolutions-on-women-peace-and-security/

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Sweden's feminist foreign policy and the new action plan provides important vehicles for pushing the agenda of Women, Peace and Security.

    On youth please see the information included under 3F.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Political leadership and funding. For more information, please see:
    https://www.government.se/reports/2016/05/swedens-national-action-plan-for-the-implementation-of-the-united-nations-security-councils-resolutions-on-women-peace-and-security/

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Sweden’s feminist foreign policy has a clear focus on supporting women as actors for peace and security. The influence and meaningful participation of women in peace and security is both about rights and effectiveness. Sweden’s National Action Plan – for the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security – is an agenda for change. To promote change - courage, perseverance and political will are prerequisites. Sweden has clear political leadership to further the women, peace and security agenda. The focus is on implementation and achieving tangible change in cooperation with partners, nationally and globally.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability ☑ 3D - Empower and protect women and girls

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

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Sweden has longstanding engagement in upholding the norms that safeguard humanity, IHL and humanitarian principles as a central part of humanitarian policy. Sweden acknowledges the importance for principled humanitarian action and leads by example.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Please also see information in sections 2C, 2D, 2E of this report.

    The policy framework for Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian assistance (adopted in December 2016) reiterates that IHL is one of the central priority areas for Swedish humanitarian assistance.

    In the strategy for Sweden’s humanitarian aid provided through Sida 2017-2020, goal area 2 concerns “Increased protection for people affected by crisis and increased respect for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law relating to several of the above commitments. The implementation of the strategy is expected to further advance IHL and the norms that safeguard humanity.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    - Sweden is consistently raising the issues of IHL at the UN Security Council to promote improved compliance.
    - Sweden gives substantial financial support to humanitarian partners like ICRC and UNHCR who apply IHL in their daily work.
    - 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.

    Please also see information in sections 2C, 2D, 2E of this report.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Compliance of IHL and safe and unhindered humanitarian access is more challenging in the world today than ever. 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. 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 is crucial. Please also see information in sections 2C, 2D, 2E of this report.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    In addition to implementing the new humanitarian strategy and continuing to be a strong voice for IHL in the UN Security Council, Sweden will take further steps in promoting compliance of IHL, such as by continuing to support efforts to report violations of IHL, establishing a follow up mechanism on IHL, and promoting principled humanitarian operations in areas controlled by non-state armed groups.

    Please also see information in sections 2C, 2D, 2E of this report.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Humanitarian principles

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2C - Speak out on violations ☑ 2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability ☑ 2E - Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity

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

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Protection of civilians is at the heart of the humanitarian imperative in line with IHL and it was deemed central to continue to put this at the centre for Sweden's new strategy for humanitarian assistance, not least because approximately 80% of today's humanitarian assistance goes to contexts marked by violent conflicts.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Sweden's new strategy for humanitarian assistance through Sida emphasizes focus on protection of civilians: "Area 2: Increased protection for people affected by crises and increased respect for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law. Increased respect for, and compliance with, humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law are an important prerequisite for being able to effectively reach and protect people affected by crises". In its activities, Sida is helps to:
    - reduce 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 affected by crises; and
    - increase knowledge about international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    No doubt, protection of civilians remains a key challenge for the humanitarian system currently, not least in Syria and Yemen. See also 2A.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Please see information under 2A, 2C, 2D of this report.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    As a UN Security Council member 2017-2018, Sweden will continue to make sure that protection of civilians is included in the Council's formal and informal deliberations.

    Sweden will continue to fund agencies with clear protection mandate, through core support and country level support.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender ☑ Humanitarian principles

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2A - Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities ☑ 2C - Speak out on violations ☑ 2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

2C
Speak out on violations

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Sweden has longstanding engagement in upholding the norms that safeguard humanity, IHL and humanitarian principles as a central part of humanitarian policy. Sweden acknowledges the importance for principled humanitarian action and leads by example.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Please also see information contained in 2A, 2B, 2D of this report.

    The policy framework for Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian assistance 2016 reiterates that IHL is one of the central priority areas for Swedish humanitarian assistance.

    In the strategy for Sweden’s humanitarian aid provided through Sida 2017-2020, Goal 2 concerns “Increased protection for people affected by crisis and increased respect for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law”. The implementation of the strategy is expected to further advance IHL and the norms that safeguard humanity.

    Sweden has in 2017 provided financial support to the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011, established through a UN General Assembly resolution. This mechanism is mandated to collect and analyze evidence of mass atrocities and human rights violations in Syria with the aim of facilitating future international criminal proceedings.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Humanitarian principles

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2A - Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities ☑ 2B - Ensure full access to and protection of the humanitarian and medical missions ☑ 2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

2D
Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Women’s, men’s, girls’ and boys’ specific humanitarian needs and opportunities vary and it's central to consider these when developing a humanitarian response (protection and assistance) for a principled approach. A gender equality perspective will guarantee that women’s, men’s, girls’ and boys’ specific humanitarian needs and opportunities for taking action are met and taken into account in activities. 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 priorities.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Sweden’s humanitarian support is based on an integrated gender perspective. Sweden’s objective is that all actors in humanitarian emergencies will take measures to integrate a gender perspective in their work and to prevent and eliminate SGBV. In line with Sweden’s recently approved strategy for humanitarian assistance through Sida 2017-2020, gender equality should be systematically integrated into humanitarian activities. In the new strategy, 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". Sida only funds programmes based on an integrated gender equality analysis. Sida supports measures strengthening the humanitarian system’s capacity to mainstream gender equality in humanitarian work. Gender-disaggregated data is an assessment criteria for Sida. Sweden, through Sida, continue to fund the ICC Trust Fund.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    When the UK and Sweden held the first Call to Action event in 2013, there were 13 State and donor signatories to the communique. We are now 66 States and organisations that form the Call to Action. In 2016, Sweden welcomed 17 States and organisations that became new partners to the initiative.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    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.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - Successful implementation of the new strategy on humanitarian assistance.
    - Successful implementation of the new Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (see above).
    - Promote more leadership and that more states and organisations must make concrete commitments to end SGBV.
    - Call to Action: Sweden will in 2017 handover the leadership to ECHO and continue to be an active partner in the implementation of the Call to Action.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑3D - Empower and protect women and girls

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

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Sweden has longstanding engagement in upholding the norms that safeguard humanity, IHL and humanitarian principles as a central part of humanitarian policy. Sweden acknowledges the importance for principled humanitarian action and leads by example.

  • Achievements at a glance

    The new Swedish Strategy for Humanitarian Assistance through 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. Increased respect for, and compliance with, humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law are an important prerequisite for being able to effectively reach and protect people affected by crises." Concrete activities are:
    - reduce 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 affected by crises; and
    - increase knowledge about international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    - Sweden is consistently raising the issues of IHL in the Security Council to promote improved compliance.
    - Sweden gives substantial financial support to humanitarian partners like ICRC and 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 dialogue.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Compliance of IHL and safe and unhindered humanitarian access is more challenging in the world today than ever. 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 violations of IHL. 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 is crucial.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    During Sweden's membership on the UN Security Council, IHL will continue to be placed at the fore when discussing complex emergencies.

    Sida will place protection at the fore and work to integrate protection in the implementation of its humanitarian aid. Women, girls, men and boys are to be involved in efforts to prevent sexual and gender-based violence. The development of methods and tools can be included to increase the impact of activities that contribute to increased compliance with and respect for humanitarian law and principles.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender ☑ Humanitarian principles

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2A - Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities ☑ 2B - Ensure full access to and protection of the humanitarian and medical missions ☑ 2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability ☑ 3D - Empower and protect women and girls

3A
Reduce and address displacement

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Sweden has a longstanding engagement in addressing forced displacement and the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. Equally, durable solutions are high on the Swedish agenda both in migration, development and humanitarian policy. Sweden also has a longstanding engagement regarding self-reliance for refugees and IDPs as a key part of solutions to reduce vulnerability, enhance dignity and resilience among displaced people.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - Sweden provides 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. UNHCR, WFP, UNRWA, OCHA, ICRC are the largest humanitarian partners for Swedish funding. Sweden has hereby supported data collection and assessment of needs of urban IDPs/refugees and the impact of displacement on host communities through its humanitarian partner organisations, for instance in the Syria-response.
    - Sweden has implemented a gradual increase of our yearly resettlement quota through UNHCR, from 1900 people per year to 5000 people by the end of 2018.
    - Sweden supports longer-term and durable solutions that benefit the displaced and their host communities through secondments and thematic support to UNHCR.
    - Sweden supports innovative approaches for self-reliance of refugees and IDPs, for example through support to UNHCR to develop a microcredit guarantee facility.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Sweden has continued to prioritize support to address forced displacement, including durable solutions through increasing the yearly resettlement quota through UNHCR; secondment of Swedish development experts to UNHCR; and support to innovative approaches for self-reliance in cooperation with UNHCR with the aim to develop a microcredit guarantee facility.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Increasing linkages and synergies between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation to promote and support progress towards durable solutions for refugees remain a challenge. Initiatives on data collection and assessment of needs of urban IDPs/refugees and the impact of displacement on host communities can be further developed and explored to strengthen synergies with long term development.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - The implementation of the strategy for Sweden’s humanitarian aid is expected to further address forced displacement and durable solutions.
    - The implementation of the policy framework for Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian assistance 2016 in terms of linking long-term development cooperation and humanitarian assistance is a key step to further addressing durable solutions to forced displacement, in tandem with humanitarian efforts to reduce the risk and vulnerability of people affected by crises.
    - Continue efforts in supporting data collection and assessment of the needs of displaced and the impact on host communities.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Innovation ☑ IDPs ☑ Refugees ☑ Urban

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides ☑ 5A - Invest in local capacities

3D
Empower and protect women and girls

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Sweden is committed to our feminist foreign policy, which has an action plan covering six objectives for 2015-2018.These include contributing to all women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights, including in humanitarian situations and through freedom from all violence. Sweden’s national action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security is also of central importance. Additional information is available under sections 1D, 2D and 3F of this report.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Sweden’s recently approved strategy for humanitarian assistance through Sida 2017-2020 states that gender equality should be systematically integrated into humanitarian activities. A gender equality perspective will guarantee that women’s, men’s, girls’ and boys’ specific humanitarian needs and opportunities for taking action are met and taken into account in activities. Sida should therefore promote gender equality mainstreaming in needs analyses and the application of a gender equality analysis, including sex-disaggregated statistics. Sida should only finance measures based on an integrated gender equality analysis and support measures that strengthen the humanitarian system’s capacity to mainstream gender equality in humanitarian work. Gender-disaggregated data is an assessment criteria for Sida. Sweden has established a network of women mediators (see information under 1D of this report).

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    - Sweden’s humanitarian aid is based on and informed by an integrated gender perspective, including an analysis of the situation of women and girls, and men and boys.
    - Sweden has a specific focus on combating the discrimination against women and girls that often results from marginalisation of and violence against women and girls.
    - Women as actors and the inclusion of men and boys in the prevention of SGBV are other important issues.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - Continue to promote and increase systematic gender mainstreaming through strategic use of gender markers etc in funding decisions on Humanitarian Response Plans (HRP), related projects and programmes and other funding channels.
    - Continue to contribute to pushing the Women, Peace and Security change agenda.
    - Ensure a responsible hand-over of the chairmanship of Call to Action (see information under 2D of this report).

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1D - Develop solutions with and for people ☑ 2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability ☑ 3F - Enable adolescents and young people to be agents of positive transformation

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

Individual Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Please see response under 1D.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - Sweden is (through Sida) supporting youth organizations' activities related to peacebuilding and conflict management.
    - The Swedish agency Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) has been given an assignment by the Swedish Government to analyze opportunities for implementing resolution 2250. A report is to be presented to the Government on 29 September 2017.
    - Sweden, through FBA, has a specific funding envelope since 2016 to support more than 27 projects targeting youth and youth organisations focusing on disarmament, security policy, peacebuilding, conflict management and conflict prevention.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Sweden's engagement with regard to the UN Security Council is progressing successfully (see information included under 1D). With regarding to UN Security Council resolution 2250, the resolution is rather recently adopted and Sweden is in the process of exploring approaches, strategies and priorities for successful engagement. The expected report from FBA on 29 September 2017 will serve as an important tool for strategizing Swedish engagement in youth, peace and security, based on ongoing activities supported through Sida and FBA.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    See information included under 1D of this report.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - Important to ensure synergies between UN Security Council resolution 1325, resolution 2250 and the Sustaining Peace Agenda.
    - The expected report on UN Security Council resolution 2250 from FBA on 29 September 2017 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 information included under 1D of this report.

  • Specific initiatives

    ☑The Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1D - Develop solutions with and for people

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

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Innovative approaches are necessary for a more relevant and effective humanitarian response. See Sweden's Grand Bargain Report for further information, as well as Sida's new strategy on humanitarian assistance.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Sweden's new strategy for humanitarian assistance stipulates that Sida should encourage partners to consider cash-based support when relevant and possible based interventions in contexts where such interventions are appropriate and effective. Sweden is supporting:
    - humanitarian partners to build an evidence base to assess costs, benefits, impacts, and risks of cash (including on protection) relative to in-kind assistance, service delivery interventions and vouchers, and combinations thereof.
    - humanitarian partners to collaborate, share information and develop standards and guidelines for cash programming in order to better understand its risks and benefits.
    - coordination, delivery, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for cash transfers.

    Sweden has not set a target for cash since humanitarian assistance is channeled based on an assessment of global needs and cash should be used when appropriate.Sweden has dedicated staff both in Sida and in the MoFA for Gran Bargain cash commitment follow-up.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    See Sweden's Grand Bargain report for more details on progress with regard to cash-based programming.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    The ambition is to increase the use of cash-based programming while taking into account risks, for example:
    - Gender analysis and gender mainstreaming should routinely be used for cash-based programming.
    - Particular attention should be paid to the protection risks of providing cash (including how cash affects gender roles and personal security).
    - Cash as a modality is not appropriate to meet all needs (such as protection, education and health).
    - Cash as a modality needs to be complemented by other forms of support, such as in-kind, vouchers and technical support.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Sweden will:
    - Promote system-wide solution for systematic tracking of cash-based programming (funding phase and reporting phase).
    - Institutionalize cash-based programming within Sida through a) a baseline exercise on use of cash within total humanitarian funding and b) support capacity among partners to assess optimal aid modality based on market analysis, end-user preferences, quality outcomes, cost efficiency.
    - Invest in evidence through Sida´s ongoing support to Development Initiatives and ODI.
    - Partner with specialist organisations to improve and develop methods /operational support .
    - Promote coordination of multisector cash-assistance.
    - Include dialogue on cash based programming, including multi-purpose cash, in strategic dialogue with UN agencies.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems', what would it be

    Increase the use of cash-based programming while taking into account risks through and adaptive process with full respect for humanitarian principles.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Cash ☑ Gender ☑ Humanitarian principles

  • Specific initiatives

    ☑Grand Bargain

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑3D - Empower and protect women and girls

4B
Anticipate, do not wait, for crises

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Capacity at both global and national system is necessary for analysis of risk and vulnerability and response linked to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). See also Sweden's new strategy on humanitarian assistance implemented through Sida (see attached).

  • Achievements at a glance

    - Sweden has, through Sida, continued to support GFDRR in 2016 and 2017.
    - Sweden is providing core support to ISDR (amounting to SEK 15 in 2016 and 2017 respectively).
    - Sweden is chairing the Friends of ISDR (Geneva based) in 2017.
    - Sweden has through Sida successfully piloted OECD's Resilience System Analysis (RSA) in 2016-2017 (see information presented under 4C of this report and Sweden's Grand Bargain Report attached).
    - 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 Sweden's development strategies, 3) increase flexible, innovative ad effective development funding and 4) strengthen dialogue and coordination between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    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 UN agencies, strategic INGO partners, ICRC/IFRC.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    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.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Specific initiatives

    ☑Grand Bargain

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides ☑ 5B - Invest according to risk

4C
Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Supporting engagement between humanitarian and development cooperation has been a priority for Sweden since the adoption of the GHD principles. A major policy change was initiated in 2007 when Sweden selected a number of new focus countries for development aid, all affected by violent conflict and until 2007, Sweden primarily engaged with humanitarian assistance. A key rationale for this policy change was the need to engage beyond humanitarian assistance and use funding streams that could address root causes for protracted crises through state- and peace-building. One recent example of the same logic is Sweden’s Syria crisis strategy focusing on complementing humanitarian assistance.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - Sweden has provided support for One UN Funds or multi-partner trust funds in support of collective outcomes in several countries such as Colombia, Albania and Rwanda.
    - Sweden has provided political support and resources (USD 14 million for 2015 and 2016) to the UN RC for immediate stabilization in Iraq.
    - Sida has in 2015-2016 piloted the Resilience Systems Analysis (RSA) developed by the OECD/DAC to integrate risk and resilience into Sida’s strategy process. The RSA also contributed to an analysis of risk and vulnerability while respecting humanitarian principles.
    - More information can be found under 4B on common analysis based on risk and resilience as well as the integrated perspective of Sida’s humanitarian crises analyses. This analysis enabled a number of programmes contributing to synergies. In 2017, ten such programmes have been approved.
    - See also Sweden's report on its Grand Bargain commitments.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    There is progress on strengthening flexibility, innovation and effective development funding to handle the causes of crises, supports prevention and resilience against future crises and disasters. It includes scale up support to local resilience programmes, DRR, early warning/early action, durable solutions for refugees and IDPs, risk insurance, social protection programmes and early warning/action.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    See Sweden's Grand Bargain report.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Specific initiatives

    ☑Grand Bargain

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4B - Anticipate, do not wait, for crises ☑ 5D - Finance outcomes, not fragmentation: shift from funding to financing

5A
Invest in local capacities

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Local actors are first reponders and key for an effective and relevant humanitarian response. See also Sweden's Grand Bargain report as well as Sweden's new strategy on humanitarian assistance through Sida (attached) for further details on Swedish policy.

  • Achievements at a glance

    At least 12 percent of Sweden’s humanitarian aid, through Sida, is estimated to be allocated to local actors (2015). This includes financing through joint funds and traceable financial flows from Sida’s partners to local organisations (N.B. all partner organisations were not able to indicate amount allocated to local organisations meaning that the amount is likely to be higher than 12%).

    Sweden (through Sida) is the second largest donor to country-based pooled funds (CBPF) which channels 18% on average in 2016 to local organisations in 17 major humanitarian crises. Some CBFPs 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.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    “Localization” is a priority in the new 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”.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    - Lack of clarity on how to identify percentages of support to local actors, e.g. definition of local actor.
    - See more information in Sweden's Grand Bargain report (attached).

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - Explore possibilities to increase financing to local actors (whenever best suited for the humanitarian response).
    - Aim at maintaining large support (around SEK 500) to country-based pooled funds and promote that national and local actors receive support and participates within the framework of these funds.
    - Explore an agreement modality, through which Sida could directly finance and cooperate with local actors.
    - Promote that partner organisations present the total amount and proportion transferred to local partners.
    - Support development of a localization marker, key for promoting localisation in core funding to UN agencies.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Country-based pooled funds ☑ Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Specific initiatives

    ☑Grand Bargain

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4A - Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems

5B
Invest according to risk

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Supporting resilience efforts through increased engagement between humanitarian and development actors has been a priority for Sweden since adoption of the GHD principles. Building resilience requires addressing root causes of crises and the ability to recover. Longer-term solutions require multi-sector approaches, interventions at different levels and long-term planning. In protracted crises, predictable, flexible multi-year funding allows for early response to new demands and cost-effective strengthening of local capacities. Humanitarian aid may integrate a longer-term development perspective in order to be effective . Early recovery and joint analysis is key. Collaboration with development actors must increase, while ensuring respect for humanitarian principles.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - Continued support to UNISDR (SEK 15 million in 2017)
    - Chair of Friends of ISDR (Geneva based).
    - 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.
    - Please see also information included under 4B of this report.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    A common analysis based on risk and resilience is the point of departure for strengthening synergies between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation. Sweden (through Sida) has therefore integrated a perspective on synergies in Sida’s Humanitarian Crises Analyses for large on-going crises. This common analysis then leads to a number of concrete programmes that creates concrete synergies between humanitarian and development cooperationa. In 2017, ten such programmes have been approved and will be evaluated. Please also see Sweden's Grand Bargain report for further details.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Increased efforts on improved synergies between humanitarian actors and development actors are evident in international fora, while challenges persist. Principles, culture and ways of working can vary. In complex crises there is a risk that humanitarian principles are compromised. Key to addressing this challenge is joint analysis and joint planning between humanitarian and development actors. The humanitarian principles on neutrality, impartiality and independence must be respected by all actors.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    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 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, as it will have been jointly developed by humanitarian and development colleagues. The common analysis will finally lead to at least four more new programmes, where clear and concrete synergies between humanitarian and development programmes are tangible.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Humanitarian principles

  • Specific initiatives

    ☑Commitment to Action: Transcending the humanitarian - development divide ☑ Grand Bargain

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4B - Anticipate, do not wait, for crises ☑ 4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides

5C
Invest in stability

Individual Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Sweden is a long-standing supporter and promoter of the UN's role in ensuring peace and security, including conflict prevention. Please also see the information included under 1B and 1C of this report.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - Sweden is - and continues to be - one of the top donors to UN Peace-building Fund.
    - Sweden's membership in the UN Security Council is giving priority to contributing to a relevant and effective peace-building 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 UNDP and other funds and programmes with a key mandate for taking the sustaining peace agenda to the operational level.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

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

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    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.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - Sweden will continue to give priority to sustaining peace during its membership of the UN Security Council from 2017-2018.
    - Sweden will continue to support peace building and conflict prevention activities and will also continue to be engaged in international dialogue on implementing the sustain peace agenda and strengthening efforts of international support to conflict prevention and peace-building.
    - Sweden will for example host the Stockholm Forum in May focusing on sustaining peace, which aims to contribute to increase concretization of peace building and conflict prevention.

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1B - Act early ☑ 1C - Remain engaged and invest in stability

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

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Flexible and predictable funding is key for a relevant and effective humanitarian response. Hence, unearmarked and flexible funding has been a guiding principle for Sweden’s humanitarian assistance for the last 15 years, in particular since the adoption of the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) Principles in 2003. This commitment is demonstrated in particular by Sweden’s substantial core support to key UN humanitarian agencies but also through funding of country-based pooled funds and steps towards multi-year financing.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - 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 multiyear programmes from 2017–2019 in protracted crises.
    - For ICRC and UN partners, Sida uses the organization’s appeal as a basis for Sida's allocation (i.e. no additional project proposals are needed); the organization’s global report is used for reporting.
    - Sweden jointly with ICRC is leading the Grand Bargain work stream on non-earmarking / flexible funding.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Sweden is by and large upholding commitments made on unearmarked core funding and is in the process of exploring ways towards multi-year approaches. See page 21 of Sweden's Grand Bargain report for a list of detailed core support to CERF, UNHCR, UNRWA, WFP, ICRC, IFRC, OCHA, ISDR and IOM from 2015-17.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Tensions between the insight that flexible financing is key for efficient, flexible and responsive humanitarian response while donors have interests in control, accountability and visibility. Please see Sweden's Grand Bargain report for further details.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Sweden is at the forefront in terms of providing flexible funding and allowing for flexibility in terms of planning, re-prioritisation and reporting for humanitarian implementing partners. Through the Grand Bargain work stream on non-earmarking / flexibility, Sweden aims to contribute to bridging the gap between the insight that flexible financing is key for efficient, flexible and responsive humanitarian response while donors have interests in control, accountability and visibility. The ambition is to contribute to systematic behavioral changes linked to earmarking / flexible funding.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Finance outcomes, not fragmentation: shift from funding to financing', what would it be

    Increased communication on evidence of the useful of core funding and better reporting on core funding!

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Central Emergency Response Fund ☑ Country-based pooled funds

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides ☑ 5E - Diversify the resource base and increase cost-efficiency

5E
Diversify the resource base and increase cost-efficiency

Individual Commitment

  • 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 Commitment

  • 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

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Transparency, global flexible funding through CERF and simplified and harmonised donor reporting requirements are key for a relevant and effective humanitarian response.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - Sweden has a long-standing position as a top donor to CERF and has continued with a substantial contribution of SEK 625 in 2017.
    - In terms of transparency, the web portal openaid.se provides all information on Sida funding.
    - Sida is implementing new practices for reporting humanitarian financing better, using the updated IATI standard to improve timeliness and harmonization.
    - Sweden keep close track of the Financing Tracking System (FTS) to ensure correct funding flows.See detailed information in the Grand Bargain report.
    - Sweden’s allocation is based on the UN/ICRC appeals /report (using the agencies’ own format).
    - Sweden (through Sida) generally approves 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.

    See Sweden's Grand Bargain for more information.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Before initiating its own reviews and evaluations Sida always explores whether its NGO partner has conducted their own external or internal reviews or if other donors have conducted similar reviews/evaluations, to avoid duplication. When assessing multilateral partners’ organizational capacity Sida uses MOPAN assessments rather than conducting its own performance assessment.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Challenging to make the case for core funding.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - Encourage humanitarian agencies, in particular the UN, to argue how core funding enables more relevance and effectiveness.
    - Sweden will contribute to more strategic advocacy support to increase financial support to CERF.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Central Emergency Response Fund

  • Specific initiatives

    ☑Grand Bargain

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides ☑ 5D - Finance outcomes, not fragmentation: shift from funding to financing

Attachments

  • WHS Commitments Attachments
    Transformation - 2A, 3D, 4A, 4C, 5E | Accountability to affected people, Gender | Grand Bargain
  • WHS Commitments Attachments
    Transformation - 5E | Grand Bargain