Developing public sector on behalf of the citizens
Sweden has an international reputation as a well-functioning and democratic constitutional state where the citizens at large rely on the public administration. Swedish public agencies are an important and in-demand actor in development cooperation.
Thanks to their expertise and experience of building strong institutions, they can contribute to strengthening and developing authorities in countries where the government agencies are weak or inadequate and need support to be able to give their citizens the service they are entitled to.
The experiences and contacts that Swedish public agencies gain through the development cooperation can also be used to develop their operations in Sweden.
Public sector cooperations are guided by strategies
As with all Swedish development cooperation, cooperation with public agencies is governed by the policy framework for Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian aid that the government has prepared, and more directly by strategies. It is the embassies and Sida's various units, which implement the strategies and decide which projects or partnerships to enter into cooperation with.
Swedish public agencies can strengthen their counterparts
Examples of agencies that contribute with their knowledge and experience in the development cooperation are Statistics Sweden (SCB), the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the Swedish Tax Agency and the Public Employment Service. Through exchanges of staff and training, they work together with their counterpart to strengthen and build up the public agencies in the partner country.
SCB can, for example, contribute to countries having the statistics they need to be able to plan the right efforts in the work of combating poverty. The Swedish Tax Agency contributes in developing effective tax authorities, since tax revenues are the foundation of building and financing a functioning society. The Public Employment Service is working together with its counterpart to develop employment services that will contribute to increased employment. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency contributes to developing effective environmental administrations and sustainable cities in impoverished countries.
Other forms of cooperation with public agencies are Twinning and TAIEX led by the EU.