Following the closing last year of seven Swedish embassies in a cost-saving measure, a growing part of the aid budget is now being used to finance newly-opened embassies.

Re-organisation of aid policy work in Finnish Ministry

As part of an effort to streamline Finland’s public administration, a major reorganisation of the Foreign Ministry comes into effect on September 1.

Denmark holds back on UNDP, World Bank as Africa aid expands

Denmark holds funding of UN agencies and the World Bank tight as it makes the first major increase in development aid since a Liberal-Conservative alliance formed its first cabinet in 2001. The 2009 budget proposal puts focus on Africa.

Stalled again. Finnish aid growth fails to keep up with targets

The increase in aid spending projected in Finland’s latest budget does not go far towards reaching international targets.

Warns against using aid to fund NGO missionary work

An independent evaluation by Impact Consulting Oy of the Finnish Foreign Ministry’s NGO Partnership Agreement Scheme calls for clearer guidelines to avoid aid funds being used to finance missionary work.