In the wake of the Zambian embezzlement case, Swedish Development Minister Gunilla Carlsson has thrown out this question, and hopes that a frank and open public debate will show the way.

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Warns Sweden on humanitarian principles

The OECD warns Sweden about locating a new emergency relief agency under the Defence Ministry, saying it “carries inherent risks to principles regarding the primacy of civilian authority over international humanitarian action".

At a key point in the negotiations with other G8 donors, Norway threatened to pull out of the USD 1.5 billion vaccine project, AMC, internal documents obtained by Development Today show. Norway insisted that the price per dose must not exceed USD 7. Norway got its way.

Denmark keeps aid at the same level as this year in its budget proposal for 2010. Cuts in support for Nicaragua, Bolivia, Bangladesh and some UN agencies pave the way for funding of private sector aid in Africa.

A Norwegian NGO forced to leave Sudan this spring says it was pressured to pay termination packages to local staff in exchange for securing exit visas for two of its foreign staff. The total cost of the expulsion is NOK 10 million. Norwegian taxpayers will likely foot the bill.

Across the Nordics, the financial crisis has put a stop to the annual aid budget increases that have been the norm for so many years. Denmark and Finland aim to maintain aid at 2009 levels. Sweden is bracing for cuts. Norway might become the only country to increase its aid budget.

The humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières says a key factor to evaluate the success of the Advance Market Commitment is whether it ends up encouraging developing country vaccine suppliers to produce a pneumococcal vaccine.

Budget support to Zambia continues

Danes, Swedes freeze aid to Zambia. Millions more in budget support at risk

What kind of aid in a world where corruption is a fact of life?

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