News – Page 2

SLU Global in Lusaka: New collaboration between universities in Sweden and Zambia

In January, staff from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences visited the University of Zambia in Lusaka (UNZA) to work on a joint program proposal for a Sida-funded collaboration between Swedish universities and UNZA. Aimed at strengthening international partnership, the proposal consists of two subprogrammes: thematic research and research management and support

Conversation: Will Africa’s Gen Z bring lasting political change?

The Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) recently shared a conversation on Africa’s political mobilisation, focusing on Africa’s Gen Z – a generation describing themselves as #fearless, #partyless, and #tribeless actively participating in protests, reclaiming the meaning of democracy and questioning political power. NAI research Martins Kwazema and NAI Director Therese Sjömander examine the topic and draw on real world examples.

EBA presents new study on mapping Swedish aid to children and children’s rights.

The Expert Group for Aid Analysis (EBA) has launched a new study mapping Swedish aid to children and the promotion of children’s rights. Highlighting a lack of a comprehensive overview of the level of focus placed on children in practice, the study will address this gap by looking at proportion, distribution and the strategic focus of Swedish aid toward children and children’s rights.

SweDev Welcomes Anna Mia Ekström as Our New Chairperson

As of the beginning of 2026, Anna Mia Ekström has stepped into the position of Chair of SweDev. Before taking on this role, Anna Mia has been an engaged member of SweDev’s steering group and executive committee, and we are very pleased that she now continues her commitment by stepping into this role. With her extensive experience and valuable knowledge, we are confident in her role as the new Chair of the SweDev network.

NorDev25: Panel Recordings and Call for Papers

On 24-26 September 2025, the Joint Nordic Development Research conference (NorDev25) took place in Ås, at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Recordings from the panel sessions are now available on the conference webpage, along with a call for papers for a special issue of Forum of Development Studies. The call is open until January 31st and welcomes submissions aligned with the conference theme.

Aid Cuts in a Global Crisis: Anna Mia Ekström Interviewed on Ekot

Following the Swedish government’s decision to cut development aid and end bilateral support to five countries, SweDev’s incoming chair Anna Mia Ekström warns in an interview with the Swedish Radio Ekot that the timing could not be worse. She stresses that the cuts risk worsening global crises, increasing health risks, and weakening Sweden’s long-standing role as a reliable development partner.

When Development Becomes Injustice: Critical Analysis of the Namibian Case

A newly published article examines how development can reproduce injustice when its benefits for some come at the expense of others. It analyses the legacy of colonial land dispossession and the limited progress toward restorative justice in Namibia, and argues that decolonisation requires addressing the structural inequalities that persist and returning appropriated resources to affected communities.

SweDev’s Parliamentary Seminar Called for Action to Protect Swedish International Development Research

On 19 November, SweDev moderated a seminar in the Swedish parliament highlighting the urgent challenges facing development research amid funding cuts – including declining international cooperation and researchers shifting fields – and the importance of strengthening researcher–practitioner collaboration and secure Sweden’s role in global development research.

Insights from SweDev’s Member Survey 2025: How have funding cuts affected Sweden’s international development research?

SweDev’s 2025 Member Survey shows how recent funding cuts are reshaping Swedish development research. Researchers report shifting away from global development priorities, weakened collaborations with the Global South, and rising pessimism among early-career scholars about their future in the field.