Development cooperation – how we work

One way we work with development cooperation is by supporting companies in becoming export-ready and building lasting business relationships with buyers in Sweden and the EU. The image is from a textile market orientation mission with an Armenian delegation.

Through development cooperation with the National Board of Trade Sweden, low- and middle income countries are better able to increase their trade with other countries and reduce their dependence on aid. We are experts in how a well-designed trade policy can contribute to prosperity through factors such as stronger growth, more jobs and reduced poverty.

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The National Board of Trade's development cooperation aims to strengthen trade competence in low- and middle-income countries, based on the 2030 Agenda. The overarching goal is to create favourable conditions for developing countries to participate in international trade and contribute to sustainable development.

Different types of development cooperation

The National Board of Trade's development cooperation can take several different forms:

Educational initiatives – Trade Academy

Trade Academy is our trade policy training programme, which aims to empower individuals in developing countries. We have three different programmes with different focuses: Trade Academy Trade Policy is intended for civil servants in government agencies. Trade Academy Trade Promotion is intended for individuals working with export promotion initiatives. Trade Academy EU Integration is a free training programme for trade officials and officials working on EU integration. 

Cooperation with countries and regions

We enter into long-term cooperation with individual countries (bilateral cooperation) or with entire regions (regional cooperation). The aim of the long-term cooperation is to strengthen the individual and institutional capabilities of the country or region to conduct international trade.

Support for exporters – Open Trade Gate Sweden

Through Open Trade Gate Sweden, we work to promote exports from developing countries to Sweden and the EU. We guide exporting companies and industry organisations in matters related to regulations as well as product and market requirements, and we help companies to establish contacts in the Swedish market. We also enter into long-term cooperation with industry organisations in order to increase knowledge of the European and Swedish markets.

What characterises our work

At the National Board of Trade Sweden, we are experts in trade. We know the EU's internal market, EU trade policy and what it means to trade with the EU. In addition, our development cooperation is characterised by four things:

• The civil servant perspective
  We work daily on the same issues as our partners. In this way, we are colleagues.
• Cross-cutting focus on sustainability
  We recognise the impact of trade on sustainability. This is reflected in our goals, in our daily work and in how we communicate knowledge.
• Demand drives our work
  We contribute what our partners need and demand. No two countries are the same.
• A coaching approach
  We work in a supportive way, rather than doing the work ourselves. Only then can we ensure that knowledge is disseminated, and contribute to long-term change.

How development cooperation is managed

The National Board of Trade's development cooperation is part of Swedish aid. The activities are financed by Sweden's aid budget and we work in accordance with Swedish aid policy. The countries we cooperate with are on the OECD/DAC list of developing countries. In addition to the guidance in the aid policy, the National Board of Trade receives annual guidelines from the government. These may, for example, state that certain countries or issues are to be prioritised for aid in the current year. At the same time, the National Board of Trade can set its own priorities within its activities based on the needs we see.

OECD/DAC list of developing countries

Focusing on goals and results

The National Board of Trade's development cooperation is driven by goals and results. Together with our partners, we set long-term and short-term goals based on a theory of change. This means that we make an assumption about what effects each initiative is expected to lead to. The global goals of the 2030 Agenda permeate our development cooperation, and sustainability is therefore always integrated into the goals we set.