VZCZCXRO4130
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHSM #0752 3351325
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 011325Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4956
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000752 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN PLEDGES NEARLY $560 MILLION FOR FOOD 
SECURITY FOR 2010-2012 AHEAD OF ROME AND KIGALI MEETINGS 
 
REF: STATE 120804 
 
¶1. (SBU) Director for Development Policy at the Swedish 
Foreign Ministry (MFA) Ann Uustalu told Post on December 1 
that Sweden estimates its overall assistance for food 
security, agriculture and rural development in support of the 
l'Aquila agenda at nearly 375 million Euros (roughly $560 
million) for the period 2010-2012.  Uustalu commented that 
the Swedish Parliament has yet to make the annual budget 
allocations for 2011 and 2012.  She stated that Sweden's 
multilateral assistance will focus on small-holder 
agriculture and rural development and will be provided via 
the International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD), while food 
security, medium-term recovery and safety net assistance will 
be administered through the World Food Program (WFP). 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Swedish Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) 
will continue to provide bilateral support for agricultural 
policy, technology development, agricultural extension, 
land-policy reforms, climate adaptation and resilience, 
processing and commercialization, according to Uustalu.  She 
stated that Sweden will channel approximately 50 percent of 
this bilateral assistance  to Africa, with a priority for 
Eastern and Southern Africa.  Uustalu said that some 
bilateral support will also go to Latin America, Asia and 
Europe.  Torgny Holmgren, Deputy Director General, Department 
for Development Policy at the Swedish MFA, and Ann Uustalu, 
Director for Development Policy at the Swedish MFA, are the 
points of contact for this issue. 
BARZUN