SWEDEN PLEDGES NEARLY $560 MILLION FOR FOOD

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