The Swedish government agency – Folke Bernadotte Academy – is committed to supporting the strengthening of democratic processes in the Republic of Moldova. The Director General of the Swedish agency, Per Olsson Fridh, noted that the public administration and security sector, as well as other key areas in the state, must emphasize the needs of citizens, and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) is open to collaboration to promote these visions in Moldovan institutions.
In an interview with IPN, the Director General of the Swedish FBA, Per Olsson Fridh, former Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, emphasized that the formation of partnerships between Moldova and Sweden is an opportunity for mutual learning, as the protection of democracy is a desire for both countries.
It is only by working together that countries can confront the threats to democracy and security that are characteristic of the current period and promote international efforts for peace and security – actions that fall within the mission of the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Swedish agency’s director emphasized.
One such partnership is reflected in gender equality training courses for senior Moldovan police officers.
Per Olsson Fridh emphasized that the security sector in the country needs to be trusted by the citizens and meet the needs of the entire population, noting that men and women have different security needs.
“By institutional transformation, by making the police institution more gender-sensitive, gender-equal and having a leadership that respects these principles, the Moldovan police can also become more attentive to the security needs of women,” the FBA director said.
Per Olsson Fridh said that the Swedish Police and the FBA are working together with the Moldovan police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to organize this program and there are already examples that demonstrate how the project has brought about a real change within the Moldovan police.
The SPRINT program for young Moldovan civil servants is another project supported by the Folke Bernadotte Academy, which, according to the director of the Swedish agency, has proven to be a catalyst for modernizing public administration in Moldova.
“Young civil servants who participate in these training courses, after graduation, are prepared to continue to develop as individual professionals, to contribute to the development of the country. We have seen political initiatives, other types of initiatives, which have resulted from the SPRINT program and have laid the foundations for a modernized public administration,” FBA Director General reported.
At the same time, according to Per Olsson Fridh, the focus is on joint Moldovan-Swedish work, with Moldova being supported according to the principle that “every citizen counts when you want to shape the future of the country”. The head of the FBA called for cooperation in public administration, in the security sector, because “every citizen counts and is included in society, that he or she has a voice and that his or her needs are recognized and met by the public sector”.
Folke Bernadotte Academy is a Swedish government agency for peace, security and development, supporting international peace operations and international development cooperation. The agency conducts training, research and method development for sustainable peacebuilding in conflict and post-conflict countries.
