Benjamin Dousa

Sweden has announced a contribution of SEK 8.2 billion to the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), a fund for the world’s poorest countries. In doing so, Sweden is contributing to the record-breaking 21st replenishment of the fund, which will generate a total of USD 100 billion for reforms, investment, and development in low-income countries.

The Swedish Government has decided to stop providing development assistance to Yemen. Bilateral development assistance to Yemen will be phased out in a responsible manner. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has been tasked with bringing activities to a close by 30 June 2025. Sweden will continue to be a major humanitarian donor to Yemen.

Russia’s illegal attacks on health and medical care facilities during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine have severe consequences for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The Swedish Government has therefore approved an additional SEK 50 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and its operations in Ukraine.

Sweden is increasing its support to Moldova by SEK 129 million to strengthen the country’s democracy and societal resilience. The aim is to improve Moldova’s capacity to audit campaign finance, resist cyberattacks, combat corruption and increase transparency in the judicial system.

Sweden’s Government has approved support to the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF IV/IDB Lab). Sweden will contribute a maximum of USD 3.35 million (approximately SEK 37 million) in the fourth replenishment of the MIF. MIF/IDB Lab is an entity within the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), focused on the private sector. The Investment Fund focuses on the development of small businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean. These new funds will contribute to investments within private sector development, innovation, climate, equality, women’s economic empowerment and migration.

Sweden is and will remain one of the world’s most generous donors of international climate finance. Swedish climate aid will be expanded and streamlined. With its substantial contribution in 2022, Sweden played a significant role in achieving the goal of USD 100 billion per year in global climate finance. Sweden’s contribution to international climate finance is at the core of its climate policy. International climate finance will contribute to both emissions reductions and climate adaptation.

On Thursday 14 November, Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid A. Al-Falih visited Sweden. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa hosted the visit, which focused on Swedish companies.

Sweden has announced its contribution of SEK 8 billion to the UN Green Climate Fund (GCF), making the country one of the largest donors. Through the GCF, low- and middle-income countries can receive support to implement climate investments for reduced emissions and protect their societies against climate change by taking adaptation measures.

In connection with the COP29 climate change conference, Sweden is announcing a contribution to a new fund that aims to help particularly vulnerable countries manage climate-related loss and damage (the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage). The Fund is under the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

On 11–13 November, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa and Minister for EU Affairs Jessica Rosencrantz will receive Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan.

Together with his ministerial counterparts in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa has written a letter to the European Commission proposing increased import tariffs on Russian goods.

The Government decided today to task Business Sweden with stepping up its efforts to promote investments in the Swedish battery value chain, i.e. in all parts of production. The aim is to enable capital and important expertise to be brought into and retained in the Swedish business sector. The assignment also includes helping relevant companies and national, regional and local actors with advice and contacts.

On 5–8 November, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa is visiting Beijing and Shanghai. He will meet with business representatives and representatives of the Chinese Government.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to have devastating consequences – both military and humanitarian. The Swedish Government is therefore supporting Ukraine in a number of ways and has now decided on a new humanitarian support package of SEK 110 million. This support will primarily be used to meet the increased needs ahead of the winter.

On 27–29 October, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa is visiting Saudi Arabia. Mr Dousa will have meetings with the Saudi Government, meet with Swedish and Saudi businesses and take part in the Future Investment Initiative’s international investment conference.

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is the largest in the world, with around half of the country’s population in need of humanitarian assistance. The Swedish Government has now decided to provide an additional SEK 50 million in humanitarian assistance. Women and children are particularly vulnerable in the current crisis. This assistance aims particularly at helping vulnerable children and meeting women’s needs related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

On 17–18 October, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Sweden to enhance cooperation in trade and investment, regional security and global issues. Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard hosted the visit, which is an important step in strengthening the ties between the countries – not least by exploring new opportunities for cooperation in business and innovation.

The Government has adopted a new strategy for Sweden’s global development cooperation on migration, returns and voluntary repatriation. The strategy comprises SEK 3 billion for the period 2024–2028 and is part of governing Sweden’s development assistance to strengthen synergies between migration policy and development assistance policy.

The Government has decided to instruct Sida to increase transparency in development assistance. The aim is to increase the Swedish population’s insight into how their tax funds are being spent.

Sweden is an active force for child and maternal care, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and other health care around the world. Support to health care in Ukraine, access to SRHR, and fundamental health and vaccination campaigns are important focus areas. Cooperation with civil society is also being strengthened. The annual development assistance for health report, published today, 11 October, outlines all of this and much more.