International development cooperation

The Government has adopted a new support package for global health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), totalling SEK 250 million for 2026. The health package consolidates Sweden’s commitment to improving the health of the most vulnerable through vaccines in low- and middle-income countries and increased access to maternal and newborn care where the needs are greatest.

The two earthquakes in Venezuela on 24 June have had a profound impact on the Venezuelan people and exacerbated an already difficult humanitarian situation. Sweden is now providing SEK 25 million in humanitarian assistance to Venezuela to support initiatives such as the distribution of food packages, access to clean water, temporary emergency shelter, protection of vulnerable groups and reunification of children and families who have been separated.

Support for Ukraine’s path towards EU membership is an important part of Sweden’s foreign and security policy. Integrating Ukraine into European structures contributes to security and stability in our neighbourhood and strengthens Europe’s resilience to external threats.

The Government has adopted nine new development assistance strategies which will provide a total of around SEK 6 billion for development cooperation in Africa, Latin America and Asia. The new development assistance will be based on evidence of what works and produces concrete results.

Last winter, Ukraine’s electrical grid and power plants were intensively attacked by Russia. Ukraine must now make extensive efforts to ensure the energy supply for the coming winter. The Swedish Government has therefore approved a new support package for Ukraine worth approximately SEK 1.5 billion to support the country’s energy sector in 2026. It is expected to contribute to preparation through repairs, installation of new energy production, material support and enhanced nuclear safety.

Yesterday, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa has presented the Government’s annual award for Swedish volunteer projects in support of Ukraine. The 2026 recipients are Elly Reinolds and OperationChange.

The Government has presented a new support package with a focus on democracy and strengthened civil society in Eastern Europe for SEK 30 million for 2026–2028, of which SEK 17 million is earmarked for 2026. The support includes well-established civil society organisations in Europe, with which Sweden has had excellent cooperation over a long time.

Sweden is providing SEK 120 million to support the World Health Organization’s work to achieve better global health, which is of great importance to global health security and people in crisis-affected areas. The WHO’s role is of vital importance and central to how the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is handled.

The Government has presented a support package focused on democracy and free and fair elections in Eastern Europe for 2026 and 2027. The democracy support totals SEK 13.35 million and will go to local elections observation and greater integrity of elections and resilience against disinformation in Armenia and Moldova.

On 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Gothenburg on the occasion of Sweden and India upgrading their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. Mr Kristersson and Mr Modi also met with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Joint Statement on the India–Sweden Summit, ‘Establishment of a Strategic Partnership’ Gothenburg, 17 May 2026

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, Shri Narendra Modi, the Honourable Prime Minister of the Republic of India, paid an official visit to Gothenburg, Sweden, on 17 May 2026. During the visit, Mr Modi was presented with a special gift symbolising the historic bonds between the two countries.

On 11 May, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, is organising a conference in Stockholm on youth and gender equality issues for a future democratic Belarus. The forum gathers youth representative of the Belarusian democratic movement and civil society representatives, decision-makers and experts from the EU and Sweden. The aim is to highlight the importance of young people’s political participation to the democratic development of Belarus.

The world’s humanitarian needs are immense. There are a record number of conflicts, with more than 300 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. And there is a risk of needs further increasing this year. For this reason, Sweden is announcing more than SEK 2.7 billion in humanitarian assistance to the world’s most vulnerable for 2026.

The Government has presented a new support package for global health totalling SEK 72 million for 2026. The support includes SEK 50 million in core support to the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) for work with vaccines in low-income countries, and SEK 2 million to the Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health, a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics. The Government is also giving SEK 20 million in support for donations of medical technical equipment and medical supplies.

The Government is presenting a new support package focused on democracy and cultural heritage preservation in Ukraine of SEK 15.4 million for 2026–2028, SEK 8.7 million of which is for 2026. The support includes SEK 3 million to the National Democratic Institute (NDI), SEK 0.9 million to the Council of Europe and SEK 1.5 million to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) for 2026. The support to cultural heritage initiatives includes SEK 10 million to Gotlands Museum for 2026–2028.

Sweden is announcing an additional humanitarian support package to Lebanon of SEK 70 million. The support is being provided in light of the country’s worsening humanitarian situation due to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. It will contribute to addressing basic needs, protecting the civilian population and creating security for those who have been hardest-hit by the conflict.

The Government has decided on new support totalling SEK 12 million for initiatives preserving the cultural heritage of Ukraine through UNESCO for 2026–2027. The support will ensure the protection and long-term preservation of cultural heritage sites threatened by the war.

The Government has appointed Jakob Wernerman as Sida’s Acting Deputy Director-General. He took up the post on 16 April 2026.

The Government has presented a new support package to Ukraine for 2026 worth around SEK 240 million. The support includes SEK 150 million for the Ukrainian Red Cross for humanitarian operations. In addition, the support package is heavily focused on children’s needs, supporting the provision of school food in areas close to the frontline, promoting reforms for family-based care of children and supporting children’s mental health.