International development cooperation

The Government has approved an additional SEK 500 million in support for heating and electricity supply in Ukraine. According to World Bank calculations, the support could help generate electricity for 185 000 people, making this Sweden’s largest contribution yet to Ukrainian energy supply. 

The Government has approved SEK 2 million in support to the inhabitants of Gammalsvenskby in Ukraine. The village, which was founded by Swedes in 1782, has been under immense pressure since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The new support will be used to meet the inhabitants’ immediate needs during the winter. The initiative also means that the village’s children will have the opportunity to attend a summer camp on Gotland next year. The support is a first step in Sweden’s commitment to rebuilding the village’s cultural heritage in the long term.

A full-scale civil war has been ongoing in Sudan since April 2023. The war exacerbates an already serious political, economic and humanitarian crisis. Sudan is among the countries receiving the most support from Sweden in 2024. This support includes development and humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan. Sweden also supports ongoing diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire.

Today, the Government has appointed Ulrik Tideström as special envoy for Ukraine’s reconstruction, business sector and development.

As a result of the disputed election in Venezuela and as part of an upcoming initiative aiming to improve conditions for free elections, the Swedish Government intends to increase its support to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and independent media in Venezuela by SEK 10 million.

The strategy applies in 2022–2026 and provides the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) with a total of SEK 1.2 billion and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) with SEK 45 million.

The Government has decided to begin a phase-out of Sweden’s strategy for development cooperation with Iraq. This phase-out will be done responsibly, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) have been tasked with concluding operations by 30 June 2025.

The Government has decided to support the Reporters Shield initiative with SEK 5 million over a two-year period. Reporters Shield is a new long-term support programme that provides legal support to journalists and other media actors operating in repressive environments when they are targeted by baseless lawsuits.

Through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) humanitarian fund, to which Sweden is a major donor, it was possible to provide immediate assistance to people affected by the missile attack on the children’s hospital in Ohmatdyt on 8 July. The Government is now preparing a decision to provide an additional SEK 5 million in urgent humanitarian assistance to the ongoing response. This support will be channelled through UNICEF and go directly to the affected children and their families.

The Government’s new reform agenda, ‘Development assistance for a new era – freedom, empowerment and sustainable growth’, has a particular focus on improved health for the most vulnerable people. Initiatives are needed to improve prospects of good health, ensure functioning health and medical care systems, and strengthen preparedness, in order to better address health threats at global level. Sweden has an important role to play in these efforts.

The Government is paying out SEK 100 million in core support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The disbursement is being made in response to the urgent humanitarian situation in Gaza and in light of the new measures UNRWA has taken to strengthen internal supervision and control.

The first-ever Swedish minister-led business delegation visited Ukraine this week. The delegation was headed by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell. In Kyiv, the delegation met with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and held roundtable discussions with a tailored line-up of Ukrainian ministers, including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The new Swedish trade office was also inaugurated.

The Government has decided to close Sweden’s Embassies in Bamako (Mali) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). To continue pursuing effective engagement in the Sahel and West Africa, the Government has also decided to initiate a process to establish a new Embassy in Dakar (Senegal).

This regional strategy for the Syria crisis forms part of Sweden’s overall development and foreign policy and will help to strengthen local resilience among the Syrian population, Syrian refugees and vulnerable groups in the refugee-hosting communities of neighbouring countries Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye, all of which are major regional recipients of Syrian refugees.

This year’s Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2024) is being held against the backdrop of further intensified Russian attacks against the people of Ukraine and its infrastructure.

June 11, 2024

On 10–11 June, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell will travel to Berlin to take part in the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference together with Business Sweden’s CEO Jan Larsson and Director-General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) Jakob Granit. This year’s conference will focus in particular on the important role of the private sector in reconstruction, the importance of international cooperation and the human dimension. During his visit to Berlin, Mr Forssell will also meet with the German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze. He will also visit the German Vattenfall office.

Sweden’s strategy for civilian crisis management and peace promotion is a part of the governance of Sweden’s collective development, foreign and security policy. The strategy will contribute to strengthening the multilateral organisations’ capability to prevent, predict, manage and resolve crises and conflicts and help promote sustainable peace, security, democracy and increased respect for human rights and freedoms and the rule of law.

The Government has adopted a new regional strategy for the Syria crisis. It comprises SEK 880 million over three years and is being implemented by Sida. Sweden’s engagement is aimed at supporting the Syrian population in Syria, Syrian refugees and vulnerable groups in host societies in the neighbouring countries Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye.

Speech by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell on the occasion of Africa Day. Egyptian Embassy, Stockholm, 28 May. Check against delivery.