International development cooperation

The Government has decided to provide SEK 20 million in support to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in 2025. For a number of years, Sweden has been the third-largest donor in the world in support of free and independent media, and this decision is part of our continued efforts to support journalists and independent media. Following the United States’ withdrawal of its support to RFE/RL, people in many countries risk not having access to free media. Sweden’s support to RFE/RL helps journalists continue to broadcast independent and fact-based information to locations where media freedom is limited.

Sweden is the world’s third-largest donor in support of free and independent media. This position is now being strengthened with its new SEK 70 million in support to one of the world’s foremost networks for investigative journalism, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard received Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali Nafti in Stockholm on 1 April. The purpose of the visit was to deepen cooperation, primarily in terms of trade, but also to discuss regional and global issues and challenges. Mr Ali Nafti was accompanied by a business delegation.

The CEO of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Carlos Manuel Rodríguez will visit Stockholm on 1–2 April for meetings with Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa and Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari. In connection with the visit, meetings will also be held with the Riksdag’s Committee on Environment and Agriculture, the business sector, universities, civil society organisations and representatives of public authorities.

On Monday 17 March, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa visited Uganda’s crisis centre – which is established in the event of major disease outbreaks – in response to the ongoing spread of the Ebola virus in the country. Sweden is providing SEK 20 million to Uganda’s Ebola response, to be channelled through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

On 17–19 March, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa is travelling to Uganda. Mr Dousa will visit the north-western part of the country, where Sweden supports host communities that receive refugees.

The protracted conflict in Syria has created a severe humanitarian crisis. Two thirds of the population – around 17 million people – are considered in need of humanitarian support. The Government is therefore increasing its humanitarian support to Syria by a total of SEK 120 million, to be distributed between the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Today, 13 March, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa has announced that Sweden will increase development assistance to Ukraine by more than SEK 1.4 billion with the aim of strengthening Ukraine’s resilience and recovery.

In light of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Government has approved a new support package of SEK 300 million to address the acute needs of the civilian population. The support is to be distributed to the UN Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund, the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Development Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Growing political opposition around the world to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), especially abortion, risks having extremely serious consequences for women and girls. The Government has therefore approved an additional SEK 75 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The Government has instructed Sida to stop all direct governmental agency cooperation with Georgia. This comes in response to the serious deterioration of the democratic situation in the country.

Diana Janse, State Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa, visited the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila this week. The bank’s work on the green transition in Asia was one of many discussion topics during the visit. Also present on the trip was Sida Director-General Jakob Granit, as Sida is responsible for issuing a Swedish guarantee for increased climate financing in Asia.

On 13 February, the Government decided to task the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) with deploying observers to EU Election Observation Missions in 2025. Sweden’s participation will help enhance the conditions for free and fair elections. This is an important part of Sweden’s efforts to promote democracy, particularly in light of growing democratic backsliding across the globe.

Today, 12 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard presented the Government’s 2025 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. The Government’s foremost foreign policy priorities are support to Ukraine, security cooperation, and gender equality and women’s empowerment.

On 12 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard presented the 2025 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. Check against delivery.

The new support – totalling SEK 100 million – is expected to be channelled into Moldova’s energy vulnerability fund, which assists vulnerable households in managing elevated energy costs following the Russian Gazprom’s halting of its gas supplies. SEK 200

The strategy for Sweden’s global development cooperation on migration, returns and voluntary repatriation is an important part of the implementation of the Government’s new reform agenda for development assistance. The strategy is worth SEK 3 billion in total and applies for the years 2024–2028.

This strategy is part of Sweden’s overall development cooperation and foreign policy and will contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction and reform efforts between 13 July 2023 and 31 December 2027. The strategy comprises at total of SEK 9 billion.

On 28–29 January, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard visited Colombia together with a business delegation focused on mining and energy. The visit took place in the capital of Bogotá and the department of Chocó on Colombia’s Pacific Coast and highlights Sweden’s far-reaching cooperation with Colombia.