Government overhauls development assistance to Africa, Latin America and Asia

“The new strategies are the Government’s single biggest step to reduce the lack of coherence in Swedish development assistance. We are making a substantial reduction in the number of targets so as to focus on what is most important. Development assistance will now be based on what we know works, rather than simply doing what’s been done before. Research shows that growth and the reduction of poverty are achieved by institutions that enable accountability, participation, due process and broader economic opportunities,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.

Under the Government decisions, Sida is tasked with implementing new strategies for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Colombia, Guatemala, Cuba and Bangladesh for the 2026–2031 period, as well as for regional development cooperation in Latin America. 

The new strategies are part of the reorganisation of Swedish development assistance, a key aspect of which is to reduce the total number of strategies and simplify governance. Over the course of its electoral period, the Government will have reduced the number of development assistance strategies from almost 70 to 32 by the end of 2026.

From now on, the new development assistance will focus on promoting growth, while at the same time creating improved livelihood opportunities. Democratic development will also be supported, as well as initiatives to increase respect for human rights and freedoms and the rule of law. In several of the new development assistance strategies, the Government has emphasised the importance of inclusive institutions.