International development cooperation

Through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Sweden is providing an additional SEK 149 million to the civilian population in Sudan. This support will help meet growing humanitarian needs resulting from the armed conflict that broke out in April this year. Parts of the support will also go towards food security and protection of human rights.

The education sector in Ukraine has been severely affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since February 2022, more than 3 000 preschools, schools and other educational establishments have been damaged, and 360 have been completely destroyed. Sweden is now providing SEK 75 million to the UNESCO Emergency Fund. The Fund is, among other things, supporting renovation and reconstruction of damaged and destroyed shelters in preschools and schools.

Through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Sweden is providing an additional SEK 60 million in humanitarian assistance to the vulnerable civilian population in Gaza, where the majority of those affected are women and children.

Today, 9 November, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell has attended an international conference in Paris on support to the civilian population in Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the conference, which gathered a large number of donors, aid organisations and countries from the region to discuss humanitarian access to civilians in Gaza, where there is still a shortage of essential supplies.

The Government has presented a new package of humanitarian aid in light of the developments in Gaza. The aid, which amounts to SEK 150 million, aims to meet the most urgent needs and focuses on women and children.

On 26 October, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell visited the Saudi capital, Riyadh for meetings with the Saudi Government and to participate in the international Future Investment Initiative innovation conference.

The funds will support Moldova’s vulnerable households through the winter, and contribute to long-term energy efficiency and expansion of infrastructure in the country.

Armenia has received more than 100 000 refugees as a result of Azerbaijan’s military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Sweden is supporting the humanitarian response and Armenia’s refugee reception through targeted humanitarian support, extensive core support to humanitarian organisations and long-term reform support.

The Government is allocating SEK 15 million to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to support refugee reception in Armenia. This targeted assistance is being provided in light of the developments in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In response to the attacks against Israel by the terrorist organisation Hamas, the Government will suspend aid to Palestine until further notice. At the same time, Sida will be instructed to conduct a review of aid to Palestine and report on this by 1 December 2023. Humanitarian aid will not be affected by the suspension.

The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is increasingly critical following recent developments, and a large number of people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is providing SEK 15 million in support to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to meet people’s urgent needs, including medical transport, food and cash grants to be able to purchase the most essential items.

The needs for assistance in Libya are immense after the country was hit hard by Storm Daniel, which caused widespread flooding. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is providing initial support of SEK 15 million for life-saving activities in the form of food provision, medicines and other essential emergency items to support survivors.

Sweden’s development assistance for health amounted to approximately SEK 6 billion in 2022. This report focuses on the contributions Sweden’s development assistance for health has made in four key areas, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and prevention and management of health threats.

National Statement at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) delivered by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström on behalf of Sweden. New York, September 2023 Check against delivery

The Government is now increasing support to the World Food Programme (WFP) by SEK 239 million to immediately address the deepened global hunger crisis, which has been exacerbated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The funds will be used to address the huge needs in many of the world’s hardest hit countries.

On 18–26 September, several high-level meetings will be held in connection with the opening of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters in New York. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Health Care Acko Ankarberg Johansson will attend.

On 4–5 September, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell is visiting Cairo for meetings with the Egyptian Government and Swedish and Egyptian companies. Egypt is Sweden’s second-largest export market on the African continent, and the aim of the trip is to further trade between the countries.

On 21 June, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell attended an annual conference on Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. The discussions focused on how to facilitate the business sector’s engagement in reconstruction efforts.

The Government has adopted a new strategy for Sweden’s recovery and reform cooperation with Ukraine for 2023–2027. The strategy will provide a total of approximately EUR 522 million (SEK 6 billion) and is Sweden’s largest-ever bilateral development assistance strategy.

EUR 5.6 billion has been pledged to the Syrian people and Syrian refugees in the neighbouring countries during the annual donor conference in Brussels.