International development cooperation

The purpose of the strategy is to manage Sweden’s humanitarian aid via the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The overall objective of Sweden’s humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity for the benefit of people in need who have been, or are at risk of becoming, affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters or other disaster situations. The strategy applies during the period 2017–2020 and covers the funds allocated in the appropriation directions of Sida for each budget year.

Press release from UNICEF on the occasion of the visit to Stockholm by Justin Forsyth, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director.

The need for peace in the world is greater than it has been for a long time. The number of conflicts in recent years has increased. Violence in countries such as Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan has turned back decades of economic, social and political development. Climate change, with the accompanying droughts, flooding or lack of freshwater, is accelerating and aggravating the challenges that already exist in fragile states.

In connection with World Oceans Day on 8 June, Sweden and Fiji will lead a high-level conference at the United Nations. The conference, the biggest UN event Sweden has been involved in arranging since 1972, will take place in New York on 5–9 June 2017 and will focus on saving the world’s oceans.

At the UN Climate Summit in Cancún in 2010, the parties agreed to establish a new climatefund: the Green Climate Fund (GCF). This strategy forms the basis of Sweden’s cooperation with GCF for the remainder of the Fund’s initial resource mobilisation period, 2016–2018.

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) was established in 1991 with the mandate to contribute to global environmental public goods through financial support to environmental and climate elements in development projects in low- and middle-income countries. This strategy forms the basis of the Government’s cooperation with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the trust funds it administers during 2016–2018.

Within the framework of this strategy, Swedish development cooperation with Liberia will contribute to peacebuilding and statebuilding. The aim is to help strengthen Liberia’s public services and create the conditions for peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development.

Within the framework of this strategy, Swedish development cooperation with Kenya is to contribute to a better environment, limited climate impact and strengthened resilience, the democratic development of society and improved opportunities for poor people to support themselves.

On Monday 11 April, an adaptation of the organisation and working procedures of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs enters into force to better enable the Ministry to address the challenges facing Sweden’s foreign, security and development policy in terms of rapid and complex changes around the world.

Within the framework of this strategy, Swedish development cooperation with Ethiopia is to contribute to a better environment, limited climate impact and enhanced resilience to climate change, as well as improved opportunities for poor people to make use of their rights.

Presented by Mrs Margot Wallström, Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Parliamentary Debate on Foreign Affairs, Wednesday, 24 February 2016.

This strategy forms the basis of Sweden’s cooperation with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the period 2016–2018. The strategy will also guide Sweden’s positions in negotiations on the fourteenth replenishment of the African Development Fund (AfDF14), which will be ongoing during most of 2016.

This strategy forms the basis of Sweden’s cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (AsDB) for the period 2016–2019. The strategy will also guide Sweden’s positions in negotiations on the twelfth replenishment of the Asian Development Fund (AsDF12) which will be concluded in 2016.

This strategy will form the basis of Sweden’s cooperation with the World Bank Group (WBG). The strategy will also guide Sweden’s positions in negotiations on the replenishment of IDA181 which will be ongoing throughout 2016.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Crown Princess Victoria as one of sixteen Advocates to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals. The Advocates' role will be to "leverage their unique standing and leadership" to promote the messages and encourage partnerships with governments, the private sector and civil society.

The aim of the activities within the scope of this strategy is to contribute to strengthening the resilience of the Syrian population and of vulnerable groups in Syria's neighbouring countries that are being severely affected by the conflict. The strategy will also contribute to strengthening democracy and gender equality and to greater respect of human rights in Syria and for refugees from Syria in neighbouring countries. The strategy will apply to the period 2016–2020 and will comprise a total of SEK 1.7 billion. The initiatives encompassed by this strategy are expected to contribute to:

The conflict in Syria will soon enter its fifth year. At least 6.5 million Syrians are displaced in their own country and over 4 million have fled from Syria. This corresponds to more than half of the Syrian population.