The Government reforms development assistance, with focus on freedom, empowerment and sustainable growth

“With today’s decision we are taking important steps to implement the Government’s reform agenda so that development assistance becomes more long-term in its approach, transparent and effective. We are also developing the Transparency Guarantee to ensure that Swedish citizens gain greater insight into how their tax money is used,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell. 

The Government is now setting clear goals for Sida, including increasing synergies between development cooperation, promotion and trade. This will strengthen the economic growth of partner countries and improve the living conditions of people living in poverty and oppression. To a greater extent, development assistance activities must provide leverage to mobilise private capital. In addition, a clearer focus on countering irregular migration will be introduced in development cooperation.

“The Government wants Sweden’s development assistance to be used as effectively as possible, and that it is used where it does the most good. No country has been lifted out of poverty through international development assistance alone. Stimulating economic growth and trade in our partner countries is thus a key starting point for the Government’s efforts to tackle poverty around the world. Limited resources and increasing needs abroad mean that the Government must set difficult but necessary priorities for Sweden’s development assistance,” says Mr Forssell. 

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine also represents a paradigm shift for development assistance. EU integration and economic development, and peace and security in Ukraine and our neighbourhood, are fundamental in the efforts to tackle the challenges facing Sweden and Europe. The Government’s strong focus on Ukraine and our neighbourhood is a key component in the shift of development assistance policy and is expressed in the priorities the Government has set in the appropriation directions for Sida.