Policy Updates

On July 1, 2025, the Swedish government has freed up nearly SEK1.7 billion (US$177 million) to strengthen its civilian and humanitarian support to Ukraine and respond to other global humanitarian needs, reprioritizing funds from the 2025 ODA budget, including the phasing-out of development strategies for Afghanistan and the Asia-Pacific region.

The reallocation reflects the government’s commitment to respond flexibly to international crises. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell emphasized the need to reinforce support for Ukraine while addressing rising global humanitarian demands.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Sweden has provided approximately SEK12.8 billion (US$1.3 billion) in civilian and humanitarian support to Ukraine. The newly announced funds will supplement these efforts, ensuring continued assistance amid ongoing conflict and broader international challenges.

On June 27, 2025, the Swedish government adopted a new development cooperation strategy for gender equality and the freedom and empowerment of women and girls, with a total budget of SEK800 million (US$84 million) covering the period 2025–2028.

The strategy will be implemented by Sida and targets global, regional, and national levels, with a strong focus on local ownership and rights-based approaches.

The strategy outlines four primary objectives:

• Combat sexual and gender-based violence and challenge harmful norms;
• Promote women’s and girls’ economic empowerment and access to equal rights;
• Strengthen political participation and societal influence of women and girls; and
• Improve access to disaggregated data for gender-sensitive policy and programming.

Aligned with Sweden’s broader ODA priorities and global frameworks like the EU Gender Action Plan, the strategy emphasizes intersectional analysis, transparency, and collaboration with civil society and the private sector. It is designed to respond to growing global pushback against gender equality.

On June 13, 2025, the Swedish Government adopted a new humanitarian assistance strategy for 2025–2029, implemented by Sida.

The key priorities include:

• Delivering life-saving assistance and alleviating suffering;
• Ensuring cost-effectiveness, transformative approaches, and innovation;
• Encouraging partnerships with civil society and local actors for fast, targeted response; and
• Strengthening respect for humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law, and access.

Swedish Development Minister Benjamin Dousa stated that Sweden aims to protect the most vulnerable with life-saving initiatives amid growing global crises. The strategy reflects a commitment to principled, impactful, and locally anchored humanitarian assistance.

On May 26, 2025, GGF and Sida announced a partnership to expand green lending in the Western Balkans and the EU’s Eastern Neighborhood. Sida has issued an unfunded guarantee of EUR60 million (US$65million), enabling GGF to provide EUR120 million (US$130 million) in loans to private businesses and households through financial intermediaries and direct company lending.

This support targets urgent investments in decarbonization, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. The partnership marks GGF’s first risk-sharing guarantee, enhancing its ability to back green initiatives and prepare financial institutions and businesses for upcoming EU market opportunities.

GGF was initiated as a public-private partnership by EIB and KfW, with backing from the EU, Germany’s BMZ, and other international investors. Sida’s involvement bridges the investment gap in high-risk markets and complements Swedish ODA and EU programs.

This collaboration is a major milestone for green finance in Southeast Europe, the Caucasus, Middle East, and North Africa, supporting sustainable energy solutions and emissions reduction.

On April 28, 2025, SIDA contributed EUR2million (US$2 million) to Afghanistan through the WFP and to support critical nutrition programs, which will enable the WFP to distribute over 550 metric tons of specialized nutritious food to 125,000 Afghan mothers and children over three months to combat malnutrition.

Between 2021 and 2024, SIDA contributed over EUR32million (US$35million) to WFP, establishing itself as a top donor. WFP remains a critical lifeline for Afghan women and children, who make up over half of the 12 million people reached by WFP in Afghanistan in 2024.

This partnership underscores Sweden's commitment to addressing Afghanistan's nutrition crisis and ensuring vulnerable populations receive the support they need.

On April 23, 2025, Belgium and Sweden, through Enabel and the SIDA, have assumed the Co-Presidency of the PN for 2025–2026.\
The PN, a collaboration of 25 European international cooperation organizations, fosters knowledge exchange, strategic dialogue, and joint initiatives with EU institutions. Under the leadership of Enabel and SIDA, the network will prioritize contributions to the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, focusing on energy, critical raw materials, migration, and digitalization. It will also strengthen partnerships with the private sector and align technical assistance with financial instruments.

Other key initiatives include advancing the Team Europe approach, addressing post-war reconstruction in Ukraine, Gaza, and Syria, and engaging in EU-level events such as the Global Gateway Forum. This Co-Presidency aims to enhance the EU’s collective response to global challenges through strategic and visible international cooperation.

On April 18, 2025, Sweden announced a US$13 million humanitarian assistance package to support over a million Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh which will be distributed through eight partners, including UNHCR, WFP, Norwegian Refugee Council, Islamic Relief, Action Against Hunger, Save the Children, and International Rescue Committee.

The assistance aims to address urgent needs such as food security, nutrition, healthcare, protection services, emergency education, and access to water and sanitation.

Additionally, Sweden is collaborating with Start Fund Bangladesh to empower 26 local and national organizations to respond to emergencies. This initiative underscores Sweden's commitment to supporting Bangladesh in managing humanitarian needs, particularly in the world's largest refugee camp.

On February 12, 2025, the Swedish Government presented its Foreign Declaration, which emphasized local area security, trade, and regional issues while refraining from criticizing the Trump administration's development policies.

The declaration continues to describe gender equality as a core value but shifted focus towards economic empowerment rather than rights, with insufficient references to the UN's agenda for women, peace, and security.

Concord raised concerns regarding Sweden's commitment to global humanitarian issues during a time of heightened international instability, particularly in lights of the omissions of US criticisms. The decision not to mention the Trump administration's saga against USAID was noted as particularly striking, undermining Sweden's potential impact on global development efforts.

Concord also criticized that the climate crisis was inadequately addressed as a security concern, and the declaration lacked urgency in responding to the needs of those most affected by climate change. While affirming that international law and human rights are foundational to Sweden's foreign policy, Concord asserted that the government has not fully recognized CSOs as agents of change, limiting their role to that of providers of humanitarian assistance.

Concord applauded that, according to the declaration the government intends to focus on "forgotten crises" such as those in the DRC and Sudan, but the reduction of support for development and peacebuilding in these regions raised concerns about the effectiveness of integrated approaches necessary for long-term solutions.

Although the Swedish government aims to maintain its status as a significant humanitarian donor, recent cuts to development budgets threaten to compromise Sweden's contributions to global development. Concord called on the Swedish government to articulate a clear strategy that balances national interests with global responsibilities.

On February 12, 2025, representatives from Research Sweden and Concord voiced their concerns regarding what it described as Sweden's diminishing commitment to global sustainable development and 'abandonment' of Agenda 2030, particularly in light of the US' apparent retreat from its role as leading OECD DAC donor.

With only five years remaining to achieve the UN SDGs, Concord emphasized that the apparent lack of focus on Agenda 2030 within Swedish foreign policy is seen as detrimental, especially during a time marked by heightened global uncertainty and instability.

Recent shifts in Swedish government policy have led to reduced funding and fewer assignments linked to the agenda. A recent study revealed a significant decline in appropriations related to Agenda 2030, dropping from 19.5% in 2022 to under 1% in 2025. Additionally, the dismantling of the national coordinator for Agenda 2030 and the weakening of statistical monitoring further undermine the initiative’s effectiveness.

Concord noted that the Swedish government’s withdrawal of research funding for global development issues raises further alarms, as it threatens Sweden's position as a knowledge leader on sustainability. The absence of a clear focus on global development in the new research bill could compromise Sweden's ability to contribute effectively to international sustainability efforts. Concord highlighted the urgent need for the government to refocus its efforts on fulfilling its commitments under Agenda 2030, as abandoning it could jeopardize Sweden's influence, credibility, and security on the global stage.

Concord called on the Swedish government to outline concrete steps for reinvigorating its commitment to the 2030 Agenda and demonstrating how Sweden can contribute meaningfully to achieving its global development goals.

On January 15, 2025, the Swedish government announced a SEK4.3 billion (US$426 million) investment in global health development, specifically targeting SRHR.

This funding will support a five-year strategy, implemented by Sida, from 2025 to 2029, aimed at addressing pressing health challenges exacerbated by crises, conflicts, climate change, and global health threats.

The initiative responds to the alarming pushback against human rights, particularly affecting girls, women, and LGBTQI+ individuals, which has drastically reduced access to essential medical services. The strategy focuses on the most vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries, with an emphasis on improving health conditions, strengthening health systems, and enhancing disease monitoring.

Key activities will include increasing access to maternity care, contraceptives, and safe abortions, ultimately aiming to reduce practices such as female genital cutting and child marriage, as well as preventing unintended pregnancies and unsafe births. Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa stated that this initiative will help ensure more children receive basic vaccinations and contain infectious diseases at earlier stages.