Swedish Development Cooperation With Palestine
Swedish Development Cooperation with Palestine
The development cooperation with Palestine is part of Sweden’s overall engagement, whose aims are the end of Israel’s occupation and a peaceful, sustainable two-state solution based on international law. Sweden is part of the EU’s common approach to the Middle East peace process.
Sweden’s bilateral development cooperation with Palestine is governed by - Strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with Palestine 2020 – 2024. The strategy is implemented mainly by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and partly by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA).
Sida’s activities under the strategy will contribute to the following objectives:
Human rights, democracy, the rule of law and gender equality
- Improved conditions for individuals and civil society to participate in and influence political processes, and greater respect for human rights
- Strengthened democratic public institutions, including reduced corruption and increased accountability
- Greater gender equality, including increased access to and respect for sexual and reproductive health and rights
Environment and climate
- Better sustainable livelihood opportunities and sustainable use of natural resources
- Enhanced capacity of public authorities and civil society to contribute to environmental improvement and increased resilience to climate change
Inclusive economic development
- Improved conditions for small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to contribute to economic development and productive employment and decent work, especially for women and young people
The activities of the Folke Bernadotte Academy will contribute to the following objective:
Inclusive peace
- Enhanced conditions primarily for key Palestinian actors, with a particular focus on women and young people, to contribute to inclusive peacebuilding processes
In addition to the long-term development cooperation Sweden provides through the strategy, Sweden is also a core donor to The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and provides humanitarian assistance to the West Bank and Gaza.
Important links:
Development and aid
Sweden has a long tradition of generous and ambitious development aid. Development cooperation is about helping to enable poor people to improve their living conditions. Swedish development aid is often channelled through international organisations such as the UN and the EU. Humanitarian assistance refers to Sweden’s activities to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain the human dignity of those affected by natural disasters, armed conflicts or other similar circumstances.
