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:

• Sida.se
• fba.se
• Openaid.se