The Swedish government has announced an investment of SEK 4.3 billion in global health, focusing on enhancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has been assigned to implement a five-year strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation in health and SRHR from 2025 to 2029.
Current crises, conflicts, climate change, and global health threats undermine long-term positive trends in global health. Additionally, there has been an alarming increase in resistance against human rights, especially concerning the SRHR of girls, women, and LGBTQI+ individuals. This resistance significantly reduces access to medical services for many people worldwide, making it increasingly difficult for these groups to maintain good health, realise their full potential, and contribute to social development.
The government has decided to enhance its efforts by investing SEK 4.3 billion in response to these challenges. Sida is responsible for carrying out the strategy over the next five years, focusing on the most vulnerable individuals in low- and middle-income countries in greatest need.
This strategy aligns with the goals of the reform agenda for development assistance. It aims to improve conditions for good health, strengthen health systems, implement better preventive measures, enhance disease monitoring during outbreaks, counteract antibiotic resistance, and enable more individuals to access SRHR fully. Planned activities include increasing access to maternity care, contraceptives, and safe abortion services.
“Through this initiative, Sweden is contributing to fewer girls being subjected to genital mutilation, being forced into child marriage, unintended pregnancies, unsafe births and unsafe abortions. The initiative is also expected to help prevent more diseases, ensure more children receive basic vaccinations and contain infectious diseases at an earlier stage,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.
