Ending extreme poverty and improving global health go hand in hand. Good health isn’t just about surviving — it’s about thriving. People can work, earn an income, and support their families when they are healthy. Strong health gives people a confident outlook for the future.
Sweden holds a significant role in supporting global health with more than 10% of its official development assistance (ODA) spent on improving health in the Global South and geographical areas of prioritization such as Ukraine. ODA refers to funding from wealthier nations to assist countries in need. It is the largest source of foreign aid globally and plays a crucial role in efforts to reduce poverty.
The report Sweden’s Development Assistance for Health 2023 highlights how Sweden is making a real difference in the lives of people around the world. By supporting key areas like vaccines, clean water, maternal care, and combating infectious diseases, Sweden’s aid strengthens communities and gives families the tools they need to live better, healthier lives.
Sweden's new aid strategy, "Development Assistance for a New Era," prioritizes global health as a central focus. It aims to increase preparedness for future pandemics, support the most vulnerable, build sustainable health systems, and ensure everyone’s right to sexual and reproductive health.
Women’s Health: A Cornerstone of Change
Let’s explore the vital role Sweden plays in advancing women's health. Nearly half of Sweden’s health aid is directed toward improving sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This includes expanding access to contraception, promoting comprehensive sexual education, and preventing harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). It also supports efforts to prevent HIV.
But Sweden’s impact goes far beyond policy statements. Through initiatives like the Global Safe Abortion Dialogue Network, Sweden has improved access to abortion medicines. By partnering with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Sweden has helped 270,000 girls avoid FGM and helped enable 2.4 million safe births in conflict-affected areas. These initiatives aren’t just about health — they’re about empowerment and protecting fundamental human rights. By ensuring women and girls have access to critical resources, Sweden is helping them take control of their futures and build stronger, healthier communities.
Supporting Ukraine’s Health System
Ukraine’s health system has been pushed to its limits by the ongoing conflict. In response, Sweden has stepped up, ensuring healthcare access for as many as 5.6 million people with chronic conditions, enabling life-saving emergency surgeries for 38,000 trauma patients, and delivering vital mental health care to 23,000 individuals in need.
These efforts underscore the power of meaningful action in times of crisis. Sweden’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s health system demonstrates a strong commitment to standing with those most affected by war and instability, helping them rebuild hope and resilience.
Partnerships for Impact
Sweden takes a multifaceted approach to its aid efforts, allocating funding across multilateral organizations like the UN and EU while also providing direct support to governments and civil society organizations. This strategy ensures that assistance is both wide-reaching and deeply impactful, addressing needs at both global and local levels.
During its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Sweden prioritized global health, leading to significant milestones. One key achievement was the EUs adoption of an initiative to combat antimicrobial resistance. Sweden also led the negotiations on the Council's conclusions on the EU’s new strategy for global health, which was adopted in January 2024. As the EU and its Member States are the world’s largest donors to global health, these results have significant impact throughout EU development cooperation.
These partnerships demonstrate that lasting change is only possible through collaboration at every level.
Why Gavi and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria
Sweden’s support for major organizations like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria underscores the critical role these organizations play in saving lives. Through vaccines, treatments, and prevention programs, they protect millions of people in the world’s poorest regions from preventable diseases.
Without sustained financial contributions from countries like Sweden, decades of progress could be at risk. Millions of children might miss out on life-saving vaccines, while deaths from diseases such as HIV, TB, and malaria could rise again. Fragile healthcare systems in vulnerable areas might collapse, leaving communities without basic care.
Sweden, alongside other like-minded nations, plays a key role in making sure vaccines and treatments are available to those in need, that health systems get stronger, and that hard-won progress in global health is preserved for future generations.
Looking Ahead to Gavi’s Replenishment Meeting in Brussels
In March 2025, world leaders and global health advocates will gather in Brussels for the Gavi replenishment, a pivotal event that will shape the future funding of Gavi’s mission to provide life-saving vaccines to millions of children worldwide.
For Sweden, the event is an opportunity to reaffirm its leadership in global health. By committing to sustained and predictable funding, Sweden can help Gavi with its vital work.
As the global community prepares for this milestone event, Sweden’s role will be pivotal — not just as a financial contributor but also as a moral leader, championing health as a universal right. The Gavi replenishment meeting is a chance to renew a shared vision of a world where every child, regardless of where they are born, has access to vaccines and the opportunity to live a healthy life.
Good health is a foundation — it loosens the grip of poverty and unlocks a future full of possibilities. This is why health isn’t just a fundamental right; it’s a guiding principle for countries emphasizing global health in their ODA.