In 2020, the Swedish government adopted a revised cooperation strategy for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region that will be implemented during 2021-2025.

Swedish support to the region shall, according to the strategy, be concentrated to three areas of cooperation:

1. Strengthened democracy and gender equality, and greater respect for human rights

2. Environmental improvement, reduced climate impact and increased resilience to environmental impacts, climate change and natural disasters (with a focus on transboundary water resources)

3. Improved opportunities for regional sustainable economic development as a prerequisite for enabling impoverished people to improve their living conditions

4. Peaceful and inclusive societies with strengthed capacity and processes to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts by peaceful means, taking into account women's participation.

5. Peaceful development in Yemen with inclusive dialogue at different levels, strengthened respect for human rights and increased capacity to provide basic public services.

The MENA strategy will be implemented between 2021 and 2025 and will comprise a total of 260 MUSD.

Sweden also supports bilateral development cooperation with Palestine and Iraq. Additionally, Sweden has a regional strategy for the Syria crisis.

If you want to know more about Sida’s work in the MENA region, read more on their website.