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Sweden &

Kenya

Development and aid

The development cooperation between Sweden and Kenya goes back more than 50 years. The current cooperation strategy 2016-2020 is guided by Kenya’s Vision 2030 as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within the framework of the current cooperation strategy, Swedish development cooperation with Kenya is to contribute to a better environment, limited climate impact and strengthened resilience, the democratic development of society and improved opportunities for poor people to support themselves. Development cooperation is also to contribute to the prevention of conflicts in Kenyan society. In addition, it is to support a transition from development cooperation to broader economic relations.

The strategy will apply to the period 2016–2020 and comprises a total of SEK 1 750 million. In 2016 the total Swedish disbursed support to Kenya amounted to 315 MSEK (approximately KES 3,78 billion).

Swedish development cooperation within the framework of the strategy is expected to contribute to:

1) A better environment, limited climate impact and greater resilience to environmental impacts, climate change and natural disasters

• Strengthened management of natural resources and ecosystem services

• Improved capacity of public institutions and other actors at national and local level to contribute to environmental sustainability, increased resilience to environmental impacts, climate change and natural disasters, and reduced climate impact

• Increased production of and improved access to renewable energy

• Improved access to environmentally sustainable basic services

2) Strengthened democracy and gender equality, and greater respect for human rights

• Strengthened democratic institutions at national and local levels

• Strengthened rule of law

• Strengthened media and civil society capacity to promote democratic development and accountability

• Strengthened capacity among public institutions and civil society organizations that promote gender equality and respect for human rights, with a focus on women and girls

3) Better opportunities and tools to enable poor people to improve their living conditions

• Increased productivity, sustainability and processing in small-scale agriculture

• Improved opportunities – particularly for women and young people – for productive employment with decent working conditions

• Improved access to social protection for people living in poverty

• Strengthened conditions for free and fair trade and investments that benefit sustainable development

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.