This report analyses how adjustments of Swedish aid were managed within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Sida during the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, it contributes to knowledge on how development cooperation was impacted by the pandemic, in addition to describing how adjustments were implemented in practice, and identifying lessons-learned for future crises.
Key conclusions:
- The overall strategic direction of Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian assistance remained unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Broad strategies with a high degree of flexibility and a decentralised decision-making process facilitated reprogramming when needed.
- Sweden’s financial response specifically for the coronavirus pandemic is estimated at 6 percent of the total budget for official development assistance. This support was mainly directed towards the health sector and social infrastructure.
- Overall, internal systems adapted well to the challenges, although there were some critical shortcomings in preparedness within the areas of communication, coordination, and human resource management.