Sida's work in Cuba
In Cuba, Sida works to strengthen respect for human rights, democracy, the rule of law and gender equality. Sida contributes to strengthening the conditions for people to improve their living conditions and for a better environment.
Some challenges
Limited influence
Cubans’ ability to influence politics and society is severely limited. Cuba is a one-party state without free and democratic elections. In 2021, the largest protests in Cuba in over 20 years took place. People showed their dissatisfaction with the lack of respect for human rights, the lack of food, medicines and the handling of the pandemic. The regime responded forcefully to the protesters, many of whom have been given long sentences, including several minors.1
Vulnerable to climate change
Cuba is highly vulnerable to climate change. Floods and droughts have become more frequent. Biodiversity is under threat due to factors such as land use change, deforestation and overexploitation of natural resources.
Economic crisis
The economic crisis is hitting people’s social and economic rights hard. Among other things, the population is affected by regular power cuts and acute shortages of food, medicines and other basic necessities.2
Examples of what Sida has contributed to
Strengthening human rights
Sida helps Cuban organisations to conduct active rights work to strengthen the rights of particularly vulnerable groups: LGBTI people, Afro-Cubans, and women who have been subjected to gender-based violence.
Strengthening the environment and protecting biodiversity
Sida’s support helps to develop the country’s climate action and support climate-adapted practices for sustainable agriculture and forestry.
Reforms for small businesses
Cuba is renewing and transforming its economy through policy reforms and is now allowing small businesses in more professional areas than before. Sida’s assistance contributes to this change, with a particular focus on empowering women and young people to run small businesses.
Sida's development cooperation in Cuba
Sida supports projects and organisations through civil society and the UN that strengthen respect for human rights, counteract men’s violence against women, strengthen the rights of LGBTI people, and increase resistance to climate change. Aid also supports the ability of small business owners to become self-sufficient.
Civil and political rights, such as freedom of expression, are severely restricted. Dissenters are detained and harassed by police and security services. Activists are prevented from travelling and the state holds political prisoners. Cuban society is characterised by patriarchal structures and sexism. LGBTI people are a vulnerable group, even though discrimination based on sexual orientation has been prohibited since 2019.3
Here are examples of what Sida supports:
Sida supports civil society with a focus on increased rights for LGBTI people and Afro-Cubans. The fact that many young people choose to leave the country is a challenge for the country. Gender-based violence is common. Sida supports several Cuban civil society organisations to reduce gender-based violence.
Read more about the work at Openaid
Like other small island states, Cuba is highly vulnerable to climate change. Floods and droughts have become more frequent. The country has a rich biodiversity: plants, mammals, reptiles, fish and birds that provide important ecosystem services, livelihoods and income from tourism. Biodiversity is threatened by the effects of changes in land use, deforestation and overexploitation of natural resources.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
Through cooperation with the regional organisation CATIE, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, municipalities and smallholders can strengthen their knowledge of climate issues, biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture and forestry adapted to climate change. This helps them to become more resilient to natural disasters, improve their living conditions and food security. The knowledge gained from the project is incorporated into local development plans to improve climate policies through the sustainable agriculture and forestry practices developed.
Read more about the work at Openaid
Large-scale monocultures, where only one crop is grown, dominate in Cuba. Half of the productive farmland is used to grow sugar cane. Diakonia supports farmers’ co-operatives in growing a wider range of crops on their land. This leads to increased resilience to climate change and contributes to biodiversity while ensuring food security, providing a more varied diet and creating employment in rural areas.
Read more about the work on Openaid
Cubans are experiencing the worst food shortages in 25 years. More than two-thirds of Cuba’s population depends on financial support from family members who have left the country.4 Up to 80 per cent of all food is imported.5 Power cuts, rising food prices and shortages of goods and fuel are hitting the population hard. At the same time, the crisis has forced a renewed process of economic reform, expanding opportunities for private small and medium-sized enterprises.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
Through Diakonia’s partnerships with Cuban organisations, Sida supports small businesses and farmers. Small farmers can receive training in organic farming and participate in networks with others who have the same profession. Urban families have started growing their own crops to diversify their diet. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stimulates small businesses by strengthening their capacity and development and sharing experiences. Aid focuses on women’s economic empowerment and youth participation.
Read more about the work at Openaid
- About the July 2021 protests on the Human Rights Watch website
- About the economic and humanitarian situation in Cuba on the Human Rights Watch website
- The situation of LGBTI people in Cuba on the Human Rights Watch website
- About reliance on financial support from family members who have left Cuba on the Centre for Strategic & International Studies website
- About reliance on imported food in Cuba on the World Food Programme website
Updated: November 1, 2023