Sida's work in Palestine
Sweden's long term development cooperation in Palestine shall contribute to peaceful development and promote a two-state solution in accordance with international law, counter extremism, promote democratic and economic development, and improve access to healthcare. Sida also provides substantial humanitarian aid to save lives and alleviate suffering.
Why do Sida work in Palestine?
War and violence create humanitarian disaster
The conflict between Israel and Palestine is one of the most complex, intractable and protracted conflicts of our time. Expanded settlements and increased settler violence, violations of human rights and international humanitarian law lead to increased poverty and limit the opportunities available to Palestinians.
The economy has collapsed, unemployment has risen and the public sector is struggling to provide basic services such as health and education.
The full-scale war between Israel and Hamas has created an enormous humanitarian disaster. Almost the entire population of Gaza has been forced to flee and is living in extremely difficult conditions with a lack of food, water and healthcare. Over half of the population are in need of humanitarian aid.
Examples of what Sida contributes to
Emergency aid to people in Gaza
Swedish humanitarian aid is Sida’s highest priority. It focuses on protecting the most vulnerable people who are in greatest need of emergency aid for their survival. The aim is to save lives, alleviate suffering and protect people from violence and abuse.
Counteracts negative developments
Development cooperation in Palestine aims to create better living conditions for people living in poverty and oppression. It aims to contribute to peaceful development by promoting a two-state solution in accordance with international law, counteracting extremism and promoting democratic development, as well as improving people’s access to healthcare.
Sida’s partners are organisations that uphold democratic values and protect human rights, and consist of civil society organisations, international non-governmental organisations and UN agencies.
Despite major challenges, aid is delivering concrete results for people. It strengthens and protects human rights and contributes to sustainable economic development for Palestinians.
Sidas work in Palestine
Sida’s support in Palestine shall contribute to reducing poverty and strengthening people’s independence, particularly that of women. Sweden supports economic development by strengthening the private sector, increasing employment and improving infrastructure.
Support is given to organisations and UN agencies working to increase respect for international law and democratic development. The activities also contribute to increasing access to health care, especially for children.
The conflict in Palestine is the longest and currently most intense and protracted humanitarian crisis.
Sida’s humanitarian support provides people with access to food, clean water, hygiene and sanitation (toilets, sanitation and waste management), temporary shelter, health care and protection.
Sida cooperates with the UN system, international humanitarian organisations and civil society organisations, prioritising those people who are most in need of support.
Sida’s humanitarian support in Palestine saves lives and alleviates suffering.
- UN OCHA’s website*
- Occupied Palestinian territory Humanitarian Fund, oPt HF’s website
- Norweigian Refugee Council, NRC’s website
- UNICEF’s website
- Oxfam’s website
- Swedish Red Cross’s website
- International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC’s website
- Swedish Civil Contigiencies Agency MSB’s website*
- Action contre la Faim ACF’s website*
- Diakonia’s website* (in Swedish)
*Extra payment and flexible funding in 2025
Read more about Sida’s analysis of the humanitarian crisis, Sida’s support and how much money goes to each organisation in Sida’s crisis analysis. The crisis analysis was last updated in June 2025.
Sida contributes to improving conditions for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, so that people have greater access to employment with decent conditions, especially women and young people. One important area is infrastructure, which primarily concerns water supply, increased access to energy and improved waste management. Locally adapted, smart solutions such as solar cells and local waterworks are necessary to maintain basic services in vulnerable communities and create conditions for people’s livelihoods and business development.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
Through its support for the organisation Mercy Corps, Sida is helping to build an internationally competitive digital economy in Palestine, with a focus on sustainable and innovative working methods and online opportunities for young people. This is being done by supporting online freelance services, entrepreneurship and start-up technology companies.
Through the Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII), Sida supports a loan guarantee programme aimed at small business owners, as well as a digital platform for bringing banks and small businesses together. There is a particular focus on businesses owned by women.
Sida’s support for infrastructure improves coverage, quality and sustainability in water and sanitation (toilets, sewage treatment and waste management).
Sida invests in waste management infrastructure and water treatment plants to meet the basic needs of the population.
About the World Bank’s Infrastructure Fund on the World Bank’s website
Sida provides aid to improve health in Palestine. In recent years, support has mainly focused on psychiatry and psychosocial care, primary health care and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
In line with the regional strategy, Sida is expanding its cooperation with a focus on children’s health. Sida is preparing for greater cooperation with several civil society organisations that provide care. Sida also supports efforts to help people who are exposed to violence and oppression, including women who are victims of gender-based violence.
Sida provides support to civil society organisations and UN agencies working to create the conditions for a two-state solution. By strengthening human rights and combating violence and forced displacement, opportunities are created for people to remain in Palestinian areas.
Support is also provided for building democratic institutions in the longer term. This involves making public work more efficient and combating corruption. Another area is developing the judicial system to create better conditions for women and young people.
Here are some examples of programmes supported by Sida:
Sida finances the UN programme Sawasya through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women and UNICEF, in close cooperation with civil society. Sawasya works to develop the justice sector in Palestine, making it more effective and stronger in terms of human rights and gender equality.
Among other things, the programme has developed a comprehensive data system that has digitised cases such as birth certificates and documents related to family law. It also focuses on increasing opportunities for women to obtain their rights in divorce cases, such as access to maintenance support. Another example is the establishment of support centres where women who have been subjected to violence can get help.
Sida provides support to people who are exposed to violence and displacement from their homes. Several independent organisations have joined forces in the West Bank Protection Consortium, which provides both emergency support and preventive measures such as simpler water systems and school rehabilitation. This is necessary to enable people to remain in their homes, despite pressure to move away.
The West Bank Protection Consortium also works to encourage diplomats and other international actors to visit the areas to increase awareness of what is happening.
About the West Bank Protection Consortium on the NRC website
Development cooperation in Palestine is governed by the Swedish Government’s Strategy for Sweden’s Regional Development Cooperation with the Middle East and North Africa 2024-2027.
Support to Palestine is also implemented within the framework of other strategies.
- Number of Palestinians killed and injured (is regularly updated) on the OCHA website
- Number of Palestinians forced to flee on the OCHA website
- Corruption in Palestine in the Transparency Index on the TI website
- Number of Palestinians killed and injured (is regularly updated) on the OCHA website
- Number of Palestinians forced to flee on the OCHA website
- Access to drinking water in Gaza on Reliefweb
Updated: September 19, 2025