Sida's work in Ukraine
Sida’s support in Ukraine focuses both on the country’s reconstruction and on providing emergency aid to people affected by the war. Among other things, Sida supports the development of critical infrastructure, human rights, employment and trade. Sida has been supporting Ukraine since 1998 and has significantly increased its support following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Sida's support in Ukraine 2025
Why does Sida work in Ukraine?
Russia’s invasion
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is affecting the entire country, causing immense human suffering and widespread material and environmental devastation. Attacks on infrastructure are disrupting people’s access to water, healthcare, livelihoods, education and heating. Millions of people have been forced to flee and are in urgent need of humanitarian aid and protection. The war is having enormous and long-term consequences for the country’s development and its population.
Increasing poverty
Poverty in Ukraine has risen sharply during the war. The long-term consequences are both social and economic, and are hitting hard those who are already vulnerable, such as internally displaced people, older people, LGBTQI+ people, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, people in rural areas, young people and children. Women are disproportionately affected.
Widespread corruption
Corruption pervades society; it affects everything from the education system, the judiciary and law enforcement, which hinders development, private investment and progress towards the EU. Ukraine is ranked 104th out of 182 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2025. Despite this, corruption has decreased in recent years, and progress continues even after the invasion.
Examples of what Sida contributes to
Reconstruction of the energy sector
Energy facilities have been damaged, destroyed or occupied during the war. Sida supports the urgent reconstruction of energy supplies and the long-term transition to fossil-free energy.
Sida supports long-term reconstruction and repairs in the energy, health and transport sectors. Among other things, Sida has supported the restoration of the district heating plant in Lviv, which serves 88,000 residents and 20,000 internally displaced persons.
Support for mine clearance
Sida supports mine clearance. In addition to the direct impact on people, mines and other explosive remnants of war pose a major obstacle to Ukraine’s reconstruction and agricultural production, which are vital both for Ukraine’s economy and for global food security.
Support for essential healthcare
Sida supports the restoration and construction of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Sida’s support for the World Health Organisation (WHO) has given millions of people access to primary care and treatment for non-communicable diseases, enabled a large number of emergency operations to be carried out, and provided care to prevent and treat mental health issues.
Sidas work in Ukraine
In Ukraine, Sida carries out development cooperation that contributes to the country’s long-term development. We also provide humanitarian aid to offer protection, save lives and alleviate suffering. Humanitarian aid to Ukraine has increased many times over since Russia’s full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, and support for development cooperation has risen significantly.
Sida supports the development of housing, critical infrastructure, energy, trade and employment. Sida also provides support in the areas of transport and water supply, as well as basic services within healthcare and social security systems.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
Sida has long supported Ukrainian local authorities in improving residents’ access to public services, including through the Polaris project run by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR).
Following the full-scale invasion in 2022, the project has helped occupied municipalities to resume essential administrative services, such as replacing lost identity documents or registering businesses and property, for people returning to their homes after having been displaced.
Staff at service offices have received training and psychological support, and IT equipment stolen by occupiers has been replaced. Polaris improves municipalities’ reception of internally displaced persons and has ensured they are included in the state systems for support and compensation.
Polaris is a continuation of Sida’s long-standing support to Ukraine’s municipalities to provide citizens with better access to public services.
Polaris Programme – Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine
The Russian bombardment of energy infrastructure in civilian areas is terrorising the Ukrainian population. Without power, clean water cannot be pumped, there is no heating in homes and lifts are out of service. Sida supports both emergency reconstruction and the long-term transition to fossil-free energy and more efficient energy consumption, including through the installation of solar panels on hospitals so that they have power even if the central electricity supply is cut off.
Sida supports the Energy Community fund to rapidly restore damaged facilities and protect them against future attacks.
In addition, Sida provides support to a World Bank fund for emergency repairs in the energy, health and transport sectors, which also supports long-term reconstruction and receives support from several other donors.
Sida supports Ukraine’s green transition by providing assistance for fossil-free energy, energy efficiency and the sustainable use of natural resources, as well as reducing environmental and climate impacts. Sida’s support also goes towards addressing the environmental degradation and climate change caused by the war, for example by recycling materials from destroyed buildings and modernising the waste management system.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
Partner organisations such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Nordic
Environment Finance Corporation (Nefco) have adapted their projects to rebuild damaged infrastructure, including repairs to district heating systems and windows.
The war has severely damaged Ukraine’s economy and led to increased poverty and inequality. To improve economic development and growth, Sida supports employment with decent conditions, entrepreneurship and better conditions for trade. The mandate includes strengthening the business and investment climate.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
There is a severe labour shortage, yet many people are unemployed. Ukraine’s economy has shown great resilience despite the war, but more people need to be in work for the economy to recover in the long term.
Sida supports women and vulnerable groups, such as veterans and internally displaced persons, in entering the labour market through programmes that support education and the country’s employment service.
To enable more women to work, Sida supports a childcare programme. Access to childcare is important as there is a lack of functioning childcare for children under the age of three, and as women are expected to take primary responsibility for children and household chores.
Sida supports Transparency International Ukraine, which has played a key role in the fight against corruption since the Maidan movement. Among other things, they work to improve public procurement and are one of the initiators of Prozorro, a digital platform for public procurement. Authorities and public bodies can publish procurement notices on the platform, enabling companies and suppliers to submit bids, which reduces corruption and increases transparency in Ukraine’s economy.
Russia’s aggression and invasion of Ukraine presents difficult challenges for its citizens, especially those already living in poverty. Particularly vulnerable are those who were already living in poverty. Sida’s mission includes helping to manage mines and explosive remnants of war.
Sida provides support for mine clearance in Ukraine, which is intended to make it easier for people to farm, return to their homes, drive on roads and use public buildings. In addition to the direct impact on people, mines and other explosive remnants of war are a major obstacle to Ukraine’s reconstruction and agricultural production, which is important both for Ukraine’s economy and for global food security.
Sida supports the Danish Refugee Council in the following areas:
- Mapping of areas affected by mines and other explosive remnants and manual and mechanical clearance.
- Risk education and awareness-raising activities to increase people’s knowledge of the risks of explosive remnants of war.
- Cooperation and support to Ukrainian authorities and civil society organisations. This includes, for example, equipment and training.
Together with several other countries, Sweden supports the Partnership Fund for Resilient Ukraine, which works to improve public services, dialogue and economic development during the war. The fund supports local authorities and people who have been displaced, and works to combat disinformation.
Respect for human rights has deteriorated significantly in Ukraine as a result of the war. The war has led to an increase in gender-based and sexual violence, as well as threats, crime and discrimination against LGBTQI people. Sida supports civil society organisations that provide emergency support to local authorities and individuals, and that influence and monitor government policy and reconstruction efforts.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
Media organisations, journalists, activists and human rights defenders are increasingly exposed to threats and attacks in Ukraine. Sida supports independent media to counter disinformation and the deteriorating security situation for journalists during the war.
Among other things, Sida supports a partnership between Swedish Radio (SR) and the independent public service company Suspilne. The support began in 2018 and includes support for digitalisation and training of journalists. Suspilne is one of the most trusted sources of information in Ukraine.
Sida supports a number of organisations, including Transparency International and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to strengthen respect for human rights.
In 2024, Sida, together with the Norwegian development agency Norad, launched a major support programme for the Ukrainian civil society organisations International Renaissance Foundation and Ednannia. The support is aimed at building resilience to the war, particularly in areas close to the front line.
Since 2014, Sida has supported Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen democracy by bringing power and decision-making on day-to-day issues closer to the people. Sida continues to support the country’s local authorities through the Polaris project, which is run by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) to give citizens better access to public services and employment opportunities.
Polaris Programme – Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine
Sweden has supported the development of the government’s digital solutions, which enable the population – including those in occupied areas – to access public services.
Through the project, citizens also receive training to improve their digital skills. The DIA (Digital, Inclusive, Accessible: Support to Digitalisation of Public Services in Ukraine) project was implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Millions of Ukrainians are in need of humanitarian assistance – especially those living near the frontlines or who have fled within the country. Sida’s humanitarian support provides people with access to clean water, food, healthcare and shelter.
Sida works with international humanitarian and civil society organisations and prioritises the people most in need of support.
Sida’s humanitarian support in Ukraine saves lives and alleviates suffering.
In the humanitarian crisis analysis, you can read about the crisis and see which partner organisations are working there in 2026.
Support for Ukraine has increased significantly following Russia’s invasion. Ukraine is the country receiving the largest share of Sweden’s total development aid, amounting to SEK 8 billion over the period 2023–2027.
In July 2023, the Government adopted a new strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with Ukraine.
The Swedish Institute (SI) and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) are implementing parts of the strategy, and support is also channelled through Sweden’s strategy for reform cooperation in Eastern Europe.
Sweden’s strong commitment to Ukraine’s reconstruction and further development is coordinated by Team Sweden Ukraine, which includes several Swedish authorities, in addition to Sida, as well as the Swedish Institute and the Folke Bernadotte Academy.
The business sector also contributes to Ukraine’s reconstruction and development and strengthens the country’s economic development and trade with the EU. Sida cooperates with the Swedish business sector through Business Sweden.
The Government has drawn up a new joint strategy:
Updated: June 12, 2026