ODA Spending

How much ODA does Sweden allocate to education?

Sweden’s spending on education represented around 4% of its total ODA in 2022, indicating that this sector is a lower priority for Sweden than for most DAC donors (which spend, on average, 7% of their ODA on education).
 

How is Swedish educational ODA changing?

How does Sweden allocate educational ODA?

Bilateral Spending

In total, 50% of Sweden’s ODA to education in 2022 was channeled bilaterally (including the US$52 million in earmarked funding through multilaterals).

Multilateral Spending and Commitments

In 2022, 50% (US$111 million) of Sweden’s education ODA was disbursed as core contributions to multilateral organizations. The table below summarizes Sweden’s more recent commitments to multilaterals working on education development. Some of these commitments are considered core funding to multilaterals while others will be earmarked funding through multilaterals from Sweden.

Funding and Policy Outlook

What is the current Swedish government's outlook on educational ODA?

Improving education, particular in its intersection with gender equality: Under its 2016 ‘Policy framework for Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian assistance,' Sweden highlights ‘Education and Research’ as one of eight priorities. The education portfolio is governed by the broader ‘Sustainable Social Development Strategy’ of Sida; the strategy was renewed in July 2018. Under the overarching goal of “Improved, equitable, inclusive and gender-equality education and quality lifelong learning,” Sweden’s activities focus on:

• Enhanced and sustainable quality systems for education and learning, from early childhood and throughout life; 
• Improved opportunities for learning and knowledge acquisition, especially for girls and women; 
• Increased knowledge about sex and relationships, including sexual rights, and enhanced work in and out of schools to combat gender-based violence; 
• Improved access to clean water, and safe and sustainable sanitation and hygiene in schools; and  
• Increased knowledge and integration of sustainable development in education and learning. 

Key Bodies