Whittling down a decades-long signature of Swedish aid

News February 19, 2026 / By: Ann Danaiya Usher

The halving of Sida’s budget for development research three years ago sent shock waves through the Swedish research community and around the world, but the aid agency managed to keep the portfolio intact. A new round of cuts this year has forced Sida to rethink the scope of a programme that has been a hallmark of Swedish aid for decades.

Sida’s budget for research cooperation is now one-quarter of what it was just a few years ago. The new head of the Sida Research Unit Jesper Sundewall faces tough choices. (Photo by Tove Gilvad / Lund University)