Swedish development aid

Sweden's development aid funds development projects in low- and middle-income countries. What you may not know is that many of these projects procure goods, services and specialist expertise from Swedish companies. By taking part in aid-funded procurements and partnership projects, your company can contribute to global development while reaching new markets.

What does development aid mean for your company?

Aid-funded projects purchase everything from technical solutions to consultancy services. As a Swedish company you can:

• Take part in international procurements - aid-funded projects are procured via Sida, the EU, UN agencies and development banks
• Deliver products and services - everything from water treatment and energy solutions to IT systems and training
• Work as an expert or consultant - in fields where Sweden has strong expertise
• Establish yourself in new markets - with lower commercial risk since the projects are already funded
• Build international partnerships - long-term relationships with international organisations and local actors

Which sectors are most relevant?

Swedish development aid focuses on sectors where Swedish companies often have strong competitive advantages:

• Sustainable energy and climate solutions - renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate adaptation
• Water, sanitation and environmental technology - water treatment, waste management, environmental monitoring
• Digitalisation and IT - e-health, fintech, digital infrastructure
• Health and healthcare - medical equipment, health systems, pharmaceuticals
• Education and capacity building - vocational training, institutional strengthening
• Urban development and infrastructure - urban planning, transport, construction technology

How can you take part?

There are several ways into aid-funded projects:

• Sida-funded procurements - Sida procures services and expertise for its development programmes. Announced via Sida's website and public procurement databases
• Business Sweden's programmes - Business Sweden runs programmes that connect Swedish companies to aid-funded business opportunities, including in sustainable trade
• EU-funded projects - the EU's development budget funds projects that are open to bids from Swedish companies
• UN and development banks - the World Bank, regional development banks and UN agencies continuously procure goods and services
• Innovation and pilot projects - some programmes fund pilot projects where companies test their solutions in developing countries

How it differs from ordinary business development

Working with aid-funded projects differs from ordinary business procurements. You need to:

• Understand the rules for public procurement in an aid context
• Show that your solution contributes to development goals and local capacity building
• Handle reporting requirements and results documentation
• Often collaborate with local partners

We help you navigate these processes, identify relevant procurements and put together competitive bids. You pay nothing until we find a concrete project to move forward with.