Sweden has officially ended its bilateral development cooperation with Liberia, bringing to an end nearly two decades of development partnership and raising concerns among local organizations about the future of programs supporting women’s rights, healthcare and community development.
Since 2008, Sweden has provided more than SEK 5.77 billion, equivalent to roughly US$600 million, in development assistance to Liberia. The support contributed to post-war recovery, democratic institutions, humanitarian programs, infrastructure, healthcare and gender-equality initiatives. Sweden also played an important role in Liberia’s response to the 2014–2016 Ebola crisis.
Concerns surrounding Sweden assistiance to Liberia has been draw to the effect of women and girls sexual and reproductive health services and programs addressing violence against women.
According to reports, Swedish assistance supported family planning, HIV care, women’s political and economic participation, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and programs aimed at combating gender-based violence.
Local advocates are now concerned that the loss of long-term funding could make it more difficult for vulnerable women and girls to access essential services.
The withdrawal comes at a difficult time for Liberia, which continues to rely heavily on international development partners to support healthcare, women’s rights, education, governance and community programs.
Naomi Tulay-Solanke of the Amplifying Rights Network warned that the withdrawal could particularly affect people who were already struggling to access family-planning and sexual and reproductive health services.
Sweden’s decision to withdraw assistance from Liberia forms part of a broader restructuring of its international development assistance. The Swedish government announced in December 2025 that it would phase out bilateral development cooperation with Liberia and several other countries, with the changes taking effect by August 31, 2026 indicating that its development resources are being redirected toward other priorities, including support for Ukraine.
The Power project, supported by Swedish development funding, reportedly reached more than 16,000 women across nine counties over five years and assisted more than 400 survivors of gender-based violence in seeking justice.
