International development cooperation in the cultural and public spheres
In Sweden’s dialogue and cooperation with the world, SI has a specific mission to strengthen democratic values and promote development. As an organization with a key role in Sweden’s public diplomacy, SI seeks to work actively with communication and exchanges with the rest of the world in areas in which Sweden is particularly skilled.
Under the Swedish development cooperation program, SI funds exchanges in the cultural and public spheres. This support targets actors in Sweden and developing countries who are working actively towards the overall goal of Sweden’s development cooperation effort, namely to help create conditions that enable poor people to improve their lives. Poverty in this context refers not just to the lack of material resources but also to lack of power, opportunity, freedom of choice and security.
For exchanges with countries in Sweden’s reform cooperation program with Eastern Europe, the aim is to strengthen democracy, justice and sustainable development and to help the region integrate more closely with the European Union and its basic values.
Expert exchange
In the public sphere, SI supports efforts to promote openness and democratic, economic and social progress in developing countries through the transfer of knowledge and experience to senior officials and experts working with democracy, human rights, gender equality and the role of women in development. Read more about the guidelines regarding applications for funding under Expert exchange in the left-hand menu.
Cultural cooperation
The Program for Cultural Cooperation with Developing Countries, which is its full title, is part of Sweden’s development cooperation (aid) effort, the overall objective of which is to help create conditions that will enable poor people to improve their lives. The Program is being undertaken with financial support from Sida. Read more about the guidelines regarding applications for funding under Cultural cooperation in the left-hand menu.
Creative Force – special calls for funding applications in the cultural sphere
Creative Force is an initiative emphasizing the role of culture in development by linking together projects, exchanges, seminars, network meetings and communication in various forms. As part of the Creative Force program, SI issues thematic and geographical calls for funding applications in the cultural sphere. Read more under Creative Force in the left-hand menu.
Project funding north-western Russia
For the first time, SI is in 2011 issuing a call for applications in respect of project support for democracy promotion activities in north-western Russia focusing on the media and gender equality. Read more about the guidelines regarding applications for funding under Russia in the left-hand menu.
Please note that it is always the Swedish party involved in a cooperation project that applies for grants.