LiberiaSweden Ends Aid to Liberia
Sweden has pulled its annual funding from Liberia, a major blow to sexual and reproductive health and rights funding. The move will affect hundreds of millions of dollars in aid that supported postwar recovery and gender equality.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
Sweden, Liberia's second-largest donor of humanitarian aid, has ended its annual funding to the country. The decision will focus more on Sweden's defense spending and support for Ukraine.
The Swedish program had provided nearly $587 million to Liberia since 2008, supporting issues such as gender inequality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The withdrawal comes amidst a larger draining of support from Western countries.
The funding had supported postwar recovery, the Ebola crisis, and gender equality. However, the withdrawal will leave health clinics without basic contraceptives and programs supporting women's political and economic engagement unfunded.
Liberia's civil wars left over a quarter million people dead, and many were affected by sexual violence. Rape was used as a weapon of war, and sexual violence remains widespread. Poverty and a lack of family planning and sex education have led to nearly half of all pregnancies in the country being unwanted.
About fifteen percent of pregnancies in Liberia end in abortion, despite it being restricted, leading to an estimated 38,000 illegal abortions annually. These account for about fifteen percent of Liberia's maternal deaths.
The U.S. and Liberia reached a $176 million bilateral health cooperation arrangement, but it also came with a tightening of abortion regulations. USAID funding withdrawal has already left Liberia's health clinics without contraceptives.
Sweden also announced last December that it would end bilateral development assistance to Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Bolivia, and redirect that assistance to Ukraine.
Key facts
- Sweden ends annual funding to Liberia, affecting $587 million in aid since 2008.
- The withdrawal will leave health clinics without basic contraceptives.
- Liberia's civil wars left over a quarter million people dead, with many affected by sexual violence.
- About fifteen percent of pregnancies in Liberia end in abortion, despite it being restricted.
Three perspectives
Neutral
The decision by Sweden to end its funding to Liberia will have significant implications for the country's sexual and reproductive health and rights. The move is part of a larger trend of Western countries draining their support. Liberia will need to find alternative sources of funding to support its health clinics and programs.
Positive
The $176 million bilateral health cooperation arrangement between the U.S. and Liberia may provide some relief to the country's health sector. However, the tightening of abortion regulations may limit access to reproductive health services.
Negative
The withdrawal of Sweden's funding will exacerbate the already dire situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Liberia. The lack of access to contraceptives and abortion services will disproportionately affect women and girls, who are already vulnerable to sexual violence and poverty.
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