Björn Söder Calls for Reform as Sida Funding for Hepatica Sparks Controversy

Björn Söder criticizes Sida's funding bias towards left-leaning organizations, calling for major reforms.

Key Points

  • • Söder accuses Sida of favoring leftist groups over Hepatica.
  • • Hepatica has relied on private funding until 2022 when it became eligible for government support.
  • • Söder calls for Sida's dissolution, citing bureaucratic inefficiencies.
  • • Sida's director indicated willingness to change funding guidelines.

Björn Söder, a prominent member of the Sweden Democrats, has launched a pointed critique against the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) concerning its funding decisions for his foundation, Hepatica. Söder alleges that Sida is politically biased, favoring organizations aligned with leftist ideologies while denying his foundation adequate support.

Söder's criticism stemmed from a situation where Sida's Secretary of State, Diana Janse, reportedly promised financial backing to Hepatica, yet the foundation subsequently faced denials based on claims that its projects lacked relevance. Established in 2015, Hepatica has relied primarily on private donations to fund humanitarian efforts in areas including Syria and Ukraine. It was only after the 2022 elections that Hepatica became eligible for government funding, though it has not yet received full support due to purported quality issues with its project proposals.

The Sweden Democrats' leader emphasizes that Sida's bureaucratic scrutiny is excessive, claiming it hampers timely support for necessary initiatives. "The details they focus on, like where meetings occur, are absurd," he stated, expressing frustration over the agency's processes. In response to the ongoing issue, Söder has called for Sida's dissolution, advocating for a complete overhaul to eliminate perceived biases. Despite his harsh words, he acknowledged Janse's overall performance, indicating a complex view of the agency's political dynamics. Recently, Sida's director, Jakob Granit, suggested a potential re-evaluation of funding guidelines that could enable nearly 14 million kronor for Hepatica.