Stocklholm, 6 May 2025
Sweden is the world’s third-largest donor in support of free and independent media. This position is now being strengthened with its new SEK 70 million in support to one of the world’s foremost networks for investigative journalism, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
“Reinforcing freedom of expression and democracy is a key component of the Government’s reform agenda for development assistance, and this support to the OCCRP is part of these efforts,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.
The OCCRP works specifically to support journalists and human rights defenders in repressive environments, not least in Ukraine, where its efforts have contributed to the development of analysis and evidence for sanctions against Russia. The United States’ suspension of development assistance has hit the OCCRP hard, as it previously received more than one third of its funding from the US. Sweden is now stepping in to cover a large part of this reduction. Continuing to support human rights and democratic forces such as independent media in vulnerable environments is a main component of Sweden’s long-term democracy support. This is particularly true in Ukraine and the rest of Eastern Europe, which are constantly exposed to Russia’s disinformation campaigns and other attempts to influence.
Sweden has also previously increased support to other organisations that support independent journalists around the world. In 2024, the Government decided to expand assistance to two organisations working specifically to support journalists and defenders of human rights and freedoms in repressive environments, including Eastern Europe. Support to the European Endowment for Democracy was increased from SEK 20 million to SEK 35 million and funding to the Prague Civil Society Centre was doubled from SEK 10 million to SEK 20 million.
Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)
The OCCRP is a global network of investigative journalists with particular focus on organised crime and corruption. It was founded in 2007 and publishes around 130 investigative articles per year in both Russian and English. The OCCRP has more than 50 media actors in its global network.
Sweden’s support to free and independent media
For a number of years, Sweden has been the third-largest global donor in support of free and independent media. Support channelled via Sida to democracy, human rights and the rule of law totalled SEK 6.6 billion in 2024. This accounted for approximately one quarter of Sida’s total development assistance and was thus the largest thematic area in Swedish development assistance. In addition, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs provides core and operational support to key organisations such as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the European Endowment for Democracy and the Prague Civil Society Centre.
Source – Government of Sweden