The Swedish Government took the decision on 22 January 2026, signed by the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, that the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) will discontinue the mandate given to Sida to finance ICLD after 31 December 2026.
This is a serious and negative development, not only for the staff directly affected, but also for Swedish democracy policy, international development cooperation, and the broader global effort to strengthen local democracy, as well as for all ICLD partners around the world.
The political decision to end funding — and with it, the important work you have been doing — is deeply upsetting. ICLD’s impact has been real, meaningful, and far-reaching, beyond what is immediately visible. What weighs particularly heavily is the human toll of this decision, not only for the local governments and communities you work with, but also for each of you as professionals and colleagues who have invested your expertise, energy, and commitment in this work.
ICLD is the organisation created by the Swedish Government and Sida to enable Swedish municipalities and regions to engage in international development cooperation in their own right. Through ICLD, local governments act as agents of change — sharing experiences, building capacity, and promoting democracy and human rights at the local level, where democracy is practiced in people’s daily lives.
When ICLD is phased out, it is not only an organisation that disappears. A well-established and effective model for democracy assistance will also be lost. This model is built on partnerships between local authorities, long-term engagement, and institutional capacity-building. This is particularly important for collaborations with Ukrainian municipalities, where Swedish partners currently contribute to strengthening local governance, the rule of law, and democratic structures — elements that are crucial for resilience and reconstruction.
ICLD is proud of and grateful for the excellent work carried out by all its partners around the world. You are extremely important in a time like this. The importance and significance of your work cannot truly be measured, but please be assured that you have made a concrete and lasting impact.