Diakonia is a Swedish organisation for international development co-operation. We support more than 400 partner organisations in about 30 countries.Together with our partners we form a global network, working towards more people living a life in dignity. 

Diakonia's goal is a fair and sustainable development in which living standards for the most vulnerable people are improved, and democracy, human rights and gender equality are respected. The starting point for this is the gospel with Jesus as the role model and, based on this, our policy.

Diakonia's policy

Diakonia does not carry out any projects of its own, but supports local partners. As these organisations are already present and well established, the long term development work becomes more effective.

Strength

Diakonia's strength is our partner organisations. They work tirelessly according to their beliefs, through actions for a worthy future.

Vision

Everywhere on earth where there is poverty, injustice or violence there are people working for change. Diakonia's vision is that all people should live a satisfactory life and have the opportunity to exercise their civil and political rights, including secured livelihood, a peaceful living environment and knowledge to influence their situation.

Diakonia's core values 

Funding

Donations from Swedish individuals and congregations are the basis and prerequisite for our work. For every SEK (Swedish currency) that is donated by them to Diakonia, the Swedish Development Agency, Sida, contributes with nine SEK.

Diakonia also has funding from the Swedish Development Agency (Sida), EU and other international organisations for specific projects.

Diakonia's finance and funding 

Our Swedish base

Diakonia is an organisation founded in 1966 by five Swedish churches. Members of these congregations form Diakonia's support base. In Sweden Diakonia works with, and for, these people with popular education, mobilisation, campaigning and fundraising.

The support base also includes local and regional Diakonia representatives, groups of young volonteer activists and many individuals. They work with spreading information and carrying out campaigns for Diakonia as well as doing fund raising activities.

Znar is seven years old and lives in Kurdistan in northern Iraq. Even though he is only a boy he has had to help his father in his work. At Zewa Center, one of Diakonia's partner organisations, Znar gets a chance to catch up on lost school time. Photo: Hanna Lagerlöf

Sara Wallin is one of many young volonteers, working for Diakonia in Sweden with information and mobilisation among the public.

Idah Habebe in South Africa is one of the people in our global network. Through one of Diakonia's partner organisations, she and her village has been supported to work with peace and reconciliation after the dark years of apartheid. Photo: Robban Andersson