A girl with long dark hair and a dark dress with a bicycle.

Working for change

We support people in finding ways out of poverty and oppression.

A closeup of a Zimbabwean woman in a field.

A global movement

Diakonia works with around 400 local partner organizations in 25 countries. Together we work for a sustainable change for the most vulnerable people in the world.

thematic areas

We and the change makers in our global network know that it is possible to change the world. Our work is based on the firm belief in people’s equal value and the right of all people to a dignified life.

Thailand

The Forest as Home for Thailand’s Indigenous People

In northern Thailand, the Karen community of Ban Huai Rai and Huai Ngu is fighting to protect their cultural heritage and secure land rights. With support from Diakonia through the Northern Development Foundation (NDF), they have achieved critical milestones, including the designation of Cultural Protection Zones, blending traditional wisdom with modern advocacy to safeguard their way of life and the forests they call home.

Phally Norm

Cambodia

Disability Does Not Define Me

On this World Disability Day, we honour stories of resilience and strength that challenge stereotypes and inspire change. Today, we spotlight Ms. Phally Norm—a woman who proves that disability does not determine destiny, but how we choose to respond to our challenges does.

Sri Lanka

Stitching Lives with a Needle and Thread

Forty-year-old Farwin, a happily married woman and accomplished tailor from Kalmunai, shared her journey of self-discovery through the activities of the Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum (MWRAF) in collaboration with Diakonia, and how it enabled her to help others along the way.

LST rightsholder:

Sri Lanka

Women’s Resilience in Sri Lanka Post-War

In the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s devastating civil war (1983-2009), communities in the northern regions faced unprecedented challenges of rebuilding their lives and social structures. Women, in particular, bore the burden of rebuilding their lives while confronting deeply rooted gender inequalities.

Women in traditional attire, engaged in a communal gathering indoors.

Sri Lanka

Rebuilding Coexistence with Traditional Wisdom

Ethnic tensions have shaped Sri Lanka’s history, resulting to a 26-year civil war that ended just over a decade ago. Now, the Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum (MWRAF) is utilizing the power of traditional storytelling to bridge communities and revive a once-thriving culture of coexistence. This innovative approach, developed in partnership with Diakonia, demonstrates how age-old wisdom can tackle modern challenges of social division.

Sakda in a traditional white vest standing in front of a Thai parliament with a golden stupa visible in the background.

Thailand

Indigenous Voices Shape Thai Bill

Sakda Saenmi adjusted his traditional Lisu collar as he entered the towering Parliament building in Bangkok, a world away from his misty mountain home. As the Secretary-General of the Council of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand (CIPT), senior staff member of Inter Mountain Peoples’ Education and Culture in Thailand Association (IMPECT), and now a committee member reviewing the draft Indigenous Peoples in Thailand bill, he had made this journey countless times.

A group of young women cheering a karate practice

Held accountable

As the second organization in Sweden and the 23rd in the world, Diakonia has been certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS). The certification acknowledges that our work meets the stringent requirements of CHS on quality, accountability and transparency.

advocacy

Our advocacy work is rooted and has direct links with the people affected by poverty and injustice. This gives rights holders and partners opportunities to make their voices heard in forums they might not previously have had access to.

Diakonia is a force, a movement, a hope.