At the heart of Statistics Sweden's approach is the principle that partner institutions should own their development and build the capacity to independently produce statistics that inform policy decisions, public debate and research. The goal is to equip countries with the technical expertise and structures needed to do the work independently.

Projects often span many years and build on consecutive phases — it is precisely this continuity that creates sustainable results. Each partnership is based on the partner country's own priorities and needs, and may cover statistical methodology, IT, quality assurance, communication, management and organizational development.

The work is primarily funded by Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and is part of the reform agenda for Swedish international assistance:

Development assistance for a new era – freedom, empowerment and sustainable growth