It is an autonomous part of Sweden's Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Its Board and Advisory Committee are appointed by the Swedish government.
[2] The creation of the institute was initiated in 1997 as part of an ongoing effort of Sweden in co-operation with countries of the South.
[3] The Swedish Institute in Alexandria closed on 18 March 2019 and is now temporarily based in Stockholm.
The institute is planned to relocate at a later time it to a new place in the Middle East or North Africa region.