ODA Spending

How much ODA does Norway allocate to global health?

How is Norwegian global health ODA changing?

Norway’s health ODA decreased sharply in 2022. The larger contributions to health in 2020 and 2021 were largely driven by the additional funding dedicated to COVID-19 response.

How does Norway allocate global health ODA?

Bilateral Spending

In 2023, Norway’s bilateral ODA to health amounted to US$243 million according to OECD data. However, 38.5% of this funding was channeled as earmarked funding through multilaterals.

Multilateral Spending and Commitments

In line with overall ODA policy, much of Norway’s funding for health is distributed through the multilateral system. In 2023, Norway channeled 41% of total health ODA as core contributions to multilaterals. Norway’s commitment to multilateral funding for global health is outlined in the 2019 white paper, Norway’s Role and Interests in Multilateral Cooperation.

Funding & Policy Outlook

What is the current government's outlook on global health ODA?

Champion for global health: Over the past ten years, Norway has been an influential actor in global health cooperation. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and the current government have repeatedly voiced their ambition to contribute to strengthening international health cooperation as well as global health preparedness so that the world can prevent, detect, and respond quickly to new or persistent threats of infection and the development of resistance. However, even though global health is on the agenda for the current government, one can see a shift in priorities since Anne Beathe Tvinnereim became Minister of International Development in 2021. With the Centre Party in government there has been a focus on integrating the climate and development policy, underlining that climate action and sustainable development are intrinsically linked. Meanwhile, health priorities appear to receive less emphasis. This focus will remain even though the Centre Party has left the government.

Global health is embedded in Norwegian development policy: Norway’s 2025 budget emphasizes global health cooperation and preparedness, with a focus on enhancing the world’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats and antimicrobial resistance. Key initiatives include:

• Preventing infectious diseases and reducing child and maternal mortality.
• Strengthening SRHR.
• Expanding UHC.
• Enhancing national healthcare systems, particularly in addressing climate-related health issues, such as the spread of infectious diseases.

While the allocation for health in 2025 stands at NOK3.6 billion (US$374 million), reflecting a NOK103 million (US$11 million) decrease from 2024, this aligns with the government’s prioritization of other areas like humanitarian assistance and climate adaptation

Emphasis on UHC:

The focus on UHC has been underlined by the government, which would like to move away from the vertical and silo-based thinking on global health, in favor of a more holistic understanding that supports UHC. In addition, the government wants to push global health agencies to come together at the country level, to support countries in trying to provide universal health coverage.

Emphasis on SRHR: The current Minister, Åsmund Aukrust, has also expressed that the government wants to continue to prioritize funding towards SRHR. Aukrust is clear that access to contraception and abortion will likely face major setbacks under the Trump administration. Given the political sensitivity surrounding reproductive health, few countries are willing to step in and compensate for the loss of U.S. funding. Aukrust has stated that Norway will take a leadership role in this area, recognizing that without intervention, millions could be left without access to essential healthcare.

The focus on UHC has also been underlined by the State Secretary Bjørg Sandkjær, reflecting the current government's re-thinking of its approach to global health. The government would like to move away from the vertical and silo-based thinking on global health, in favor of a more holistic understanding that supports UHC. In addition, the government wants to push global health agencies to come together at the country level, to support countries in trying to provide universal health coverage.

Norway is committed to tackling non-communicable diseases: In early 2020, the Norwegian government published its strategy specifically on non-communicable diseases, Combating Non-Communicable Diseases in the Context of Norwegian Development Policy (2020-2024). The document highlights three priorities:

• Preventing and reducing risk;
• Strengthening health systems, with a focus on primary healthcare; and
• Supporting global public goods.

Global health and humanitarian assistance: Additionally, health is a key component of Norway’s humanitarian efforts. In its 2018 humanitarian strategy, the government committed to supporting life-saving and basic health services in connection with Norway’s humanitarian efforts. This commitment aimed to increase support for SRHR in crises, as well as to promote closer coordination between humanitarian and development efforts in health.

Key Bodies