Policy Updates

On February 15 and 16, 2024, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan visited Norway for an official state visit, where the countries entered three new agreements on climate-adapted food production, soil health and research.

Norway and Tanzania have had a close collaboration for decades, with climate and food security being key focus areas.

Norway and Tanzania signed a cooperation agreement on climate-adapted agriculture and food security. Norway's efforts will support Tanzania's ambitions to produce 10% more food by 2030. In addition, the NIBIO and the TARI entered into a new agreement on soil health. NIBIO and TARI are slated to work together on methods to use less artificial fertilizer. Soil health is an important focus area for increasing food production and enhancing food security for smallholder farmers.

Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim underlined that a close collaboration around research has become increasingly important. She emphasized this as a founding reason for why the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences have entered into a new agreement on research collaboration.

On February 12, 2024, Norwegian Church Aid launched a report titled The West against the rest, which contained several development suggestions to Norwegian political parties as the parties draw up their programs for the 2025-2029 parliamentary period.

Norwegian Church Aid argued that, compared to most countries, Norway has a unique financial leeway considering its notable additional income from oil and gas sales following the war in Ukraine. As such, Norway has an opportunity and a special responsibility to contribute to worldwide development.

Norwegian Church Aid presented a variety of program proposals with the expressed hope that the political parties will take them into consideration.

The suggestions included:

• Ensure that, as a general rule, investments in global common goods are financed outside the one percent. The investments should still be earmarked for development assistance for poverty reduction and emergency assistance;
• Step up climate financing in line with Norway's fair climate responsibility;
• Work on international regulations making it possible to collect illegal or illegitimate debts;
• Support a tax convention in the UN;
• Actively support free media, independent courts, and local civil society;
• Step up work against GBV in areas of crises and conflict;
• Invest a larger share of the Norwegian Oil Fund in low-income countries; and
• Enshrine further measures to ensure that Norwegian weapons are not used in violation of humanitarian law and human rights.

As a response to these suggestions, both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party underlined that Norway must continue to be an international bridge builder. The SV called for more political solidarity.

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide has promised that 1% GNI/ODA will still go to development assistance. The Conservative Party stated that, going forward, it would be imperative to discuss how Norway spends money allocated to international development, and the Norway must be more concerned about the results and effects of development assistance.

On December 16, 2023, it was announced at COP28 that Sierra Leone, Brazil, and Norway will take the lead of a new food systems alliance.

Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim called COP28 a breakthrough for food security. Tvinnereim stated that the alliance declaration on food systems is the single thematic declaration that received the largest number of signatories at the conference.

On December 3, 2023, the Norwegian government and the opposition SV announced an agreement on Norway's 2024 state budget, which fell NOK2.1 billion (US$196 million) short of achieving the government's goal of 1% ODA/GNI to international development.

Negotiations on the 2024 state budget have been ongoing since November 13, 2023.

The agreement included an allocation of an additional NOK1 billion (US$93 million) to climate and forestry investments. This was the only change in the budget for international development.

Leader of the SV Kirsti Bergstø underlined that she believes it to be the governing party’s responsibility to achieve 1% ODA/GNI. Bergstø had previously announced that SV would not save 1% ODA/GNI at all costs during the budget negotiations. The SV argued that the government had previously stated the intention to commit 1% ODA/GNI to the UN SDGs, and that it was not the SV's duty to enforce the pledge.

Several public figures criticized the fact that the SV did not prioritize the 1% ODA/GNI target in negotiations.

Secretary-General of Norwegian Church Aid, which initially reported the funding shortfall, Dagfinn Høybråten described the agreement as deeply disappointing and incomprehensible. He underlined multiple extraordinary and intersecting global crises, including widespread war and conflict, a global food crisis, and a climate crisis requiring immediate action. Høybråten noted that Norway has enormous additional income from oil sales, putting it in a unique financial state to undertake development action. He asserted that in light of this, Norway should give significantly more 1% of GNI to international development rather than reducing its ambitions.

Secretary-General of Save the Children Birgitte Lange shared a similar disappointment. She argued that global extreme poverty is increasing and threatening increasing numbers of children. Lange also expressed disappointment that the SV did not use its negotiating power to push for more funding to international development.

Deputy leader of the Liberal Party Sveinung Rotevatn, which is a traditional ally of the SV in prioritizing international development, expressed his approval that the government and the SV committed to strengthening funding to welfare services in Norway. He noted, however, that he believes that Norway, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, should be able to allocate 1% of GNI to development.

On November 25, 2023, Norway pledged NOK200 million (US$19 million) to the WFP to support food security in Ukraine, including through the humanitarian food program Grain from Ukraine.

The announcement was presented during the Second International Summit on Food Security in Kiev, Ukraine. Norway also pledged NOK50 million (US$5 million) to the World Bank's URTF.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide underlined that Norway, particularly its Nansen Program, stands firmly by Ukraine. He emphasized that Norway had also not lost sight of the other global crises.

On October 30, 2023, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a new action plan for women's rights and gender equality in Norway's 2023-2030 foreign and development policy.

The action plan signaled equality as a priority within Norwegian foreign affairs. It underlined Norway's beliefs on the importance of strengthening women's rights in biodiversity conservation, sustainable management of natural resources, climate adaptation, and food security.

The plan stated that at least 50% of all bilateral development funding must have gender equality as a major or minor goal. The plan also stated that gender equality must be assessed across all development policy initiatives, particularly within the topics of climate, energy, and food security.

The five main tenets of the action plan were:

• Everyone has the right and opportunity to decide on their own body;
• Everyone has the right and opportunity to live their lives free of violence and harmful customs;
• Everyone has equal economic rights and opportunities to participate in working life;
• Everyone has equal political rights and opportunities to participate in public life; and
• Everyone has the right and opportunity to participate in the work for climate, energy, and food security.

Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim expressed concerns over a growing opposition to women and girls having agency over their future. Several measures in the action plan are hoped to contribute to increase the international acceptance of SRHR, access to contraceptives and safe abortion, and sexuality education. Tvinnereim noted that it is more important than ever for Norway and other development actors support SRHR. She asserted that Norway will continue to be a global champion for girls and women, and that no one shall be subjected to GBV, child or forced marriage, or genital mutilation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norad, and the Norwegian foreign service must report annually on the plan's targets. The foreign service, which includes actors who manage Norwegian foreign and development policy funds, are responsible for implementing the action plan. A midterm review of the targets is planned for 2026, and an evaluation is planned for 2029. A new action plan for SRHR is to be presented in 2030.

On September 23, 2023, during The Global Citizen Festival in New York, Norway pledged a 50% increase in core support to the IFAD, totaling NOK927 million (US$93 million) for the 2025-2027 funding cycle.

Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim stated that climate-resilient food production is key in the effort to fight hunger. The funding is intended to help small-scale farmers and fishers adapt their local agriculture and fisheries to climate changes.

The funding is also intended to mobilize greater private investment in agriculture. Tvinnereim noted that the role of private investment in agriculture will become increasingly important in the immediate future. She reaffirmed Norway's commitment to stimulating investment growth, particularly for local food value chains and markets.

On September 18, 2023, Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim and USAID Administrator Samantha Power launched Financing for Agricultural SMEs in Africa, a new multi-donor fund designed to unlock financing for agricultural SMEs on the African continent.

The fund was announced at an event with Power, Tvinnerim, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, Kenyan President William Ruto, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, US International Development Finance Corporation CEO Scott Nathan, and Acumen CEO Jacqueline Novogratz.

Tvinnereim stated that Norway will provide an initial commitment of US$35 million through the Norad. The US will contribute with a matching commitment through USAID.

Norway and the US aim to reach a total of US$200 million through additional donor contributions, potentially catalyzing millions more in commercial financing by reducing investment risk.

The fund was suggested to have the capacity to support 500 agricultural SMEs and 1.5 million smallholder farmers, benefiting approximately 7.5 million people. The fund will also support approximately 60,000 private sector jobs.

The fund is the first mechanism with the aim of mobilizing private capital on a large scale exclusively for the agricultural sector in Africa. Ruto gave the fund a warm welcome and underlined that investments in agriculture in Africa were the most effective way to reduce poverty.

Tvinnereim noted that the fund will reduce risk for private investors and trigger more private capital. She described the fund as an important step towards self-sufficiency and reduced import dependence for African partner countries.

On August 25, 2023, the Norwegian government announced that Norad is to take on greater responsibility for the management of Norwegian development funding, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to receive a clearer responsibility for development policy formulation.

The Norwegian government expressed an aspiration to further refine the distinction in responsibility between the Ministry and Norad. A clearer division of labor is intended to provide better and more efficient management of Norwegian ODA.

Management of international development, which currently is under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is slated to be transferred to Norad beginning early 2024. The change will give Norad authority over the following budget items:

• Humanitarian assistance;
• Global security issues and disarmament;
• Human rights;
• A large portion of funding for the UN; and
• Funding for Europe, Central Asia, and Afghanistan.

Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim stated that the change is intended to bridge international development knowledge communities to secure a more holistic approach to ODA. A holistic approach is meant to help produce the best possible results in LIC ODA for both acute crisis and long-term development funding. The government expressed a need for greater support between long- and short-term funding.

On June 5, 2023, Minister Anne Beathe Tvinnereim announced that Norway, in close collaboration with other donor countries, will review the cooperation with all partners in Uganda after its June 1, 2023, passage of an anti-homosexuality law.

Tvinnereim underlined that human rights and equality are cross-cutting priorities in all Norwegian development funding. She also expressed concern about the situation for LGBTQ+ people in Uganda, who are already experiencing increased discrimination and harassment.

Most of Norway's funding towards Uganda is allocated through Norwegian organizations, such as the Norwegian Refugee Council, Save the Children, Plan, Caritas and Strømmestiftelsen, in addition to multilateral organizations such as the UN.

After the passage of a similar bill in 2013 in Uganda, Norway withheld NOK50 million (US$5 million) in ODA. The funds were then paid out in 2014 and 2015, after the law was struck down by Uganda's court system.

In Uganda, Norwegian funding supports programs for food security, girls' education, women's rights and participation in peace and security efforts, energy access for vulnerable groups, and safeguarding refugees and their host communities.