Policy Updates

On November 18, 2024, Norway announced its contribution to the World Bank's IDA for the period 2026-2028 during Norweigan Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's attendance at the G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

The Norwegian pledge represents an increase of 50% compared to previous replenishment periods. Norway committed NOK5 billion (US$454 million) in this round, which is an increase from NOK3.4 billion (US$303 million) in the previous round.

According to Støre, the Norwegian funding will be used to help provide people with food and access to electricity, as well as to implement measures to address climate change.

Norweigan Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim says that the IDA is one of Norway's most powerful tools in the fight against poverty. She declared that increased support to the IDA is a means of translating the Africa strategy launched in August, 2024, into action by enabling Norway to promote efforts to increase food security and enhance climate-resilient agriculture, areas in which the IDA plays a key role.

A total of NOK600 million (US$54 million) of Norway’s contribution will also be set aside to be used over three years to promote food security.

On November 4, 2024, an expert group on global health presented its key findings and recommendations for Norway future efforts in global health.

Over the past 25 years, Norway has significantly contributed to global health initiatives, establishing mechanisms and organizations that have achieved impactful results. However, the global health landscape is now confronted with complex challenges which calls for a renewed and strategic approach to Norway’s global health engagement.

In response, an expert committee on global health was formed in early 2024 by seven Norwegian humanitarian and development organizations: Red Cross Norway, Norwegian Church Aid, Save the Children Norway, UNICEF Norway, Civita, Agenda, and Langsikt.

In its report, the committee underscores the importance of investing in global health both as a matter of international solidarity and to ensure Norway’s own security and welfare.

The committee identifies two overarching goals for Norway's global health investments:

• Reducing global health inequalities within and between countries; and
• Strengthening health security both within Norway and globally.

According to the committee, these goals require a dual approach: supporting effective, cost-efficient health interventions in the world’s most vulnerable regions and investing in measures that ensure health security, such as pandemic preparedness and the development of global public goods like vaccines.

In that regard, the committee presents six recommendations for Norway’s future efforts on global health:

• Renew Norway’s leadership in global health with the goal of halving premature death by 2050;
• Invest more in global health – to reduce health inequality and enhance our security;
• Reduce health inequality by prioritizing effective measures and strengthening health systems;
• Strengthen coordination and invest in effective measures to enhance global health security;
• Reform global health initiatives; and
• Maintain Norway’s efforts in humanitarian assistance.

On October 31, 2024, Norway announced an increased contribution to the Pandemic Fund by NOK240 million (U$22 million) for the period of 2025-2027 during the G20 Health Ministers' meeting in Brazil aimed at strengthening global, regional, and national pandemic preparedness and response to future pandemics and major cross-border disease outbreaks.

The announcement emphasized the importance of investing now to secure a safer future, noting lessons learned from Covid-19, mpox, Ebola, and other disease outbreaks. Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim Minister of International Development highlighted the need for swift action to save lives and mitigate the economic and social impacts of large outbreaks.

The Norwegian Minister of Health Jan Christian Vestre stressed the significance of predictable international funding to ensure better preparedness for future crises. Earlier in the month, more than 50 countries, including several impacted by mpox, received support from the fund, with over half located in sub-Saharan Africa.

On October 14, 2024, during the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany, Norway announced a pledge of approximately NOK1 billion (US$90 million) to the WHO for the period 2025-2028.

This contribution was announced during the WHO's first fundraising round for sustainable financing, which Norway co-hosted alongside Germany and France. The funds will support the WHO’s core activities, in addition to mandatory contributions and emergency relief efforts.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized the WHO's critical role in global health coordination, especially during crises like COVID-19 and the mpox outbreak, underlining the importance of strong health systems and international cooperation.

Norwegian Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre highlighted the cross-border nature of health challenges and the importance of the WHO's leadership in ensuring global access to up-to-date health information. The flexible funding from Norway is intended to enable the WHO to meet priorities set by its member states, as the majority of its current budget relies on voluntary, earmarked donations.

Norwegian Development Minister Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim stressed that building resilient health systems takes time, and flexible funding ensures that the WHO can finance its key tasks, including responding to future pandemics.

On October 7, 2024, the Norwegian government presented its state budget for 2025, which includes an ODA budget of NOK52.9 billion (US$4.8 billion).

This amount remains largely consistent with the 2024 allocation, representing 0.92% of Norway's GNI, below the country’s longstanding target of 1%. Despite this, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to increasing ODA in future years, with the goal of eventually reaching the 1% target.

In presenting the budget, Norway’s Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim highlighted the importance of the 2025 allocations, emphasizing that the government is providing a robust budget designed to address critical global challenges. Beyond targeting immediate needs like poverty reduction and development, the budget also aims to foster trust and strengthen systems capable of addressing long-term challenges.

Key focus areas:

The 2025 development budget places particular emphasis on humanitarian assistance, climate action, business development, multilateral institutions, debt relief and refugee-related expenses in Norway (which will increase by 8%). However, certain areas will see reductions, including:

• A 22% cut in support for refugees outside of Norway.
• A 6% reduction in funding for peace efforts.
• A 3.9% decrease in civil society funding.

Despite some cuts, several areas will receive increased funding:

• Development assistance to Palestine will increase by NOK280 million (US$26 million).
• Humanitarian assistance will rise by NOK300 million (US$27 million).
• Climate adaptation and food security funding will grow by NOK380 million (US$35 million).

Crisis areas:

Ukraine remains Norway's top priority in light of the ongoing conflict with Russia. The Nansen Program for Ukraine will see a significant increase in funding, with the budget rising from NOK75 billion (US$6.8 billion) to NOK134.5 billion (US$12.3 billion). The program's duration has also been extended from 2027-2030.

The budget allocated substantial humanitarian assistance to Gaza, addressing the severe needs resulting from the ongoing conflict. Similarly, additional resources are directed towards Sudan, where escalating hunger and humanitarian crises are pressing concerns.

Global health:

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$327 million), reflecting a NOK103 million (US$9 million) decrease from 2024, this aligns with the government’s prioritization of other areas like humanitarian assistance and climate adaptation. Norway remains committed to long-term global health partnerships, including a reallocated contribution of NOK20 million (US$2 million) to UNAIDS.

On October 7, 2024, Norwegian CSOs and political leaders expressed strong concerns about the government’s 2025 budget proposal on ODA.

Despite a slight increase in overall ODA spending, the government continues to fall short of the agreed 1% of GNI for ODA, which has drawn significant criticism from various quarters. The government plans to allocate NOK52.9 billion (US$4.8 billion) to ODA, which corresponds to 0.92% of GNI.

Lan Marie Berg from the Green Party criticized the government, stating, that Norway has profited from the war in Ukraine due to rising oil and gas revenues, and should contribute more to humanitarian efforts. Henriette Westhrin of Save the Children also expressed shock at the cuts, especially given the growing global crises.

Dagfinn Høybråten from Norwegian Church Aid and Hjalmar Bø of Digni pointed out that over NOK4 billion (US$343 million) of the budget is being used domestically for refugee reception, particularly for Ukrainians. They stated that this should not come at the expense of international development assistance meant for the world's poorest. Jan Egeland from the Norwegian Refugee Council echoes this sentiment, highlighting that the government's actions contradict its claims of international solidarity.

The SV and The Green Party strongly opposed the cuts, with SV's Kari Elisabeth Kaski calling them unworthy of a wealthy nation like Norway. Both parties emphasize that the reductions are coming when the world is facing severe humanitarian crises.

Dag-Inge Ulstein, from the Christian Democratic Party and former Minister of International Development, criticizes the budget for prioritizing domestic refugee costs over international development assistance. Ulstein also condemns the NOK150 million (US$13 million) cut to educational development assistance, arguing that it continues a trend that has seen over NOK1.1 billion (US$94 million) reduction in the funding to education since his tenure. He emphasized that these cuts could have been avoided if the government had met its own 1% development assistance target. This is also underlined by the Conservative Party, which says that Norway, previously a leader in education assistance, risks setting a negative example for other donor countries.

The Liberal Party noted the global refugee crisis and the need for greater international support. They also criticized the significant cut to education, pointing out that this leaves hundreds of thousands of children without access to schooling and opportunities for a better future. However, the party praises the increased funding for climate adaptation but argues that more could be done, particularly through mechanisms like the Climate Investment Fund.

On October 2, 2024, Civita published an advocacy document for Norway to increase its financial contributions to IDA ahead of the upcoming IDA replenishment.

Despite IDA 's impressive results, Civita emphasized that Norway's contributions remain relatively low compared to other countries. For instance, Norway allocates half as much of its ODA to IDA as Sweden. Recently, Denmark also announced a 40% increase in its IDA funding, potentially surpassing Norway in the next round of contributions, even though Denmark’s ODA budget is just over half of Norway's. Over time, the portion of Norway's ODA budget directed toward IDA has significantly decreased.

Civita recommended a substantial increase in Norway's contributions to IDA in October, aligning with recommendations from the Office of the Auditor General and the Government appointed expert group called the Sending Committee.

The think-tank argued that core support for IDA is a more efficient use of funds than supporting the World Bank’s various thematic funds, which often have less certain outcomes. Investments through IDA have a multiplier effect and are more aligned with Norway’s development policy goals of focusing ODA on the poorest countries.

Beyond efficiency, Civita highlights a geopolitical rationale for increasing IDA funding. IDA is highly regarded by low-income countries and small island states, which view the fund as crucial for their economic and social development. Norway could enhance its visibility and recognition in the global development landscape by boosting its contributions.

On September 20, 2024, Norway contributed NOK525 million (US$50 million) through Gavi's 'First Response Fund' for health crises to fight the mpox outbreak in Africa, marking the first use of this newly established fund.

The Gavi fund will be used to purchase 500,000 doses of mpox vaccines, as well as for the storage and distribution of the vaccines in recipient countries. The fund was approved as recently as June 24, 2024, and is already being put to use.

Norway was one of the first contributors providing NOK265 million (US$25 million) from unused COVID-19 vaccine program funds. Development Minister Anne Beathe Tvinnereim emphasized the importance of rapid response, drawing from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On August 25, 2024, the Norweigan Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized their significant contribution to global health initiatives, and is actively involved in response to the mpox outbreak.

In 2023, Norway contributed over NOK700 million (US$68 million) to the WHO, including NOK300 million (US$29 million) for humanitarian health responses. Additionally, Norway supported the WHO's Health Emergency Fund with an annual contribution of NOK50 million (US$4.8 million), enabling rapid responses to health crises like mpox, and contributed NOK110 million (US$10.7 million) to the World Bank’s Pandemic Fund.

According to Norwegian Development Minister Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim, Norway has been actively strengthening international preparedness, response, and global health security, highlighting the need for increased international coordination, financing, and regulation.

On August 19, 2024, the Norwegian government launched its new strategy for engagement on the African continent.

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide noted that Norway's relationship with many African countries covers a wide range of interests, such as security policy, multilateral issues, cooperation on solving global challenges, and economic cooperation. The aim is to strengthen political and economic cooperation through partnerships based on equality, mutual interests, knowledge, and understanding.

The government outlined five specific areas of focus in the strategy:

• Multilateral and regional cooperation: Strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums, enhance African representation, and continue close collaboration with the AU;
• Security and peace efforts: Support African-led peace initiatives, integrate gender perspectives in decision-making, and bolster cooperation with the AU and UN on security;
• Democracy, human rights, and gender equality: Promote democracy, human rights, and gender equality through civil society engagement, justice reform, and educational access;
• Business, clean energy, and knowledge: Boost economic cooperation, promote Norwegian solutions, and support renewable energy development in African markets; and
• Climate, environment, food security, and health: Collaborate on climate action, sustainable food systems, and resilient health systems to address environmental and health challenges.