ODA Spending

How much ODA does Norway allocate to gender equality?

How is Norwegian gender equality ODA changing?

Gender-related funding has been largely driven by funding for projects targeting gender equality as a significant objective. In the 2020 OECD DAC statistical peer review, Norway’s MFA and Norad raised concerns about the government’s stricter interpretation of the gender policy marker, in comparison with other DAC donors. The institutions argued that a more stringent interpretation of the marker could explain Norway’s relatively lower levels of gender-related funding compared to other DAC donors.

How does Norway allocate gender equality ODA?

Bilateral Spending

Multilateral Spending and Commitments

Norway channels large shares of its contributions to gender equality through multilateral organizations. In 2021, 49% of funding towards women’s rights organizations and movements, as well as government institutions was allocated through multilateral organizations such as UN Women, the World Bank, UNDP, and ILO.

Funding & Policy Outlook

What is the current government's outlook on gender equality ODA?

Norway includes gender equality as a key development objective: Gender equality is one of four cross-cutting objectives of Norway’s ODA policy. Efforts are anchored in the Action Plan for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in Foreign Affairs and Development Policy 2023-2030. 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 tenets of the action plan are:

• 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.

Gender is a key component of Norway’s humanitarian response: Norway’s 2019 humanitarian strategy states that the gender perspective is to be integrated into all humanitarian efforts, with a special focus on women’s rights and participation, including protection against sexual and gender-based violence. In September 2023, the Norwegian government published an action plan titled 'Women, Peace and Security', describing plans to intensify efforts to include women in peace and security work both domestically and abroad. The action plan listed three thematic priorities:

• Peace processes and implementation of peace agreements;
• Security policy and operations; and
• Humanitarian efforts, protection of civilians and protection of human rights.

Key Bodies