Policy Updates

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 27, 2023, Norway announced a contribution of over NOK22 million (US$2 million) in emergency humanitarian assistance to the flood victims in South Sudan.

According to Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim, South Sudan is grappling with severe flooding along the White Nile and its tributaries, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. Communities are still reeling from previous floods between 2019 and 2022, and over 1 million people have already been displaced.

Norway's contribution included NOK10 million (US$900 000) to the UN’s country fund for South Sudan and NOK12 million (US$1.1 million) to the Norwegian Refugee Council. These funds will be used to provide critical health services, shelter, food, clean water, and sanitation for those affected. Additionally, Norway has also contributed to the UN's CERF.

This support comes as part of Norway’s broader humanitarian commitment to South Sudan, which totals over NOK91 million (US$8.3 million) in 2024. The funding is distributed through Norwegian organizations such as the Norwegian Refugee Council, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian People's Aid, Caritas, and the Norwegian Red Cross, as well as through UN humanitarian funds.

On September 25, 2024, Canada announced that it will be co-hosting the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine's 10-Point Peace Formula on October 30-31, 2024 in coordination with Norway and Ukraine.

The conference will have the aim of developing a concrete plan to strengthen the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, integrate the Women, Peace and Security perspective into the 10-Point Peace Formula, and identify approaches for post-return rehabilitation and reintegration for Ukrainians.

The conference will bring together Ministers of Foreign Affairs to advance the vision articulated in the Joint Communiqué on a Peace Framework developed at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine in June, 2024.

On September 24, 2024, the Norwegian government announced an extension of its rainforest preservation initiative until 2035, after Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that halting deforestation is crucial to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.

Originally launched in 2008, Norway’s rainforest initiative saw a funding boost of NOK1 billion (US$93 million) in 2024, bringing total allocations for 2024 to over NOK4 billion (US$370 million).

Norway’s rainforest efforts have contributed to the following key global initiatives:

• Providing access to high-resolution satellite images of all rainforests;
• Supporting indigenous land rights;
• Promoting deforestation-free products;
• Establishing systems for emissions credit trading; and
• Increasing efforts to combat organized forest crime and raise the profile of rainforest conservation in international negotiations.

On September 23, 2024, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre led a meeting of the GEAPP focused on a new partnership aimed at providing electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030.

Støre and president of the Rockefeller Foundation Dr. Rajiv Shah lead GEAPP, an alliance that is mobilizing both private and public funding for renewable energy projects in low income countries.

During the meeting, World Bank President Ajay Banga and AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina introduced Mission 300, a partnership that aims to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans within six years. This project seeks to halve the number of people in Africa without electricity, creating jobs and delivering significant benefits to healthcare and education.

Norway is supporting renewable energy investments in low-income countries through various initiatives. Norfund is a major investor in renewable energy in Africa, with a portfolio of approximately US$675 million. Additionally, a new state-backed guarantee scheme for renewable energy investments in low-income countries is being established.

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 September 12, 2024, the Norwegian government increased its support for Palestine by NOK280 million (US$26 million) in 2025.

Over NOK100 million (US$9 million) will be allocated to efforts in Gaza. Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim and Foreign Affairs Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized the urgent needs in the region.

The funding will be allocated in two key areas:

• NOK150 million (US$14 million) will be given in support to Palestinian institutions, health services, energy, civil society, and human rights; and
• NOK130 million (US$12 million) will be earmarked for addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with a focus on emergency and humanitarian assistance.

Eide explained that the increase in funding responds to the voices of those on the ground in Gaza. Part of the funds are earmarked to support local ambulance services and the work of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. The Norwegian government expressed full confidence in the UN agencies, the Red Cross, and other ground organizations, that will receive the funds.