Policy Updates

On October 7, 2026, the Norwegian government proposed a NOK2.4-billion (US$254 million) increase in 2027, a 75% rise that brings Norfund's funding to NOK5.6 billion (US$592 million) for investments in companies that create jobs in developing countries, according to Minister for Development Cooperation, Åsmund Aukrust.

Aukrust said employment is the first priority of the Labour Party government in development policy. The proposal focuses on strengthening Norfund's development mandate in the 2027 state budget, with the goal of creating more jobs while generating more long-term development from public funds.

The government also proposed a NOK30 million (US$3 million) increase to support business development and job creation in developing countries. Aukrust argued that work is the most reliable route out of poverty for individuals, creates value in local communities, and enables countries to finance their own development.

On September 24, 2026, Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, announced that Norway would provide NOK125 million (US$13.2 million) in additional support to Palestine through UN and World Bank channels, including budget support to the Palestinian public sector.

Minister Eide stated that international support to Palestine was more urgently needed than ever before. He noted that the funding would be delivered through UN agencies and the World Bank, with part of the package allocated as budget support directly to the Palestinian public sector. The announcement reflected Norway's continued engagement in supporting Palestinian institutions amid ongoing needs in the region.

On September 23, 2026, it was announced that countries and partners had committed more than USD$715 million to reproductive health programs, including funding from the UK, Denmark, Norway, and the EIB, to help the UNFPA narrow a US$186 million funding gap for contraceptives across its 54 program countries.

The UK government pledged GBP204 million (US$270 million), the largest single commitment, followed by Denmark's US$54 million contribution. Norway committed NOK210 million (US$23 million), and the EIB provided a EUR200 million (US$232 million) guarantee.

On September 23, 2026, Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica signed the first flagship early recovery projects under the EU-led Team Gaza Initiative, worth US$49 million, in the margins of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York.

The projects aimed to restore essential water and solid waste management services for people in Gaza and were implemented together with UNICEF and UNDP. Of the total, US$42 million, implemented with UNICEF, went toward increasing access to drinking water and reducing exposure to wastewater for approximately 1 million people in Gaza. The remaining US$7 million, implemented with UNDP and supported by other donors, funded waste collection, waste transfer, and a recycling pilot programme, contributing to public health protection and reduced disease risk, as well as limiting the impact of waste on soil, freshwater, and the Mediterranean Sea.

The EU-led Team Gaza Initiative launched in July 2026 in Brussels at the second Palestine Donor Group, hosted by the European Commission, with an initial amount of nearly US$1.1 billion. The platform coordinated ongoing and planned early recovery projects for the people of Gaza and brought together Spain, Denmark, the UK, Germany, Norway, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, and Australia, alongside the European Commission and the EIB.

On September 23, 2026, Norway annonced commitment of NOK210 million (US$23 million) to UNFPA to improve access to contraception, family planning, and other vital health services for women and girls in low- and middle-income countries.

Norway entered into a new agreement with UNFPA for the 2026-2027 period, channeling the funding through the UNFPA Supplies Partnership. UNFPA Supplies was the largest supplier of contraceptives to low- and middle-income countries. Norway's Minister for International Development, Åsmund Aukrust, announced the agreement.

The new commitment built on Norway's NOK443 million (US$48 million) in support to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership over the previous five years. In addition to this earmarked contribution, Norway provided NOK589.6 million (US$64 million) in annual core support to UNFPA.

On September 21, 2026, during a CEPI side event at the 81^st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 81) Ethiopia, Norway, and the United Kingdom announced pledged total of US$240 million to support the CEPI's five-year plan to strengthen global epidemic and pandemic preparedness.

Norway pledged NOK1 billion (US$106 million), and the UK pledged up to GBP100 million (US$134 million). Ethiopia committed to continue its existing financial support for CEPI, without specifying a new amount.

The pledges will support CEPI 3.0, the organization's strategy for 2027-2031, which aims to systematically reduce the likelihood, impact, and cost of epidemics and pandemics. The combined US$240 million commitment reflected continued donor support for pandemic preparedness financing following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced on August 23, 2026, that Norway would provide NOK85 billion (US$9.2 billion) to Ukraine in FY2027 for military and humanitarian spending, matching its 2026 commitment.

Støre made the announcement during a visit to Kyiv with leaders from Nordic and Baltic countries, who demonstrated support for Ukraine amid Russia’s war. He said Norway viewed support for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction as an investment in Europe’s security.

On August 17, 2026, Norway reported NOK30 billion (US$3.3 billion) in 2025 climate financing, more than quadrupling annual funding from NOK7 billion (US$770 million) in 2020 and meeting its 2021 pledge to double climate financing and at least triple adaptation support by 2026.

Norway’s Minister for International Development Åsmund Aukrust attributed the increase mainly to private capital mobilized through the Climate Investment Fund, managed by Norfund. Mobilization reached NOK16 billion (US$1.8 billion) in 2025, an 181% increase from 2024. Aukrust cautioned that annual mobilization could decline in 2026 because investment levels vary.

Norwegian financing supported renewable energy, rainforest protection, and measures to strengthen resilience to floods, droughts, and other climate-related disasters. Norfund CEO Erik Sandersen said combining public funds with private investment could increase the climate impact of each krone spent.

Norway provided NOK3 billion (US$333 million) for climate adaptation in 2025, a 5% increase from 2024. The government plans to announce a new climate-financing target before the end of 2026. Developing countries are estimated to need US$2.5 trillion annually by 2030 for emissions reductions and climate adaptation.

On August 17, 2026, Norad Director General, Gunn Jorid Roset, said Norway will provide NOK400 million (US$42.8 million) to support mine clearance and explosive-remnants-of-war assistance in Ukraine.

Norwegian funding will also finance rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and social reintegration for mine survivors, alongside risk education, community awareness raising, and national advocacy and coordination

Norway said mine clearance would help people move safely and resume agricultural production as the war continued. Approximately 20% of Ukraine’s land area is expected to remain contaminated by mines and explosives in the coming years.

On August 11, 2026, the Future of Development Cooperation Coalition welcomed Norway as its 20th supporting country and JICA as an observer institution, strengthening the Coalition’s representation across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Norway joined Barbados, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Malawi, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and Zambia. The supporting countries brought varied experience in development cooperation, including financing, technical assistance, knowledge, and technology.

Head of the Coalition Secretariat Alexia Latortue said the Coalition had reached its original goal of 20 supporting countries. Supporting countries followed the Coalition’s work, engaged with emerging ideas, and considered how to apply forthcoming principles and recommendations in their own contexts. Their participation helped test whether the Coalition’s proposals were relevant across different political, economic, and institutional settings.

The Coalition’s Co-Chairs and Commissioners finalized the Purposes and Principles of Effective Development Cooperation and began developing recommendations based on research, country and thematic consultations, and engagement with supporting countries and other partners.