Press releases

The UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund will this year provide one million dollars to projects led by young people aged 15-32 years who are piloting innovative approaches to employment, good governance, shelter and secure tenure. Small development initiatives are eligible for grants of up to $5,000, while larger projects may be able to secure up to $25,000. Norway played an important part in the establ... Read more >

The Norwegian state Secretary for Environment and International Development Ingrid Fiskaa will visit Ethiopia 23-25 February. The main focus of her visit is to get an insight into the Norwegian Development Cooperation with Ethiopia and to take part in the international High Level Forum on Education for All , being held in Addis Ababa. This is Ms.Fiskaas first travel to Africa as a State Secreta... Read more >

“At last it is clear that the convention banning cluster munitions will enter into force. With this convention, we have helped to make the world a safer place, strengthened humanitarian law and, not least, ensured that victims will receive assistance,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Burkina Faso and Moldova deposited their instruments of ratification with the United Nations last night.... Read more >

On January 25th, Norway announced its support to the Copenhagen Accord through a letter to the UN Climate Secretariat. Read more >

JOINT STATEMENT BY NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER STØRE, UK FOREIGN SECRETARY MILIBAND AND US SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON Read more >

On December 22nd 2009, the Swedish EU Presidency issued a statement on five death sentences passed during a trial, which is in coherence with Norway’s view. Norway is opposed to the use of capital punishment under all circumstances. Accordingly, Norway aims at its universal abolition, seeking a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step. To read the EU-statement, please open the art... Read more >

During a ceremony in Oslo on 10 December, President Barack Obama received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. Read more >

“We want to show our strong commitment to UN humanitarian efforts at a difficult time,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, commenting on Norway’s contribution to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and a new multi-year cooperation agreement with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Read more >

Norway will be the largest contributor to the World Bank’s new trust fund to help developing countries build up expertise on carbon capture and storage (CCS). Read more >

The State Minister of Finance and Economic Development Ahmed Shide and Norwegian ambassador Jens-Petter Kjemprud yesterday signed two agreements worth approximately 400 million ETB. Read more >

Norway has decided to increase emergency relief to Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia because of the drought. At the same time it is important to increase food security. Read more >

Norway will provide NOK 40 million (USD 7 million) to UN efforts to combat female genital mutilation and violence against women in developing countries. At the same time, Norway will contribute NOK 20 million (USD 3.5 million) to the new UN Fund for Gender Equality. Read more >

Nineteen of the member states of the African Union (AU) signed a convention to protect and assist the internally displaced on 23 October at an AU summit in Kampala, Uganda. Norway helped to finance the summit. Read more >

Due to the pressing humanitarian situation, where 6.2 million people require emergency humanitarian assistance, the Ethiopian Government on 22 October 2009 pledged for immediate international support. Read more >

The Norwegian Government proposes that NOK 27.4 billion should be allocated to development assistance in 2010. This is an increase of NOK 1.2 billion from 2009. Read more >

The European Union, IGAD, the League of Arab States, the UN, Norway and the US have published a joint statement condemning the attack on AMISOM Force Headquarters 17 September 2009. Read more >

The UN General Assembly yesterday approved the establishment of a new agency designed to intensify UN efforts to promote gender equality and the rights of women. “This is an important measure to secure the rights and empowerment of women,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more >

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre condemned Thursday’s suicide bomb attack in Beledweyne in central Somalia, where Somalia’s Security Minister Omar Hashi Aden was among the 20 casualties. Read more >

  Somalia is the first African country to submit such information. The submission was prepared with the assistance of the Government of Norway in consultation with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, acting on behalf of the Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic. “The Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic has taken a sign... Read more >

The following statement was issued last Wednesday by the Ambassador's Group (EPG)  and the Heads of Development Group (DAG): "A majority of the Ambassadors of the Ethiopian Partners Group (EPG) and the donor Heads of Agency of the D evelopment Assistance Group (DAG) are concerned about the possible impact of the Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO law), passed by the Ethiopian Parlia... Read more >