The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ethiopia is responsible for approximately 40% of total Norwegian bilateral aid to Ethiopia. Other channels for Norwegian support includes the UN-system and Norwegian and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In 2008 it is expected that the Embassy will disburse approximately NOK 80 million to various development projects in Ethiopia. This is a somewhat reduced amount due to the capacity restraints after the Embassy had to reduce its staff in September last year.
The Norwegian Parliament has, through the Parliament White Paper (St.Prp.nr.1 2007-2008), decided on the following focus areas for the part of the bilateral development budget that the Embassy is responsible for:
Support Ethiopia’s efforts towards poverty eradication through
- Natural Resource Management and Food security assistance
- Strengthening national and local management of natural resources and improve food security in vulnerable areas
- Building competence and capacity in natural resource management and environmental monitoring, in particular through support to Mekelle and Hawassa Universities
- Mobilising support for the government’s implementation of the UNCCD (UN Convention for Combating Desertification)
Regional Integration and Stability, through:
- Ethiopian national implementation of the Nile Basin Initiative by supporting hydropower development
- Strengthening of the national de-mining capacities
- Strengthening the African Union’s ability to contribute to regional stability and political and economical integration
Good Governance, human rigts and democracy through:
- Capacity building within the judicial sector, the Anti Corruption Commission and training of parliamentarians at national and regional level
- Intensified work to strengthen women and children's rights, with special focus on combating Female Genital Mutilation and other harmful practices
- Support civil society, including media through education of journalists, support to free legal aid, voter education, trade union rights and other civil society initiatives
Cross sectoral support includes:
- Hiv/aids; including hiv/aids awareness in all Norwegian supported projects
- Gender: including gender perspectives in all Norwegian supported projects
The Embassy is in a process of negotiating a Medium Term Development Framework with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development which will formalize government to government assistance. Total Norwegian assistance to Ethiopia, however, annually reaches NOK 200-250 million. Assistance at this level is also anticipated for 2008. Norwegian NGOs like Norwegian Church Aid, Save the Children-Norway, Development Fund, Norwegian Peoples Aid, Norwegian Lutheran Mission and Norwegian Missionary Society all have offices and substantial programmes in Ethiopia in social sectors and contributes importantly to the total Norwegian engagement in Ethiopia.
Apart from substantial direct financial support from the Embassy, in particular to UNICEF and UNFPA, other UN-organisations, like UNDP and UNESCO, also receives Norwegian funding.