12 Knowledge bank to revitalise technical cooperation

In many countries today, there is greater demand for transfer of technology and knowledge than for aid funds. Revitalising and strengthening technical cooperation is therefore an important part of any forward-looking development policy. This is also vital for easing the transition from a relationship based on aid to more normal bilateral ties.

Technical cooperation will be systematised in a knowledge bank. Norway has a long tradition of technical assistance and institutional cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. Public institutions such as the Office of the Auditor General of Norway, the Norwegian Tax Administration, and Statistics Norway have been engaged in development cooperation for a number of years. Programmes like Oil for Development, Fish for Development and Tax for Development are in great demand in many countries. A similar programme, based on this model, is now being developed for gender equality. The knowledge bank will also promote technical cooperation between countries in the South. The knowledge bank will be based in Norad (the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation).