I. Bilateral partnerships on disaster risk reduction

A. Local mobilisation

The Government will:

• request UN organisations and NGOs that receive funding from Norway for humanitarian efforts to cooperate with local partners and networks, with a view to reducing vulnerability to future disasters;

• give priority to efforts by authorities, NGOs and other relevant partners at local level that can help to reduce vulnerability to humanitarian crises;

• consider giving direct support to local organisations that can help to reduce vulnerability and disaster risk;

• strengthen its partnership with the Red Cross and Red Crescent and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on local disaster risk reduction and preparedness, and help to strengthen cooperation between the IFRC and the UN’s International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR);

• increase support for implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, in close cooperation with the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Bank;

• ensure that Norway’s bilateral and multilateral support for the education and health sector is used to strengthen public health services and increase their capacity for responding to crises;

• include disaster risk reduction programmes in Norway’s efforts within the education sector;

• develop partnerships with the private sector with regard to investment in infrastructure, increased food security, job creation for vulnerable groups, etc; and

• enhance knowledge and exchange of experience on innovative financing mechanisms (e.g. cash transfers) that can help to reduce vulnerability.

B. Risk management and poverty reduction

The Government will:

• give higher priority to disaster risk reduction and preparedness in its poverty reduction and development efforts;

• emphasise measures to reduce risk and vulnerability in relation to different types of humanitarian crises in dialogues with the authorities in relevant partner countries concerning the development and follow-up of PRSPs and other relevant planning and policy documents;

• further develop partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ProVention on the provision of advice on the practical implementation of strategies and plans for disaster risk reduction in fragile states; and

• further develop the Foreign Policy and Global Health Initiative, among other things with a view to international mobilisation and policy development in relation to humanitarian disaster response efforts.

C. Building bilateral partnerships

The Government will:

• strengthen coordination of Norway’s humanitarian efforts, transitional assistance and long-term development cooperation with a view to reducing vulnerability to humanitarian crises in vulnerable countries;

• draw up guidelines for how disaster risk reduction measures can be integrated into Norway’s long-term development cooperation;

• increase expertise in the foreign service on practical disaster risk reduction, use of risk and vulnerability analyses, conflict analyses and so on, particularly with a view to helping the embassies in this work;

• strengthen Norad’s role in the evaluation of partners, general evaluations and quality assurance in this area; and

• increase support for the development of expertise in this area in NGOs and other sources of expertise.

II Multilateral partnerships

A. Adaptation measures

The Government will:

• base work on adaptation to climate change on local, traditional strategies for disaster risk reduction and preparedness in relation to extreme weather events;

• contribute to sustainable land-use and natural resource management by promoting good governance and local participation;

• support efforts and processes where resource management is, as far as possible, rights- and community-based;

• support efforts to develop plans for integrated water resource management at both national and regional level;

• climate proof all Norwegian long-term development efforts;

• seek to ensure that risk and vulnerability reduction measures become a core part of adaptation efforts and are given the same priority as measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions both before and after the end of the first Kyoto commitment period in 2012;

• seek to ensure that reducing disaster risk and vulnerability is an integral part of the work under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification;

• ensure that Norway’s humanitarian efforts do not cause environmental degradation and seek to raise our partner countries’ awareness of environmental and climate-related problems;

• seek to ensure that the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) focuses on the prevention of climate-related natural disasters in its efforts relating to agriculture, rural development, drought, desertification and sustainable development in African countries;

• support the efforts of the UN and the development banks to increase access to clean drinking water and satisfactory sanitation systems;

• support international studies and research projects that further increase our knowledge of the impact of environmental and climate change on efforts to achieve the MDGs, on the fight against poverty and on vulnerability to humanitarian crises, as follow-up to the IPCC’s reports; and

• support further research on national and local impacts of climate change as a basis for plans and strategies for reducing disaster risk and vulnerability.

B. International efforts to develop early warning systems

The Government will:

• increase support for the establishment and operation of effective regional and international early warning systems for natural disasters;

• support efforts to develop national platforms for risk reduction and preparedness through our partnerships with the ISDR and the IOC/UNESCO, and with institutions such as the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning, the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, the International Centre for Geohazards, NORSAR, the Norwegian Mapping Authority and the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate;

• help to strengthen the UN system’s analysis capacity in relation to countries and areas where there is a particular risk of unrest and conflict; and

• seek to strengthen cooperation between the UN and international NGOs to ensure good access to information and analyses on potential political unrest and violent conflict.

C. Food security

The Government will:

• improve coordination of Norwegian humanitarian relief, transitional assistance and long-term development cooperation with a view to increasing food security in vulnerable countries;

• continue to deplore international dumping of food and seed in vulnerable countries, and encourage a broader debate on the effects of large-scale seed distribution;

• promote environmental and resource management that as far as possible takes into consideration local food production in vulnerable countries and areas;

• contribute to the preservation of locally adapted types of seed at national level and ensure long-term storage of seed in the global seed vault in Svalbard through the Global Crop Diversity Trust;

• seek to improve UN coordination in the field of food security, for example by supporting Food Security Team Groups at country level;

• request that the UN, particularly the World Food Programme, incorporates the purchase of food from local and regional markets as far as possible in its emergency relief efforts;

• support the transfer of cash instead of food aid where appropriate, with a view to safeguarding vulnerable groups, and build up the knowledge base on the effect of this form of emergency relief;

• support measures such as the food-for-work and food-for-education initiatives where relevant;

• support agricultural reform efforts, including equal rights for women to own land, with a view to reducing vulnerability;

• help to strengthen higher education and research institutions in the field of food security in partner countries; and

• promote greater North-South and South-South exchange of expertise and experience between planning, research and educational institutions.

D. Health security

The Government will:

• intensify efforts to promote the health perspective in foreign policy;

• help to strengthen the WHO’s efforts in relation to humanitarian crises in general and its leadership of the Global Health Cluster in particular, for example through the Health Action in Crises (HAC) network;

• emphasise the health perspective in connection with the discussion of the vulnerable situation of women and girls in armed conflicts;

• seek to ensure that the UN Peacebuilding Commission enhances understanding of the importance of the health dimension as a goal in itself, as a means for achieving peace, and as an indicator of progress in peace and reconstruction processes; and

• identify and engage research communities to consider the health consequences of foreign policy in general and the health aspects of conflict management in particular.

E. Urban planning and good governance

The Government will:

• promote the decentralisation of authority and resources for disaster risk reduction and preparedness to local and regional authorities through national and regional development plans, etc;

• strengthen cooperation on disaster risk reduction between UN-HABITAT, UNDP and OCHA in vulnerable areas, particularly in the reconstruction phase, in close consultation with local authorities and organisations;

• support efforts to improve urban development strategies that take into account environmental considerations, land-use planning and infrastructure in urban slum areas, for example in cooperation with the regional development banks and Cities Alliance;

• support programmes to formalise the user and property rights of the poor in slum areas and vulnerable rural areas, for example through UN-HABITAT and UNDP;

• seek to ensure that towns and cities that are vulnerable to climate change invest in improvements to infrastructure, including drainage, water supply and sewage treatment systems, so that it can withstand various kinds of natural disaster;

• support infrastructure projects in coastal cities, with a particular view to increasing protection against rising sea levels (dikes and dams, alterations to harbours, flood barriers and protection against tsunamis, etc.);

• strengthen international efforts on risk assessment and vulnerability analysis for particularly vulnerable urban areas, including systems for early warning and evacuation plans;

• strengthen the efforts of UN-HABITAT and other relevant organisations to develop and disseminate information on measures that can reduce CO₂ emissions in urban areas, such as developing better transport systems and more effective insulation and building materials;

• help to ensure that the links between conflicts, natural disasters and urban development is given priority in UN plans and efforts at country level; and

• support UN humanitarian appeals for the vulnerable urban poor.

F. Protection of the civilian population

The Government will:

• seek to ensure that Norway actively promotes a stronger role for women in risk reduction efforts as a key element in the fight against poverty;

• give priority to measures to involve women and women’s organisations in peace processes and risk reduction efforts at the local level, and measures to give them more authority and responsibility;

• request Norway’s cooperation partners to hold local consultations in connection with their risk reduction efforts, to seek input from and about women, and to ensure that standardised routines and guidelines for early rehabilitation and reconstruction are adapted accordingly;

• promote support and loan schemes for women affected by natural disasters, such as microfinance, insurance, pension and cash transfer schemes;

• seek to ensure that education is included in all humanitarian relief plans and that sufficient funding is rapidly made available for the education of children affected by war and conflict;

• help to involve children and young people in long-term risk reduction and preparedness efforts through partnerships with UN organisations such as UNICEF and UNHCR, and through alliances of international NGOs;

• request partners to ensure that children and young people have the opportunity to express their views on issues that affect them;

• support efforts to ensure universal access to primary school education in fragile states;

• ensure that Norwegian development policy is based on minimum international standards for education during humanitarian crises and in the early reconstruction phase;

• contribute to knowledge building and research aimed at increasing the effectiveness of disaster protection systems for children and young people;

• request partners to ensure that children and young people have the opportunity to express their views on issues that affect them;

• support efforts to ensure universal access to primary school education in fragile states;

• ensure that Norwegian development policy is based on minimum international standards for education during humanitarian crises and in the early reconstruction phase;

• contribute to knowledge building and research aimed at increasing the effectiveness of disaster protection systems for children and young people;

• seek to foster greater understanding of minority rights at various levels – local, national, regional and international, and focus on the inclusion and participation of minority groups in risk reduction efforts;

• promote dialogue between national authorities and ethnic minorities, and between different ethnic minorities, on measures to reduce vulnerability and on the importance of participation;

• give priority to efforts to maintain robust ecosystems that reduce the risk and scale of humanitarian crises;

• seek to ensure that efforts to ensure the recognition of traditional property and user rights are high up on the risk reduction agenda in areas inhabited by indigenous peoples and other groups who depend on local natural resources;

• work towards an international ban on the production, use and transfer of cluster munitions;

• increase Norway’s support for efforts to clear cluster munitions in conflict areas;

• strengthen Norway’s efforts to help the victims of cluster munitions, with a view to providing better information, medical assistance, physical rehabilitation, psycho-social support and economic rehabilitation;

• strengthen Norway’s partnership with Handicap International and other key actors in the international Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC);

• contribute to continued international efforts to ban the use of landmines; and

• support new measures to reduce the number of small arms and light weapons.

G. Strengthening the UN

The Government will:

• fund a standing group of peace mediation experts – under the administration of the Norwegian Refugee Council – that is at the disposal of the UN, and will seek to boost the UN’s capacity to resolve conflicts;

• establish a Norwegian peacebuilding centre with links to the existing Norwegian research community and international networks, with a view to boosting UN capacity in this area;

• strengthen Norway’s engagement in the UN Peacebuilding Commission;

• cooperate with the DPA to put the links between climate change, the environment and conflict on the agenda in areas where this is relevant;

• to an increasing degree, request that risk reduction measures are included as an integral part of the international humanitarian response;

• seek to ensure that new financial mechanisms, such as the CERF and common humanitarian funds for particular countries, help to reduce vulnerability, improve living conditions and underpin long-term solutions;

• ensure that Norway takes steps to increase the focus on risk reduction and preparedness at the UN General Assembly;

• actively support risk reduction efforts by UN bodies and the international financial organisations and take the initiative for international conferences and other measures that give this area a more prominent position on the international agenda;

• help to increase focus on risk reduction in connection with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) efforts, with a view to improving donor coordination and joint efforts;

• support measures that can highlight the humanitarian and economic benefits to be gained from increased investment in risk reduction;

• improving coordination at national level through closer cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norad (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning, the Norwegian Emergency Preparedness System (NOREPS) 1 and other Norwegian actors with a view to developing new preparedness niches for future humanitarian efforts;

• improving the financial position of key Norwegian actors so that they can systematically recruit, train, administer and follow up standby personnel, and maintain closer contact with international partners;

• taking part in steps to strengthen UN personnel resources for emergency relief operations, through the secondment of civilian personnel, including from the South;

• promoting a stronger gender perspective in international preparedness efforts;

• improving the quality of UN personnel for field operations, and ensuring that Norwegian standby rosters meet the same quality standards as the UN sets for its field personnel in leading positions ; and

• improving systems of emergency stockpiles in cooperation with the UN and NGOs.

H. Closer partnership with the World Bank

The Government will:

• Strengthen Norway’s partnership with the World Bank on risk reduction and poverty reduction through active support for the GFDRR; and

• Seek to ensure that the GFDRR provides long-term support for risk reduction efforts in the most vulnerable countries.

I. Build back better

The Government will:

• support the UN’s and World Bank’s reconstruction efforts with a view to ensuring clearer priorities, better planning processes and more efficient use of resources;

• seek to strengthen the UN’s coordinating role at country level, for example through the proposals set out in the report of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel;

• continue to provide substantial unearmarked funds for our multilateral partners, both as core contributions and as funding for reconstruction efforts;

• play an active role in developing common financial mechanisms in the reconstruction phase;

• support reconstruction measures through the UN’s humanitarian appeals; and

• strengthen standby arrangements for personnel for early recovery and transitional assistance.

III South-South cooperation and regional ­partnerships

The Government will:

• strengthen regional partners that can deal with emergencies and, through their physical presence, help to prevent humanitarian crises;

• seek to promote closer regional cooperation on risk reduction with particular countries in Africa, Latin America and South Asia (the Greater Himalayan region);

• initially give priority to partnerships with China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cuba on South-South cooperation and cooperation with Norwegian centres of expertise on risk reduction and emergency response;

• strengthen cooperation with regional organisations in the South with a view to more systematic exchange of experience and capacity-building;

• help to direct attention to and increase understanding of the impacts of climate change on small-island developing states and vulnerable coastal communities in the Arctic, and support measures that can give them a stronger voice in climate negotiations;

• contribute to the establishment of an international mechanism to ensure the transfer of expertise and technology relating to risk reduction, reconstruction and emergency response between countries in the South, in cooperation with the World Bank and the UN;

• support OCHA’s efforts to give its regional offices more responsibility for strengthening risk reduction and preparedness capacity and help to bolster OCHA’s dialogue with national authorities and regional organisations; and

• promote the use of the Nordic foreign ministers meetings as a channel for putting humanitarian disaster risk reduction on the international agenda.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs