Government scaling up funding for Norad's Knowledge Bank

The Government is proposing to increase its overall budget for technical cooperation from NOK 428.6 million to NOK 441.6 million in the revised 2018 budget.

'Helping developing countries to increase their capacity to collect tax revenues is an important way of financing development. Norway has a great deal to offer in this field. There is a growing need and demand for technical cooperation on taxation and a range of other areas where Norway has relevant experience and expertise. The long-term goal is for developing countries to become independent of aid,' said Mr Astrup..

At the Addis Ababa Financing for Development Conference, Norway undertook to double its technical cooperation on tax and domestic revenue mobilisation by 2020. This means an increase in funding from NOK 134 million in 2015 to NOK 268 million in 2020. The Government will honour this pledge, and is therefore increasing its allocation in the revised budget.

Norway is a rich country, not only in monetary terms, but also rich in knowledge. Through Norad's Knowledge Bank, our expertise can be used to benefit more people. For example, the Norwegian Tax Administration will be providing technical assistance and help in capacity building. The Norwegian Directorate of Taxes has established a secretariat for technical cooperation on taxation.

Norwegian governmental bodies in areas such as taxation, oil and gas, renewable energy, fisheries, gender equality, research, higher education and statistics are all involved in technical cooperation. The Knowledge Bank will strengthen and coordinate technical cooperation with selected countries in these fields, where Norway has relevant expertise that is in demand.