Minister of International Development creates new budget item for vulnerable groups

‘If we are to reach the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, we must ensure that no one is left behind. This will require new ways of thinking, political will and the ability to take effective action. Addressing the needs of the most vulnerable groups must be our primary concern,’ said Minister of International Development, Dag-Inge Ulstein.

The Government has proposed increasing Norway’s support for vulnerable groups by creating a new budget item for this purpose. The allocation will be used to support efforts to combat modern slavery (NOK 150 million), to improve the situation of people with disabilities (NOK 260 million), and to provide assistance to groups at risk of being infected by HIV and AIDS (NOK 16 million). Under the new budget item for vulnerable groups, support for civil society will be increased by NOK 100 million. This includes an allocation of NOK 60 million for education for people with disabilities.

‘The Government’s political platform sets out that efforts to combat modern slavery will be strengthened, and that efforts relating to this issue will be combined under a new development programme. The new programme will be established during the winter of 2020,’ said Mr Ulstein.

In addition, Norway has joined Alliance 8.7 as a partner. Alliance 8.7 is an ILO-led global partnership committed to achieving SDG target 8.7 – to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and end child labour in all its forms.

NOK 266 million of the NOK 466 million allocated under the new budget item for vulnerable groups has been transferred from other budget items. The allocation under this item includes an additional allocation, continued from the 2019 budget, of NOK 400 million over a four-year period for efforts to improve the situation of people with disabilities. The funding will be channelled through civil society organisations.