The Government intends to increase development assistance to NOK 20.75 billion in 2007, the highest level ever. This will correspond to 0.97 per cent of Norway’s estimated gross national income (GNI). The Government’s political profile is reflected in five priority areas in the development assistance budget. The Government is also proposing to intensify efforts to reduce child mortality and to increase the assistance to Africa.

NOK 840 million more for peace-building, human rights and humanitarian assistance
The Government’s aim is that Norway should have a high profile as a promoter of peace and be a major contributor in the humanitarian field and the human rights field. Norway’s international peace and reconciliation efforts will be stepped up. Norway will help to strengthen the UN’s peace-building role, for example by allocating more money to the UN peace-building fund. The Government will support continued reform in the humanitarian field, and will increase support to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Norway’s humanitarian assistance will also be used to support peace and reconciliation efforts. Efforts to prevent humanitarian crises will be intensified. The Government intends to continue Norway’s extensive humanitarian efforts in the Middle East, Sudan, Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

NOK 390 million more for women and gender equality
The Government will follow up the aim set out in its policy platform of making women and gender equality one of the pillars of Norway’s development cooperation. NOK 200 million of these new funds will be specially earmarked for promoting women’s rights and opportunities in line with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Specific measures targeted at women and gender equality will be supplemented by measurably increased integration of this concern into all parts of the development policy. The Government is working on a separate action plan for integrating women and gender equality into development cooperation.

Through its budget proposal, the Government is following up the action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, which aims to improve the situation of women in war and conflicts, and to ensure women’s rights and participation in peace and reconciliation processes. The Government will allocate NOK 130 million for the implementation of the action plan and other measures designed to promote women’s rights and participation in peace processes and humanitarian efforts.

NOK 355 million more for the environment and sustainable development
The Government’s aim is for Norway to play a leading role in making environmental concerns an integral part of all development cooperation. The Government will allocate an additional NOK 355 million in 2007 for the implementation of the Action Plan for Environment in Development Cooperation. Particular priority will be given to the sustainable management, use and conservation of natural resources and biological diversity. An additional NOK 70 million is being allocated for cooperation with the UN in this field. The Government has also taken the initiative to develop a strategic partnership with Norwegian environmental organisations with a view to strengthening the environmental movement in Norway’s partner countries.

NOK 310 million more for better governance and the fight against corruption
The Government will help to build strong, democratic states that have both the ability and the will to combat poverty. Direct budget support to certain selected countries will be increased, and an initiative will be taken to secure more long-term support for state-building in vulnerable countries such as Burundi, Afghanistan and Nepal. Cooperation will also be established with Bolivia. The Government will intensify anti-corruption efforts through measures aimed to prevent, detect and investigate corruption. The Government will, for example, earmark more funds for cooperation between the Norwegian Auditor General’s Office and its counterpart in selected countries, and for the UN’s and the development banks’ common efforts to combat corruption.

NOK 270 million more for assistance in the field of oil and energy
The Government intends to step up efforts in areas where Norway has particular expertise and experience to offer. The Government proposes to allocate NOK 90 million for technical cooperation in the field of oil and energy in 2007. This is an increase of NOK 40 million compared with 2006. Many developing countries have a need for increased and more reliable access to environmentally-friendly electricity, both in order to improve the living conditions of the population and as a basis for industrial development and employment. The Government therefore intends to devote considerable resources to providing assistance in the field of hydropower and electrification.

Intensified efforts to reduce child mortality
The Government has taken on particular responsibility for following up on Millennium Development Goal 4 on reducing child mortality. In the Government’s budget proposal, NOK 300 million is allocated for these efforts. Norway has recently begun cooperating with India on reducing child mortality. These efforts come on top of an allocation of NOK 500 million for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), which will particularly benefit children.

Further increase in the assistance to Africa
The Government will follow up on the international target of doubling assistance to Africa between 2005 and 2010. It proposes increasing the earmarked, long-term assistance to Africa by NOK 330 million. This means that the assistance allocated to Africa will have increased from NOK 2 billion in 2005 to NOK 2.7 million in 2007. The additional support will be shared between the five priority areas.