Norway’s aid budget at record high in 2020

Norway’s aid development budget hit a record high of NOK 39.5 billion (US$4.72 billion) in 2020, increasing by NOK 1.7 billion (US$204 million) compared to 2019, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) has reported.

The increase is consistent with the global development aid trend which amounted to US$161 billion in 2020, up by 3.5% compared to 2019. Norway is the 11th largest global contributor to development aid.

The largest recipient of Norwegian aid was Syria which received NOK 948 million in emergency assistance to cover the most urgent needs stemming from the ongoing conflict. Syria was followed by Afghanistan (NOK 746 million), Ethiopia (NOK 736 million), and South Sudan (NOK 638 million). Ethiopia is also the largest long-term aid recipient and has seen assistance increase year after year – in 2020 it received NOK 38 million more than in 2019.

Assistance provided to support developing countries to fight COVID-19 stood at NOK 3.5 billion, exceeding the total amount allocated for healthcare in 2019 by 60%. The total Norwegian contribution to health-related assistance in 2020 was NOK 6.6 billion.

“These figures clearly show how Norway has played an important role in fighting the pandemic and its global ramifications. The pandemic cannot be overcome by one country alone – no one is safe until everyone is safe. Norwegian development aid funds have made a major contribution to ensuring fairer vaccine access for all countries,” said International Development Minister, Dag-Inge Ulstein.

Norway also boosted its support to help the UN and other multilateral organizations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2020, the total amount of aid allocated to multilateral institutions was NOK 23.5 billion, up by NOK 1.8 billion compared to 2019. This accounted for 59% of the total Norwegian development assistance.

The largest institutional recipient was the World Bank which received NOK 4.6 billion in 2020. Norway channeled 23% (NOK 9 billion) of its total development aid through its partner civil society organizations. The Norwegian Refugee Council was the biggest recipient amongst civil society partners with NOK 1,135 million followed by the Norwegian Red Cross with NOK 1,041 million, the Norwegian Church Aid with NOK 667 million, the Norwegian People’s Aid with NOK 458 million, and Save the Children Norway with NOK 389 million.

Norway’s development aid also focused on environmental issues spending NOK 3 billion to conserve and save the rainforest. Within this initiative, Norway financed the taking of high-resolution satellite images which allow a better understanding of the condition of this vital for biodiversity entity.