Areas of Norwegian Support to Ukraine and Neighbouring Countries
Натисніть тут для версії українською мовою
Through the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, Norway provides a wide range of civilian and humanitarian support. In what follows, you can read more about some of the priority areas of the Norwegian efforts.
General budget support, reconstruction and development
A large part of the support to Ukraine is channeled through international financial institutions, which provide general budget support to the Ukrainian state, support to reconstruction and repair of damaged infrastructure. The operational assistance is intended to support the state deliver services and to avoid the creation parallel structures. Energy is an important focus area for Norwegian support for reconstruction. Norwegian support also contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage, support for business, transport and agriculture, health and the environment.
General budget support
Budget support to the Ukrainian state, as well as contributions to early reconstruction and the repair of critical infrastructure, is crucial to Ukraine's ability to resist Russian aggression and support people's will to resist. The support is directed towards ensuring basic services are delivered to the Ukrainian population through the government's own, still functioning, systems. The budget support is channeled through the World Bank and helps to cover expenses such as salaries for teachers and health professionals, pensions and other social benefits. The support is transferred each month through electronic payments that can be traced all the way to the final recipient's bank account.
Energy
The energy sector has been hit hard by Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. Large parts of electrical power production have been destroyed. Energy is a key focus area for Norway's support to reconstruction. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a key partner for strengthening energy security and ensuring functioning infrastructure delivers electricity and heat to end users. Through the EBRD, Norway has specifically provided support to the two state-owned energy companies Ukrenergo (electricity) and Naftogaz (gas). The EBRD has maintained a long-term cooperation and perspective with these companies and contributed to corporate governance reforms and measures to reduce the risk of corruption.
Humanitarian aid
Norwegian humanitarian aid to Ukraine helps to protect vulnerable local populations in the country, both those who are internally displaced, those still living close to the front line and those returning to retaken areas. Humanitarian response areas under the Nansen programme include shelter, food, water and sanitation, rehabilitation of civilian infrastructure, education, health services including mental health, psychosocial support, sexual and reproductive health, and protection against sexual and gender-based violence. Furthermore, mine clearance is an important area of intervention that enables the population to move around in their local community and regain access to agricultural land.
Strengthening the local humanitarian response
Norway is one of the largest humanitarian donors to Ukraine and the refugee response in neighbouring countries, providing NOK 2.8 billion in support in 2023. Ukraine has strong national institutions and an active civil society, which makes the humanitarian response different from many other humanitarian crises. Assistance is provided through the UN, including the Ukraine Humanitarian Country Fund (UHF), the Red Cross Movement, as well as Norwegian and other international organisations. Through UHF, support to local humanitarian partners has increased significantly. In 2023, the fund allocated USD 181 million to the humanitarian response, of which more than 30 per cent was channelled through more than 300 local partners in almost every oblast in the country. Norway is one of the largest donors to this fund with a contribution of NOK 200 million in 2023.
A significant part of Norway's humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and neighbouring countries are channeled through Norwegian humanitarian organisations that have strategic partnership agreements with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, medical evacuation of Ukrainian patients (MEDEVAC) and material assistance to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism UCPM, are important supplements to Norwegian humanitarian aid.
Human rights and governance
Norway supports targeted measures to promote democracy, the rule of law, and human rights through multilateral actors and in cooperation with Ukrainian civil society. Strengthening Ukraine's reform processes for decentralisation, transparency, accountability and integrity in the administration through capacity building and institutional cooperation contributes to Ukraine's ambitions for European integration. In addition, support is provided to organisations working to identify, document, investigate, and prosecute possible war crimes and human rights violations against Ukraine, as well as efforts to account for a large number of missing persons.
Women are underrepresented in public institutions and decision-making processes in Ukraine. Norway prioritises support for measures that strengthen girls' and women's rights, participation and position in society. Norway also supports training of police and emergency services to assist civilians affected by conflict-related sexual violence. The Norwegian response also includes assistance to strengthen the capacity to safeguard the rights of marginalised groups, for example people living with war injuries, mental health injuries and disabilities, internally displaced persons, and children.
Cross-cutting issues and risk management
Human rights, women's rights and gender equality, anti-corruption, and climate and the environment are cross-cutting issues that are included in all Norwegian aid, including the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine. There is a high risk associated with support to a country at war. Risk assessments are important to avoid Norwegian-supported measures contributing to worsening the situation for Ukrainians in aspects of Ukrainian development which were already a challenge before the full-scale invasion, and which have been exacerbated in wartime. Both targeted and cross-cutting efforts to effectively combat corruption will be important and are also a fundamental prerequisite for European integration.