Reorganisation of Norad in line with the SDGs

The reorganisation is a consequence of Norad’s new instructions and the significant change in the division of roles between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norad following ‘Reform 2019’. Since 2020, Norad has been responsible for managing most of the long-term development aid. Last year, Norad managed a total of NOK 19 billion in development aid, compared with approximately NOK 4 billion in 2015.

Against this backdrop, Norad has developed a new strategy with a clear ambition for the development aid managed by Norad to be operationalised through strategic funds management, knowledge dissemination and innovation. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form the framework for Norad’s work in the years ahead; Norad will help ensure that the goals are achieved and that the strategy is followed until 2030.

• Learn more: Norad’s strategy towards 2030

Organisation according to the SDGs

One of the instruments for implementing the new strategy is organisational development. In order to assemble expertise and better facilitate Norad’s strategic management of the development aid, Norad has been organised thematically according to the SDGs.

As the specialist and administrative competence in Norad will now be integrated, all grant management will be assembled in three departments; Human development, Climate and environment, and Partnership and shared prosperity. Consequently, the Department for Civil Society and the Private Sector and the Department for Quality Assurance will cease to exist on 31 August.

New departments in Norad

The new thematic division of the departments will be as follows:

• Human development will cover global health, education, higher education and research, gender equality and human rights.
• Climate and environment will address issues such as food, energy, forests, oceans, and nature and the climate.
• Partnership and shared prosperity will cover multilateral partnerships, civil society, governance and transparency, innovation, and the private sector and new partnerships.

There will also be departments for operational management, organisational development, communication, evaluation and knowledge management, and a new internal audit and investigation unit. The Bistandsaktuelt publication will not be included in the new organisation chart, and a separate board will be set up to ensure its development and independence.

Effective from 1 September

The new organisation will be operational from 1 September.

Existing collaborations and grant agreements will, as a general rule, be placed in the department and section that are responsible for the thematic areas covered by the agreement. This also applies to civil society organisations and private sector whose main focus is on a particular thematic area. The new section for civil society will be responsible for strengthening civil society and enabling civic space, broad partnerships, and grants for information work and democracy support for political parties.

Norad’s employees will be placed in the new organisation in June. Our partners will receive relevant information, such as their new point of contact in Norad, during August and the start of September.

Norad will be a key partner that brings actors together to help us achieve the SDGs. Our main task is to invest strategically in cooperation with our partners.

We wish all our partners an enjoyable summer.