Programs of the Knowledge Bank

• Agriculture for development
• Digitalization for development
• Energy for development
• Fish for development
• Gender equality for development
• Oceans for development
• Statistics and registry cooperation
• Tax for development 

Agriculture for development

Agriculture for development will contribute to the implementation of the Government's strategy for food security in the development policy 'Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency'. Agriculture for development is primarily aimed at bilateral cooperation with selected partner countries. Efforts are designed in dialogue with the country's authorities and are based on their demand and needs. Countries where Norway already supports agriculture and food security are prioritized in order to contribute to a larger and coordinated Norwegian effort in individual countries ('pooling of forces'). Agriculture for development is implemented in parallel with other efforts under the Government's food security strategy to achieve positive synergies.

Subject areas and priority areas are, as mentioned, based on needs and demand in each country, but the following areas of focus are central:

• Better framework conditions for the agricultural sector
• One health: animal health, plant health, environment, nutrition
• Strengthened knowledge base; national research capacity, data and expertise

Agriculture for development must also support efforts that facilitate innovation through the use of digital solutions and the development of digital public infrastructure.

Agriculture for development was formally launched in 2023, but some efforts started somewhat earlier. By the end of 2024, the following Norwegian public institutions are involved in projects:

• Statistics Norway (SSB) in collaboration with COMESA has provided support to National Statistical Offices in, among others, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Mauritius and Somalia for the preparation of food security statistics.
• The Veterinary Institute collaborates with the veterinary authorities in Malawi on zoonoses (= diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans) in the milk value chain. The Veterinary Institute and the veterinary authorities in Ethiopia and Tanzania are in the start-up phase of similar projects.
• The Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy (NIBIO) collaborates with the authorities in Tanzania on soil health and on new methods for rice cultivation and with the authorities in Malawi on early warning of plant diseases and on agroforestry.
• The Meteorological Institute is a collaboration partner for NIBIO in the plant health project in Malawi.

More about the thematic area: Food systems – fundamental to all development | Norad.no 

Digitalization for development

Digitalization in aid is increasingly used as a strategic tool across sectors. Facilitating digital public goods and digital public infrastructure contributes to more efficient and inclusive service delivery, as well as increased innovation in both the public and private sectors.

By supporting the development of access to digital ID, civil register systems, payment solutions and data sharing and information systems, this contributes to the authorities' ability to plan welfare services, and private individuals' basic rights such as education, access to bank accounts, healthcare and social benefits.

Norway has a leading role in the work to drive forward the development of digital public goods and digital public infrastructure. The Alliance for Global Common Goods, of which Norway is a member, has several member countries that provide financial support in addition to contributing with open, shareable, technological solutions.

More about the thematic area: Digital public goods: because global challenges require digital solutions! | Norad.no 

Energy for development

The Energy for development programme (EfD) aims to strengthen the expertise and capacity of the authorities to develop the renewable energy sector and secure public access to clean energy. The primary target group comprises countries with high energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as Nepal. The programme will help the authorities to develop: 

• Good framework conditions for investments in renewable energy 
• Robust, efficient and sustainable energy systems  
• Good environmental management of the energy sector, including land planning and social considerations

The core of the programme is institutional cooperation between Norwegian state actors and their sister institutions in the south.

Experts from the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE), the Norwegian Environment Agency, Statnett, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate and the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority are all sharing their knowledge and experience with public institutions performing similar tasks in the partner countries.

The method is effective for building individual expertise and institutional capacity. Long-term collaboration builds trust between the parties involved, and knowledge is transferred through work processes in order to perform specific tasks. The Efd programme also contributes to the development of relevant laws and regulations in partner countries. The bilateral institutional cooperation is supplemented by other efforts through multilateral organisations, university cooperation and the private sector.

Norway has good experience of knowledge programmes and institutional cooperation in order to strengthen public management of the energy sector. The method has been used for decades with good results in the hydropower sector. For example, NVE’s long-standing cooperation with the Bhutanese authorities has helped lay the foundations for modern hydropower management. Another example is the former governance programme entitled “Oil for development”, which was much sought-after in many countries. Through long-term, trust-based institutional cooperation, Norwegian experts have contributed to the more comprehensive and responsible management of petroleum resources in numerous countries, with a focus on environment, security, finance and transparency.   

During 2023/2024, the Energy for development programme mapped out the opportunities for institutional cooperation in seven selected partner countries: Malawi, Mosambik, Nigeria, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and Nepal. The work to develop country programmes in these countries is ongoing in 2025. 

Further information about this topic: Energy – An important driver for the sustainable development goals | Norad.no 

 

Fish for development

Fish for Development supports partner countries with the development of sustainable fisheries and ecosystems, as well as increased sustainable production of fish and seafood through strengthened expertise and better framework conditions. Research environments and educational institutions assist authorities and industry players with knowledge, data and advice on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

A central component is the EAF Nansen programme, which is run by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in close collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. This program assists developing countries in developing responsible fisheries management, including through the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen.

Other important elements and sub-goals are aquaculture, business development, and resource management, including work to stop illegal fishing. The program contributes directly or indirectly in more than 30 countries, while direct Norwegian involvement is mainly linked to Colombia and Ghana.

Important partners for the program are the Institute of Marine Research, the Veterinary Institute, the Directorate of Fisheries, Statistics Norway, the University of Tromsø, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), FAO and a number of non-profit organisations.

Gender equality for development

Gender equality for development supports partner countries with the design and implementation of policies that promote women's rights and participation in working and social life, through strengthened competence and better framework conditions. Research environments, specialist departments from various sectors and statistics agencies assist authorities with knowledge, data and advice on measures to achieve the overall goal that national authorities design and implement policies that promote women's rights and participation in working and social life.

Equality for development draws on Norwegian gender equality experience and expertise to strengthen women's economic rights and equal opportunities for participation in society and in working life. (Read more on the webpage CORE – Centre for Research on Gender Equality) This is achieved through professional collaboration with authorities in partner countries and through support for the integration of gender equality in other knowledge programmes.

Important partners in Gender equality for Development are:

• The Directorate for Children, Youth and Families (Bufdir) with its expertise in knowledge management and cross-sector approach to equality.
• Statistics Norway (SSB) which has experience in building expertise at national statistical authorities for the use of gender-disaggregated data and the design of a knowledge base for equality policy.
• The Ministry of Culture and Equality (KUD), which is responsible for coordinating national policy for equality and against discrimination.
• In addition, research environments, other Norwegian departments, institutions and ministries are involved on an ongoing basis, depending on demand and needs in partner countries.

See also: Programme Document for Gender Equality for Development 2024-
2028

More about the thematic area: Gender Equality | Norad.no 

Oceans for development

Oceans for development aims to contribute to a sustainable and inclusive ocean economy in partner countries. The program is part of Norway's international commitment to ocean issues, including through the international high-level panel for a sustainable marine economy led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Oceans for development is

a) a knowledge program with the main emphasis on professional collaboration linked to comprehensive ocean management and cross-sectoral coordination;

b) a thematic venture that supports projects that contribute to the programme's objectives; and

c) a facilitator for coordination and joint dissemination of Norway's maritime efforts in development cooperation. The program is closely integrated with the knowledge program Fish for development.

Kenya, Indonesia and Mozambique are partner countries for the initiative, while Ghana is a potentially new partner country. Important collaboration partners include the Norwegian Environment Agency, the Norwegian Maritime Research Institute, the Norwegian Maritime Administration, the Norwegian Coastal Administration, the World Bank's multi-donor fund ProBlue, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), Unesco (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) and non-profit organizations.

More about the thematic area: Oceans – an important contribution to the SDGs | Norad.no 

Statistics and registry cooperation

The main objective of the statistics and register program is to strengthen the ability of national statistical systems to produce and use official statistics of high quality. The program targets the entire national statistics system, i.e. all producers and users of official statistics.

Good and credible statistics as well as independent national statistics agencies are necessary to support development-oriented policies and to be able to measure progress on the sustainability goals. Registers of population, businesses, properties and addresses are fundamental for community planning. At the same time that the needs for statistics and data are greater than ever before, the capacity in many national statistical systems is not good enough to be able to deliver what is required.

The statistics and register cooperation contributes to more knowledge-based planning and thus better governance in partner countries. This is done by strengthening the capacity of the partners' statistical systems, developing principles for capacity development, international standards and methods for statistics, including partner countries' introduction and use of such standards, and by contributing to increased knowledge about and use of statistics.

See also: Programme Document fro Statistics and Register cooperation

More about the thematic area: Statistics and registries – the platform for good decisions | Norad.no 

Tax for development 

The Tax for Development knowledge program is Norway's follow-up of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for Financing for Development from 2015, and the Addis Tax Initiative declaration, in which Norway committed to doubling its efforts in tax assistance from the 2015 level. The program recognizes that increased mobilization of national resources is essential to finance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will be impossible to close the funding gap for the SDGs without a mobilization of national resources, primarily through national tax systems. 

The overall objective of the program is to strengthen developing countries' efforts to improve the financing of national development priorities and the SDGs through increased tax revenues and a strengthened social contract. Building capacity in tax administrations and strengthening civil society is key to helping partner countries increase their tax revenues. However, national measures are not sufficient, as many countries' opportunities to increase their tax revenues are limited by international tax treaties and tax standards. Therefore, a key part of the program is to contribute to increased participation by developing countries in global normative debates, increased research and knowledge production, and support for international civil society actors so that the global tax system better safeguards the interests of all countries.  

More about the thematic area: Tax and public finance – sustainable financing of welfare services and development goals | Norad.no 

Other specialist collaboration

Anti-corruption

Norad's knowledge program on anti-corruption aims to strengthen the public sector in partner countries through increased competence, knowledge and capacity to prevent and follow up corruption. Implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is central, and openness, transparency, integrity, accountability and participation are fundamental elements.

Lack of transparency, weak institutions and a high level of corruption cover all countries and sectors that receive Norwegian aid. Corruption, tax evasion and capital flight contribute to reduced national resource mobilization, and affect both priorities and the state's ability to finance investments and current expenditure.

Choice of partners and areas of focus reflect that corruption is a complex social phenomenon. Through funding and professional advice in the programme, the following approaches are applied:

• A holistic approach to anti-corruption that includes prevention, criminalisation, investigation, prosecution, sentencing, proportionate sanctions/punishment, tracing/freezing/confiscation and restitution of ill-gotten gains.
• A holistic Norwegian effort where anti-corruption, tax, public financial management, trade/customs, statistics/register cooperation, human rights and equality mutually reinforce each other.

Efforts on anti-corruption are carried out both as separate efforts and by integrating these perspectives in various sector efforts, such as within the health sector and strengthening national health systems. Norad promotes and facilitates cooperation between actors both nationally and internationally. Agreements and partnerships must mutually reinforce each other and contribute to increased insight, knowledge and results both globally and at country level.

Cooperation with and support for civil society for active participation in the work to combat corruption and illegal capital flows at country level and in global international processes is vital. A number of civil society organisations have sought professional expertise and brought in views that are important to secure political processes and change at societal level. 

In dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norad facilitates professional cooperation between Norwegian agencies, authorities in developing countries and other actors. A collaboration with the Ministry of Justice is planned for increased professional contribution from Norwegian experts in the work to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in developing countries.

More about the thematic area: Anti-corruption and transparency – a prerequisite for development | Norad.no