Better aid for a changed world: 100-day plan for new government

Norway has an international responsibility for, and a significant self-interest in, that all countries in the world have a sustainable development, and that the inequalities within and between countries are reduced. Unfortunately, cuts to global aid and development cooperation mean it is under pressure. This requires adjustments in Norwegian development policy, something a new government in October should immediately address.

While Norwegian aid has historically been spread thinly outwards, future aid should be concentrated around what most produces the greatest poverty reduction effect and global common goods with high development relevance. This requires tough reprioritisations and steady political leadership, but will produce better results in the long run.

Norway has a unique opportunity to be a role model and show that countries can maintain a high level of assistance simultaneously which places higher demands on evidence and efficiency. There is no contradiction between being generous and making clear demands.

A more peaceful world with less poverty and more cooperation is in everyone's interest. At the same time: When other countries withdraw, Norway gains increased influence in the international system. We should harness that to promote important and overripe reforms.

This 100-day plan presents 20 concrete recommendations that should be implemented in the first three months of a new government term. The recommendations build in part on four previous Long Term Memos; three on how to organise Norwegian aid, and one on reprioritisation and cut after cut from the US.

The objective of the note is to ensure a more efficient, equitable and results-oriented assistance for a new era. Some changes can be implemented immediately, others can be decided quickly, but will require more preparation in order to be implemented. In order to ensure that the changes in Norwegian aid are lasting, a broad political grounding of the central parts should be sought.

The memo's recommendations are sorted into two categories according to how critical they are to follow up: the MUST-measures are structurally necessary to stake out a new course in aid and these we believe need to be implemented within the first 100 days. The BOR measures are highly recommended measures that strengthen implementation power and results, but which require some more political or administrative follow-up or can also be implemented later.

The recommendations are in order of priority, and to make the memo more clear, we have used icons to distinguish between three main types, based on where they need to be followed up:

💰 Budget 🤝 Policy ⚙️ Management