Welcome as new NORAD Director

Dear Gunn Jorid Roset,

Congratulations on your job as NORAD Director — one of Norway's most important and meaningful jobs; a mission with enormous opportunities but also great challenges.

You are taking over at a time when international development cooperation is in its greatest crisis in recent times, with large and partly brutal cuts in funding as well as attacks on the shared value base on which aid is built. This crisis threatens what we have achieved up to now and will require major changes and clear leadership going forward.

Norway has both an international responsibility to, and a significant self-interest in, contributing to sustainable development and reducing inequality within and between countries. Norad has a responsibility to ensure that our contributions to this are made as accurately and efficiently as possible.

Not only is Norad responsible for the implementation of important parts of Norwegian aid — you are also the most important the knowledge provider for Norwegian development policy. In both of these roles, it is important that you show leadership in adapting Norwegian aid to the changes that are taking place globally. As a large and generous donor, Norway also has a special responsibility to drive forward reforms in the international aid system. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets the policy framework, it is important that Norad's management and knowledge production contribute.

Global aid cuts must have consequences for Norad's priorities. As you told Panorama Nyheter on August 19, 2025: “Even with a high aid budget, Norway cannot be everywhere.” There is broad agreement that Norwegian aid is currently spread too thinly outwards.

We believe future aid should be concentrated around what gives the greatest Poverty Reduction impact, as well as global common goods with high development relevance. However, this requires tough repriorities and steady leadership. We are therefore pleased to have a NORAD director who “keeps his head cold and his heart warm.” There is no contradiction between being a good and generous partner, and at the same time making clear demands on efficiency.

This note presents 10 concrete recommendations we hope you will follow up. These build on relevant parts of five Long-Term Notes published in 2025: three on how to organise Norwegian aid, one on possible reprioritisations and cuts after the funding gap has widened globally, and a 100-day plan for a new government.

Our goal is to help you and Norad ensure more efficient, equitable and results-oriented assistance for a new era. Some of the changes can be implemented immediately, others can be decided quickly, but will require more preparation in order to be implemented.

We're rooting for you. Good luck to you!

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Please note that the policy report is in Norwegian. Reach out to kontakt@langsikt.no if you want an English version.

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