Parliamentary White Paper 24 (2016-2017) Common Responsibility for Common Future – The Sustainable Development Goals and Norway’s Development Policy.

The present white paper sets the direction for Norwegian development policy in light of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It lays the ground for an integrated approach to global, regional and national development, setting guidelines for how Norway can contribute to poorer countries reach the SDGs. This white paper should be read together with other sectorial white papers presented by the Government. The document contains the following Chapters: 1. Introduction; 2. International framework conditions for development policy and aid; 3. Norwegian current development policy and aid; 4. The effects of development aid; 5. The way forward – consequences of the sustainable development goals for the development policy; 6. Economic and administrative consequences.
The white paper sets the following key priorities for Norwegian development policy and aid: human rights; women’s rights and gender equality; climate change and environment; and anti-corruption. Further, five thematic areas are given priority: (1) education; (2) health; (3) private sector development and job creation; (4) climate, renewable energy and the environment; and (5) humanitarian aid. Food security is also considered a key issue in Norway’s humanitarian efforts.
As regards (1) education, the Government will: work to improve the quality of education, for example through the recruitment of more and better-qualified teachers and the use of new technology; work to ensure that children and young people in situations of crisis and conflict have access to good quality education; work to ensure that the most marginalised groups of children and young people, including those with disabilities, have educational opportunities; intensify the efforts to ensure that young people have vocational training opportunities; etc.
As regards (2) health, the Government will: build further on Norway’s longstanding efforts to improve women’s, children’s and young people’s health; fight the major infectious diseases and strengthen health systems in the poorest countries; intensify the efforts promote access to sexual and reproductive health services, particularly in crisis and conflict situations; step up the efforts in the areas of non-communicable diseases and air pollution; make efforts in fighting antimicrobial resistance; etc.
As regards (3) private sector development and job creation, the Government will increase allocations to the Norwegian Investment Fund for developing countries (Norfund) by 50%, among other things.
As regards (4) climate, renewable energy and the environment, the Government will double its efforts in the field of renewable energy; increase funding for climate measures to achieve the targets set out in the Paris Agreement; promote effective models for public-private cooperation so that aid can be used to trigger private sector investments in renewable energy and climate and environment measures; make efforts in climate-smart agriculture; etc.
As regards (5) humanitarian aid, the overarching goal is to contribute to providing people in need the necessary protection and help in light of the humanitarian principles of humanitarianism, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
Beyond these thematic priorities, other central policy areas are also an integral part of Norwya’s development policy. These include international rule of law; good governance, democracy and human rights; equal rights; trade; peace and reconciliation; global safety challenges; research, higher education, and knowledge sharing.