PART I MAIN GOALS

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Photo: © UNFPA/Karam Al-Masri

Chapter 1 Norway’s humanitarian vision and role

The aim of Norway’s humanitarian policy is to save lives, alleviate suffering and uphold human dignity and rights in humanitarian crises, in line with the humanitarian imperative. Norway shall be a leading donor country and humanitarian policy actor.

We will be clear about the values and principles underlying our humanitarian engagement. We will promote a multilateral system in which international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, are respected.

Norway’s humanitarian efforts will be based on the humanitarian principles and respond to acute needs. The objectives shall be distinctly humanitarian but must also be understood in the context of other aspects of Norway’s foreign and development policy.

This strategy sets out a continued and distinct focus on the protection of civilians against violence and abuse, and violations of international law in humanitarian crises and armed conflict. Norway will continue to be an advocate of the protection of internally displaced people and contribute to improving the long-term response to the major refugee situations the world is facing. International efforts to assist as many people as possible in close proximity to where they live must be strengthened, wherever possible.

We have a long tradition of actively promoting compliance with, and the further development of, international law and the international framework that provide the basis for humanitarian action. Legally binding conventions such as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Convention on Cluster Munitions as well as the political Safe Schools Declaration are a few examples. We will continue our engagement in this area.

Food security and response to acute hunger crises represent new focus areas during the strategy period. We will strengthen disaster risk reduction and anticipatory action to prevent new and recurring hunger crises. Norway will contribute to remedying the growing humanitarian consequences of climate change. Our efforts on health and education in crisis and conflict will continue.

Norway will prioritise humanitarian diplomacy during the strategy period. We will remain open to dialogue with all states, parties and actors in conflicts and humanitarian disasters, to promote the safeguarding of the civilian population and its right to protection and emergency assistance. We will also support humanitarian partner organisations in their efforts to ensure humanitarian access in areas of conflict.

We will contribute to a stronger and more efficient humanitarian sector. We will follow up the Grand Bargain Declaration1 and continue our commitment to improving the global humanitarian system. Our aim is to bolster humanitarian efforts and reduce the funding gap through increased efficiency, innovation and strengthened local humanitarian response. We will ensure good interaction between humanitarian efforts, conflict prevention and resolution, stabilisation efforts, development cooperation and peacebuilding, to reduce the scale of sudden and slow-onset crises.

We will promote enhanced disaster risk preparedness and anticipatory action ahead of expected crises. Furthermore, Norway will contribute to early recovery and sustainable solutions in protracted humanitarian crises and will select partners who work in line with these priorities.

It is the obligation and responsibility of national authorities to protect and provide assistance to their own population in the event of a humanitarian crisis. The task of the international community and the various humanitarian organisations is to respond in areas where the authorities are unable or unwilling to protect or provide assistance to people in need of humanitarian aid. These efforts should complement and strengthen local response. Different humanitarian crises require different responses. Humanitarian efforts must be adapted to meet the different needs of people affected by different types of crises. Norway will promote a rights-based approach,2 seeking to increase the involvement of people affected by crises in humanitarian efforts so that, instead of simply being recipients of humanitarian aid, they are participants in the response. Among other things, this entails that people with disabilities must be included, and their representative organisations must participate in the planning and implementation of programmes. The gender perspective is to be integrated into all our humanitarian efforts, and special priority shall be given to women’s rights and participation.

Decisions concerning Norwegian humanitarian support will be based on the needs of the affected population, assessments of local capacity, the response capacity of humanitarian organisations, local presence, access, and involvement from other donors. The thematic areas and country situations that have been identified as priorities by Norway – areas and countries where our efforts can make a real difference – will also be considered when making decisions concerning humanitarian financing.

There must be a clear connection between Norway’s humanitarian policy priorities and Norway’s role as a donor country. It is more important than ever to forge alliances that include not only like-minded countries and traditional partners, but also countries and actors we do not usually cooperate with.

Norway’s humanitarian funds will primarily be channelled through the United Nations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and humanitarian non-governmental organisations. These actors should, to the greatest extent possible, work with local staff and local partners. Partnerships are to be equitable and ensure capacity exchange of competence with local organisations. We will provide both predictability and flexibility for our partners, and at the same time set requirements regarding quality and results. Norway will also work to increase the number of donors contributing to global humanitarian efforts and will invest in good humanitarian financing mechanisms at both the global and country level with a view to ensuring that humanitarian action is well-coordinated and effective.

Norway will demonstrate transparency and a willingness to make use of new and effective solutions and technology to strengthen our humanitarian efforts. We will promote a green humanitarian response so that environmental and climate considerations are better integrated into our humanitarian efforts. Our humanitarian efforts must be further developed on the basis of knowledge, lessons learned, innovation, and broad interaction with a wide range of actors and affected groups. Research-based knowledge and dialogue with specialist groups, humanitarian partners and other countries will help to ensure that Norwegian humanitarian policy is tailored, to the extent possible, to the challenges of our time.