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Individual Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  Norway has been engaged in numerous peace processes over several decades. Promoting conflict resolution and reconciliation is a central element of Norwegian foreign policy.
  
  Norway was among the first countries to develop a national action plan for women, peace and security. In our third plan, we have built on the experience gained from our evaluations. We had already done a good deal of work in this field, but we wanted to further intensify our efforts. By early January 2016, the guidelines for the Ministry’s follow-up of the action plan were launched. These set out more clearly than ever what is expected of employees in the Ministry and the missions abroad.

• Achievements at a glance

  Norway has facilitated and supported different peace processes (eg. Colombia, Philippine). Norway has continued to work for the integration of a gender perspective and women’s participation in peace processes where we are involved, most notably in the Colombian and Philippine processes. We have supported the involvement of women and civil society in the Syria talks in Geneva. Together with the other Nordic countries and South Africa, we continue to promote the network of women mediators, in close dialogue with the AU and others. In September, the Prime Minister launched a dialogue mechanism between civil society organisations, spearheaded by the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership, and national authorities.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  Peace and reconciliation work requires a long-term approach. This makes measuring results a challenging process. Norway attaches importance to collecting and systematising experience gained from peace processes, in part to make it easier to measure results.
  
  As a follow-up to the Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security, the Ministry developed a set of indicators and established baselines for 2015. The first report is to be prepared this year. In addition, focus countries are developing their own work plans and reporting through established reporting mechanisms. We have annual meetings with major recipients of Norwegian humanitarian and development funds, and follow these up with field visits and further monitoring as needed.

• Challenges faced in implementation

  Peace and reconciliation work means involvement in difficult processes where outcomes are highly uncertain and there is considerable political risk. We seek to reduce this risk through strategic planning, follow-up and control.
  
  Norway supports the Women’s Advisory Board (WAB) in Geneva to promote women’s participation in the Syrian peace process. While the talks were suspended, the WAB’s main function was to consult as broadly as possible with Syrian women’s organisations to ensure a broad ‘buy-in’ to the political process.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  Norway will continue to support peace processes, dialogue initiatives, capacity and confidence building measures in several countries. We will promote Security Council resolution 1325 and incorporate its recommendations into all our peace and reconciliation efforts.
  
  A new focus area that emerged this year is the Peace Building Commission, as we recently became a member. Another arena where we will intensify our efforts is the OSCE. In both forums, we are seeking to ensure a clear focus on women, peace and security. In addition, we are committed to doing more to combat SGBV in conflict.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Accountability to affected people ☑ Gender

• Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

  ☑1C - Remain engaged and invest in stability ☑ 3D - Empower and protect women and girls

Individual Commitment

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  Norway has always been committed to the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence in humanitarian action. In a time where these humanitarian principles are under increasing pressure in several conflict situations, Norway deems it necessary to actively highlight their continued significance and relevance.We also believe that integration of these principles into relevant humanitarian policy frameworks can raise awareness and increase commitment to ensuring delivery of principled humanitarian aid.
  
  Norway has for many years provided financial and political support to the ICRC Health Care in Danger initiative. We are deeply concerned by deliberate attacks on health workers and health institutions and strongly condemn such acts.

• Achievements at a glance

  In 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and several Norwegian NGOs developed a guidance note entitled ‘Ensuring Respect for the Humanitarian Principles’. The objective is to ensure a common understanding of what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects of its partners in order to reduce the risk of non-compliance with humanitarian principles.
  
  Norway continues to highlight the importance of respecting the humanitarian principles in relevant national and international forums, and we encourage our humanitarian partners to do the same. We also continue to include wording on the humanitarian principles in grant agreements.
  
  General Assembly resolution 69/132 on the protection of health workers, developed by the Foreign Policy and Global Health initiative under the Norwegian chairmanship of the group, broke new grounding in securing the commitment of all states to respect the principles of medical ethics in addition to their commitments under IHL, and also commitments to a wide range of preventive measures against violence against health workers.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  Through continuous dialogue with our humanitarian partners and evaluation of their risk assessments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes certain that they follow up on their commitments.
  
  General Assembly resolution 69/132 on the protection of health workers, developed by the Foreign Policy and Global Health initiative under the Norwegian chairmanship of the group, broke new grounding in securing the commitment of all states to respect the principles of medical ethics in addition to their commitments under IHL, and also commitments to a wide range of preventive measures against violence against health workers.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will invite its humanitarian partners to a follow-up meeting by the end of 2017 to take stock of the extent to which our partners have operationalised the risk assessments set out in the guidance note. We will also evaluate the relevance of recommendations for each phase of the project cycle based on feedback from our partners, in order to identify any need for adjustments and improvements.
  
  The support to the ICRC Health Care in Danger initiative will be continued, and we are planning to engage in the informal group of friends of Health Care in Danger in Geneva.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Humanitarian principles

• Specific initiatives

  ☑A Global Undertaking on Health in Crisis Settings

• Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

  ☑2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

Individual Commitment

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  Since 2006, Norway has explicitly required organisations that receive support for humanitarian projects to integrate the gender perspective into their work and to report on this topic. Organisations are also required to evaluate the relevance of projects with regard to Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. This has been an important driver for including the gender perspective in the work of these organisations. Although most organisations have guidelines and strategies in place, there is still a need for the Ministry to monitor the humanitarian organisations and hold them accountable for inclusion of gender.

• Achievements at a glance

  - The topic is raised in meetings with humanitarian organisations. We consider this to be an integrated part of the application and reporting process to the Ministry.
  - The Ministry granted Norwegian Church Aid NOK 66 million for a three-year programme on reduction of gender based violence. The programme is being implemented in DR Congo, Mali, South Sudan and Burundi and is part of Norwegian Church Aid's global programme on reducing GBV.
  - The earthquake in Haiti in 2010 resulted in Norwegian engagement in country, including collaboration with the Haitian national police on SGBV. The Government of Haiti has adopted a national plan to prevent and fight SGBV. The police team has been instrumental in achieving this work. The team is currently training all police districts in Haiti on how to investigate and prevent SGBV. The Haiti national police academy has incorporated prevention of SGBV in its curriculum for all the police cadets.
  - In 2016, Norway supported the ICRC appeal to prevent/respond to sexual violence with NOK 15 million.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  The gender perspective is now better integrated into all areas of humanitarian response supported by Norway, but there is still a need for the Ministry to monitor the organisations and hold them accountable for inclusion of gender.

• Challenges faced in implementation

  Humanitarian organisations need to ensure that there is knowledge and awareness of gender issues in the field. The fight against sexual and gender based violence is challenging, as the problem is so huge and so pervasive. It takes times to change social norms and to promote women’s rights and status.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  - Norwegian humanitarian organisations participated in a conference on 8 March 2017 to present how they are integrating the gender perspective in their work and to discuss gaps and challenges.
  - Norwegian Church Aid has initiated a GBV campaign to end impunity and ensure accountability of perpetrators of violence. The campaign will commence in 2017, in accordance with Agenda for Humanity transformations 2E - Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity and 2C - Speak out on violations.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Gender

• Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

  ☑2C - Speak out on violations ☑ 2E - Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity ☑ 3D - Empower and protect women and girls

Individual Commitment

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  Norway has for a long time been committed to durable solutions for refugees and IDPs. Norway sees a strong Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), accompanied by a clear plan for implementation, as critical for protection of and durable solutions for refugees. Norway sees a need for greater emphasis on durable solutions for IDPs.
  
  Middle-income countries such as Jordan and Lebanon hosts millions of refugees but face challenges in accessing concessional finance. This situation has exposed an important gap in the existing architecture of development assistance. The Global Concessional Financing Facility aims to address this challenge.

• Achievements at a glance

  Norway supports the CRRF process both politically and financially, particularly through its support to UNHCR, which in 2016 amounted to a total of NOK 829 million (approximately USD 100 million). Norway engages on a regular basis in dialogue with international organisations, NGOs and other states on the follow up of the CRRF process – normatively and in practice – in the five planned pilot countries. Norway has also supported the World Bank’s engagement in this area, including though financing for its reports and its pilot projects on improving the humanitarian–development nexus. Like UNHCR, Norway sees this nexus as critical for achieving durable solutions for refugees and IDPs.
  
  With regard to IDPs, Norway engages in dialogue with states, NGOs and international organisations, such as OCHA and UNCHR, on how to promote stronger and clearer international commitments to protect IDPs
  
  Norway has contributed NOK 103.2 million (approximately USD 12 million) to the Global Concessional Financing Facility.
  
  For follow-up to the Syria and Region Conference, see 5D.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  The monitoring mechanisms for the CRRF process have not yet been developed. Norway is considering how to support initiatives to improve mapping of the progress made, particularly with regard to the five pilot countries.

• Challenges faced in implementation

  As the CRRF process is still in its early stages, it is too soon to draw any clear conclusions in this respect. One obvious challenge, however, is the limited emphasis on durable solutions for IDPs. There is also a need to agree on monitoring mechanisms for the CRRF, particularly for the pilot countries.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  Norway will continue to engage in dialogue with, and support, UNHCR’s work on the CRRF. We are in particular looking into the possibility of providing more support to the five pilot countries, especially Uganda. Norway also recognises the need for durable solutions for IDPs, and is considering ways of supporting global initiatives that can take this agenda forward, including cooperation with OCHA, UNHCR and relevant NGOs.

• If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Reduce and address displacement', what would it be

  Stronger international emphasis on the need for durable solutions for IDPs is urgently needed.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑IDPs ☑ Refugees

• Specific initiatives

  ☑Commitment to Action: Transcending the humanitarian - development divide ☑ New Way of Working

• Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

  ☑4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides ☑ 5D - Finance outcomes, not fragmentation: shift from funding to financing

Individual Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  It is important for Norway to contribute to a flexible and predictable humanitarian response. The idea behind the commitment was to inform UNHCR and UNICEF about the minimum funding they could expect from Norway for the Syrian crisis over the next three years, to help them in their planning.
  
  Norway made the commitment on education in order to put education in emergencies higher up on the international agenda. We wanted to encourage stakeholders to scale up their efforts and thereby reach more children and young people. We believe the Education Cannot Wait initiative will raise political will and mobilise additional funds for education in emergencies.

• Achievements at a glance

  Norway provided NOK 440 million to UNHCR and NOK 348 million to UNICEF for programmes in Syria and the neighbouring countries in 2016 and signed a letter of intent for two years with both organisations in line with the commitment mentioned above.
  
  When the Education Cannot Wait fund was launched at the World Humanitarian Summit, Norway announced a contribution of USD 10 million for the first year. Support to Yemen, Chad and Syria and the education cluster have been agreed, and more projects are in the pipeline. Norway has funded 12% of the initial investments.
  
  Globally, Norway allocated more than 12% of its humanitarian funding to education in 2016. We have provided financial support to education through the UN, and international and Norwegian NGOs.
  
  We have continued our political engagement for education in emergencies. Norway continues to raise this issue bilaterally and with humanitarian partners.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  Norway is meeting the commitments through the letters of intent with both UNICEF and UNHCR.
  
  A report on the main achievements and key work streams within the education area since the launch of the white paper ‘Education for Development’ in 2013-2014 is being prepared. The report, when finalised in July 2017, will provide a comprehensive overview of work undertaken and results achieved in the last four years. A large part of the report will be dedicated to results related to education in emergencies.
  
  For key partners and funding mechanisms, Norway has been advocating for and supporting the development of a global results frameworks, as well as improved standards for global reporting.

• Challenges faced in implementation

  The key challenge in implementation relates to conditions on the ground, both access and structural barriers to education.
  
  Another challenge relates to mixed funding streams to donors’ approach to education in conflict. Funding streams vary according to whether donors approach each context within the humanitarian or development framework. As conditions shift on the ground, we must continuously assess what type of support we need to mobilise in a given context.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  - In 2017, Norway will continue its support for the Education Cannot Wait fund. This includes efforts to mobilise support and funding from other donors.
  - Norway is supporting the Second Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration, which addresses the issue of armed attacks on schools. We continue to encourage more states to endorse the declaration.
  - From 2017 onwards, Norway will start implementing a results reporting system for all education agreements that fulfill certain criteria. When implemented, this system will allow Norway to aggregate information across a wide range of agreements, partners and contexts.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑People-centred approach ☑ Refugees

• Specific initiatives

  ☑Commitment to Action: Transcending the humanitarian - development divide ☑ Education Cannot Wait

• Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

  ☑3A - Reduce and address displacement ☑ 4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides

Individual Commitment

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  Disaster risk reduction is necessary to reduce the loss of lives and reduce costs at local, national and global levels. Early warning systems are crucial in this regard. Norway would like to contribute to efforts to increase the number of countries that have basic institutions in place for early warning systems and for getting information out to end-users in a meaningful way.

• Achievements at a glance

  Norway has a long history of national meteorological capacity and public access to information. Norway has been contributing to the establishment of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) under the World Meteorological Organisation, has been a major funder, and will continue its efforts to strengthen the GFCS’s ability to deliver results. Achievements include:
  - Strengthening the GFCS secretariat.
  - Greater capacity of the national meteorological and hydrological services in 23 African countries to provide timely severe weather forecasts and warnings to users.
  - Better coordination of climate services with national development plans in African countries.
  - 269 seminars for farmers and 19 seminars for fishermen on the use of climate and weather information for decision-making in their sectors.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  Progress is assessed through annual reports from implementing organisation(s) and through external reviews and/or evaluations.

• Challenges faced in implementation

  There are several challenges in increasing capacity at country level. One of the main challenges is to ensure efficient coordination between the various initiatives. In particular, we have encouraged multilateral organisations to work more effectively together.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  Norway will continue its efforts to increase the capacity of early warning systems through existing partners and initiatives like the GFDRR and GFSC. In addition we are supporting broader initiatives through multilateral and national organisations such as UNISDR, ADPC and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. We also aim to ensure that development policies are designed to minimize disaster risk and build resilience.

• If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Anticipate, do not wait, for crises', what would it be

  Give the various actors common budgets to increase the incentive for cooperation and achieving results on the ground.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Disaster Risk Reduction

• Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

  ☑4A - Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems ☑ 5A - Invest in local capacities

Individual Commitment

Core Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  More support and funding tools for local and national responders is an integral part of efforts to strengthen humanitarian action. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports capacity strengthening of local and national actors where appropriate through various instruments and funding channels, on both the humanitarian and development side. This includes support to the humanitarian country-based pooled funds (CBPFs) and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement, including the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF).

• Achievements at a glance

  In 2016, Norway increased its contribution to CBPFs, a mechanism that we consider important for increasing and improving assistance by local and national responders. With a total contribution of NOK 246 million (approximately USD 30 million), Norway is among the largest donors to the CBPFs.
  
  We are also engaged in policy discussions on how to improve local actor engagement in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including through their access to pooled funding mechanisms. This is an issue that we raise with our humanitarian partners, for example in annual meetings with Norwegian NGOs and in country-based pooled fund meetings.
  
  The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also engaged in efforts to simplify and harmonise reporting requirements.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  Norway will report on progress as part of the Grand Bargain follow-up process.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  We will continue to support local and national capacity development initiatives through different instruments.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Country-based pooled funds ☑ Disaster Risk Reduction

• Specific initiatives

  ☑Grand Bargain

• Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

  ☑4A - Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems ☑ 5E - Diversify the resource base and increase cost-efficiency

Individual Commitment

• What led your organization to make the commitment?

  The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals have directed international attention to leaving no one behind. Norway will strengthen its efforts in the areas of stabilisation, conflict resolution and development in fragile states and regions.
  
  Norway has increased its contribution to the African Union to enhance action in one of the three pillars of cooperation set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Norway and the African Union. Funding will go to peace and security work, specifically through the AU’s programme Training for Peace, with a particular focus on women.

• Achievements at a glance

  For the last few years, Norway has championed efforts to promote global education and health, and has increased its funding for these sectors substantially. More focus will be directed to fragile states.
  
  Norway is committed to strengthening the AU’s institutional capacity and to carry out projects on governance and democracy in cooperation with the AU and the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), as well as projects on gender equality.

• How is your organization assessing progress

  Norway and the AU signed a MoU in late 2015, and progress in the various sectors has not yet been assessed. Preliminary findings indicate that the sectors mentioned above should continue to receive priority. The Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa is responsible for implementation and monitoring. Progress reports from various cooperating institutions also deal with these matters.

• Challenges faced in implementation

  The institutional capacity of the AU should be strengthened so that it can deal with a variety of challenges and work with many different partners.

• Next step to advance implementation in 2017

  In 2017, Norway plans to provide financial and technical support to the AU Mediation Support Unit (MSU), improve linkages between the AU and the sub-regional African organisations, and strengthen the UN-AU partnership on conflict prevention and mediation through support to the UN Office to the AU (UNOAU), in addition to continuing its ongoing support.
  
  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is developing a strategy for engagement in fragile situations that will address the need for a more comprehensive, whole of government' approach across the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding nexus.

• If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Invest in stability', what would it be

  Establishing sustainable peace requires a holistic approach to reconciliation, justice and development. An inclusive approach is needed, with coordinated support from global, regional and national organisations.

• Cross cutting issues

  ☑Gender ☑ People-centred approach

• Specific initiatives

  ☑Commitment to Action: Transcending the humanitarian - development divide

• Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

  ☑1C - Remain engaged and invest in stability ☑ 4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides ☑ 5A - Invest in local capacities