Norway

Background

Norway has been a member of the African Development Fund (ADF) since June 15, 1973, and joined the ADB on December 30, 1982. Almost half of all Norwegian bilateral aid goes to Africa, underlining the fact that this region has the highest priority in Norwegian development cooperation.

The co-operation programme has been governed by three separate co-operation arrangements. The initial Agreement known as the General Cooperation Agreement was signed on June 15, 1973. The resources were utilized to finance various studies in the areas of population, economic integration, gender, the environment as well as institutional development. Subsequently, two other agreements were signed with Norway, the Co-financing and Short-term Consultancy Fund Agreements were signed on March 23, 1976, and March 17, 1993, respectively. A new agreement between the Bank and the Norwegian Agency for International Development (NORAD) was approved by the Board in October 2003 and was signed in January 2004 to Fund a grant contribution of five million Norwegian Kroner (approx. UA 551,000) to support Bank activities in its regional member countries. The Fund is 60% tied to Norwegian consultancy services.

The resources allocated to date are being utilized to finance activities mainly in three different sectors: agriculture & fisheries, governance, economic & financial reforms as well as natural resources & environmental management. In addition, resources have been allocated to prepare two multi-sector gender profiles.

Joint Initiatives

The resources allocated under the NORAD Consultancy Trust Fund are being utilized to finance activities in the three different sectors, namely: Agriculture &, Governance, Economic & Financial Reforms and Natural Resource & Environmental Management. In addition, 23% of the resources have been allocated to prepare two multi-sector gender profiles. The TF funded, among others, the Nigeria Governance Profile, the Development of Environmental and Social Assessment guidelines and training material for financial intermediaries and the assessment of the Bank’s Portfolio in the Fisheries & Aquaculture Sector.

Formal agreements and financial contributions

  • The first cooperation agreement with Norway was signed on June 15, 1973. Subsequently, two other agreements were signed with Norway, the Co-financing on March 23, 1976, and Short-term Consultancy Fund Agreements on March 17, 1993. These agreements were closed in 2000 after their full utilization and the balance was transferred to the Norway Ad-hoc Account.
  • A Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Bank and the Norwegian Agency for International Development (NORAD) was approved by the Board in October 2003 and was signed in January 2004 to Fund a grant contribution of 5 million Norwegian Kroner (approx. UA 551,000) to support Bank activities in its regional member countries. The Fund is 60% tied to Norwegian consultancy services.
  • The Norwegian MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) contributes US$ 1.2 million to the Nordic Trust Fund for Governance since 2002. The Trust Fund has financed 40 activities for about US$ 5.18 million since 2002. The Bank is negotiating the replenishment of a new multi-donor untied Trust Fund for Governance with Norway.
  • Since December 2007, the Norwegian MFA has committed a contribution of NOK 45 million (= UA 4.96 million) for the period 2007-2009 to the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD IPPF). The first installment of NOK 15 million has been received.
  • The MFA has approved a financial contribution of NOK 60 million (= UA 6.6 million) to the African Water Facility from 2008 to 2010. Norway has already contributed NOK 30 million (= UA 3.3 million) to the Facility as well as a Technical Assistant.
  • Norway will second a Financial Governance Expert in Revenue Management in the AfDB  Governance, Economic and Financial Reforms Department, a results-based management expert in the AfDB Results and Quality Assurance Department and an Anti-Corruption and Fraud Investigation Expert in OAGL (Office of the Auditor General).
  • In March 2008, Norad started an appraisal of the African Women in Business Initiative (AWIB), based on whose results Norway decided to contribute to the Initiative NOK 15 million over three year (2008-2010) (approx US$ 2.3 Million) for three years.

Focal point for the AfDB-Norway partnership and cooperation

Veronica Giardina
Senior Cooperation Officer
Partnerships and Cooperation Unit (ORRU)
Email: v.giardina@afdb.org
Tel: (216) 71 10 2519

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