Share & more
Norway, one of the few remaining European donors not to have cut its aid budget target, has launched a wide-ranging review of its international development policy.
Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust has warned of “tough and painful choices” but told The New Humanitarian the country’s high aid spending target, 1% of gross domestic income*, would not be cut.
“There’s not a change in our policy of the amount [of aid spending],” Aukrust told The New Humanitarian, explaining the review, which was announced last month and first reported in Norwegian-language media. “We remain as a reliable donor, and we will continue to do so.”
The year-long review, dubbed Project Turning Point, is a response to “dramatic changes in the world at the moment”, including political crises, aid cuts, and attacks on international collaboration, said Aukrust.
“When we are facing crisis, we should also ask ourselves: ‘What should be the best response? What is the best way to have a development policy in this new world? Could we do things in a better way?’ said Aukrust.
The review – which will be summarised in a white paper to be presented to the Norwegian parliament in 2027 – will include identifying “what kind of tools do we have to face this backlash against international aid”, he added.
Humanitarian agencies have looked to Norway and other governments for signs of what to expect amid an existential funding crisis. Deep funding cuts across the system – capped by the Trump administration’s sudden destruction of its aid agency, USAID, last year – have shrunk aid responses as emergency needs spiral.
Two clear priorities are already emerging for Norway: an efficiency drive focused on systemic reforms, including to the UN; and continued high support for Ukraine.
“For a long time…there’s been a need for a reformist way that we are working, both in the UN system, but also outside of it,” said Aukrust. “Now, it’s not only a need; it’s completely necessary for the system to survive… Now, we have the chance to actually do something to reform the system.”
Aukrust also complained about the number of UN agencies and mandates, with overlapping roles. “Too much of the work has been too fragmented,” he said.
Aukrust’s comments are reminiscent of language surrounding the “humanitarian reset” reform plan led by the UN’s emergency aid coordination body, OCHA. He said the reset had his “full support”.
Though he insisted Norway was involved in the UN’s reform efforts, Aukrust declined to say what he would like changed, saying that was the purpose of the review process.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has benefited from an increased share of Norway’s aid, having been allocated 15 billion NOK ($1.55 billion), 26.5% of the entire 2026 aid budget.
The high spending in Ukraine has been strongly criticised by some NGOs and experts who said it came at the expense of lower-income countries, particularly in Africa.
“Ukraine is the main priority in our foreign policy, in our security policy, but also in our development policy,” said Aukrust. “Unfortunately, I think there will be a big need for humanitarian civilian support for Ukraine for a long time – that will continue to be our main priority, that’s for sure.”
Reaction to US “global gag rule”
Norway’s 2026 aid budget also saw an 80 million NOK ($8.3 million) increase in funding for women’s rights. This topic “will also definitely be part of our review”, said Aukrust. “We have gender equality very high on our priority.”
It’s a sharp contrast to the United States, where the administration of President Donald Trump has been attacking gender issues, including by expanding the “global gag rule” which restricts access to abortions.
Q&A: What next for humanitarians and the global gag rule?
“There’s an earthquake. There’s somebody who’s been raped. You need to help the people, not check their credentials on the global gag.”
Asked if he had a message for his US counterparts on the gag rule, Aukrust said: “We are not succeeding [in development] if only half of the population is included. Therefore, I mean gender is both about the basic human rights, but also about development.”
Aukrust also said Norway was “seeking stronger partnerships with new kinds of donors”, referencing the Gulf states, but also “possibilities in Asia”.
“India, Indonesia [Norway’s third biggest recipient of bilateral aid in 2024], China, they are extremely important political players, and we should be [in] stronger dialogue on all kinds of issues also related to development,” he said.
Aukrust was vague on what development cooperation with those countries might look like, though he stressed the importance of UN coordination, describing it as “still our main channel”.
Edited by Irwin Loy.
*(An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated GDP here instead of GNI.)
