Norway continues to be one of the top ten contributors to the UN over all. A recent note from the Secretary General on the Top Ten Providers of Assessed Contributions to United Nations shows that Norway is still the 7th largest contributor.
30/05/2008 :: This ranking includes both contributions to UNs assessed budgets and voluntary contributions to UN funds, programmes and agencies, and is based on the average annual contributions in the previous three calender years (2004–2006).
Considerable Nordic Contributions
The complete list of financial contributions to the UN is assembled only for the second time. The top ten providers were first presented in 2006 in the light of the election of members to the Peacebuilding Commission, which were established that year.
Norway is accompanied by one other Nordic country in the top ten, with Sweden as the 6th largest contributor. This list is based on absolute numbers, not per capita, which places Norway remarkably high on the list, with only 4.7 million inhabitants.
Increased Development Assistance
In the Norwegian Government’s budget proposal for 2008, development assistance accounts for 0,98 percent of GNI (Gross National Income), which is more than NOK 22 billion and an increase of NOK 1.5 billion from last year.
The Government’s policy platform states that allocations are to be increased to one percent of GNI and thereafter increased further during the rest of the current parliamentary period.
Norway’s Aspirations for the UN
The United Nations is by far the largest recipient of Norwegian multilateral development assistance and a cornerstone in Norwegian Foreign Policy. Norway wants a strong United Nations that fully plays its role in accordance with the UN Charter, and will therefore continue to contribute more than its share to the activities of the organization.
In addition to being the 7th largest contributor over all, Norway contributed a total of USD 692 million in 2006, making it the 6th largest voluntary contributor to the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies.
Velaug Hobbelstad Sælid / Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations