To see photos from the event visit Norway at the UN on Flickr.
Below is Minister Audun Lysbakkens speech at the launch of MassiveGood:
"Let me on behalf of Norway commend those who have made this initiative a reality.
To Philippe Douste-Blazy, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for innovative mechanisms for financing, for his creativity in bringing forward this agenda.
To Bernard Salomé, the Executive Director of the Millennium Foundation, and the partners from the travel industry, who have worked so hard in working out the innovative details in this project.
Photo: Emma K. LydersenTo the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the support he has given to this initiative by his presence here today. Norways commitment to the United Nations remain as strong as ever.
And to my fellow panelists, not least to President Clinton for his consistent support for this endeavour from its inception to the present day. Let me also commend you for the vital role you play for the people of Haiti.
On our part, the Norwegian government has supported this initiative from the very start as well.
Since we signed on to the Millennium Development Goals in the year 2000, Norway has stepped up its support of all the goals, and we have taken a pole position in the work for the health related Millennium Development Goals.
We have tripled our funding for global health since 2000. Our official aid has surpassed 1 per cent of our GDP and we have increased further after the financial crisis hit us all, in solidarity with those who are most vulnerable.
Of all the Millennium Development Goals, - the goal No 5 to reduce maternal mortality is the one lagging most behind. This is becoming one of the international scandals of our time, and one of the most brutal expressions of ender inequities in the present world society.
It seems evident that men in power have not taken the lives and health of women seriously. This must change.
Perhaps the most critical service that we need to make universally available is to secure a safe birth for the mother and the newborn. This year, and ahead of the MDG Summit at the General Assembly in September this year, Norway will give special priority to maternal and child health.
Together with the US Government, with the participation of countries such as the UK, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Tanzania and others, we are taking part in a Global Campaign for Health Millennium Goals.
We need to strengthen public-private partnerships to achieve these goals. Today we celebrate the launch of one such important partnership. We salute also the active role and support of the Clinton Foundation in the effort and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Our message today is that we can build broader partnership and that raising funds above today’s level is possible. Traditional ODA assistance clearly will not be enough to finance our attempts to confront urgent global challenges now looming on the horizon, such a global health, climate change and others.
This is why MassiveGood has a significance beyond its stated purposes within the field global health. It is an encouraging sign that the efforts to identify new avenues for innovative financing are now making important strides forward."