Norway has a long historical
relationship with South Africa, and today’s cooperative projects
have roots in the broad support Norway gave to the fight against
apartheid. Development cooperation between South Africa and Norway
began right after the 1994 democratic election in South Africa.
Norwegian assistance to South Africa in 2004 totalled NOK 107
million.
The existing cooperative
arrangement is based on a letter of intent signed in 2004 and
covering the period through 2009. Since South Africa is an affluent
country by African standards, it is anticipated that the bilateral
aid will be terminated when the letter of intent expires. However,
the stage is set for strengthened Norwegian cooperation with South
Africa on regional challenges, including conflict prevention and
peace enforcement on the African continent.
The letter of intent sets out goals
for the bilateral developmental cooperation. They are:
- To contribute to peaceful and democratic development
- To strengthen regional integration in southern Africa using
South African expertise and capacity
- To establish lasting cooperative relationships between
Norwegian and South African partners
The letter of intent prioritizes
the following issues:
- Democracy, human rights, peace and security
- Higher education and research
- Environment and natural resources
- Energy
Democracy and human rights
The Norwegian Centre for Human Rights at the
University of Oslo administers an agreement designed to help South
Africa fulfil certain human rights legislation and international
conventions that the country has ratified. The effort is channelled
in large part through volunteer organizations and institutions that
are active on such issues as discrimination in the workplace,
women’s voting, reconciliation processes, sexually related violence
against women and conflict resolution.
Norway has also played a role in
the implementation of reforms in local and provincial
administrative systems across South Africa.
The bilateral agreements with South
Africa are all designed to strengthen the ability of authorities to
provide basic services to the population and thus to help cultivate
democratic ways. The cooperative arrangement is also designed to
strengthen civil society and institutions that deal with rights
issues.
Higher education and research
All Norwegian universities and most scientific
colleges and research institutions have a South African partner
with whom they cooperate. About 300 Norwegian students study in
South Africa, and in 2005 an agreement was reached to give stipends
to South African students in Norway. The University of Western Cape
plans to establish a Nordic centre for Nordic researchers, students
and teachers.
South African authorities are
preparing reforms in the university and college sector. The goal is
to promote fairness in the access to higher education and to
correct disparities remaining from the apartheid era by making sure
students and staff reflect the demographic make-up of today’s South
Africa. Norway supports the reforms through allocations designed to
enhance equality of access and increase the participation of
previously excluded groups and to strengthen the administration of
universities and technical colleges.
Norway and South Africa have
established a collaborative support system for shared research
projects. The goal is to promote high-quality research and
long-term research cooperation between the two countries. In 2005,
researchers and students in Norway and South Africa were engaged in
39 joint research projects. The Research Council of Norway and the
Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research have both participated
in this bilateral effort, as have a variety of Norwegian
researchers and research institutions.
Environment and natural resources
Since the late 1990s, the Norwegian and South
African environmental ministries have cooperated to reduce
pollution, protect biological diversity and promote good
governance. Several Norwegian institutions are participants in the
programme. An agreement has also been reached on fisheries
management and research, with active participation by the
Directorate of Fisheries and the Institute of Marine Research.
Norway and South Africa collaborate productively in international
forums.
Energy
In the energy sector (electricity, petroleum), the
Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate and the Norwegian
Petroleum Directorate both take part in legislative reforms and
professional development. Economic development and environmental
protection benefit from a more open energy market as well as the
development of common standards and improved access to the electric
power net for electricity generated from diverse energy
sources.
Culture
The National Arts Council (NAC) is South Africa’s
official organ of culture; its primary duty is to reinforce the
nation’s self-image and promote cultural expression at the state
and provincial levels. In June 2005, South Africa and Norway signed
a new agreement in support of the NAC’s goals in the realm of
music.
Norway also provides support to the
Robben Island Museum, whose mission includes collecting and
archiving historical material related to the fight against
apartheid.
Regional integration, peace and security
The Southern African Development Community (SADC)
has gone from being a collection of front-line states opposed to
apartheid and colonialism to an organization for regional
cooperation and integration in numerous areas. In recent years the
SADC countries have experienced a rise in international organized
crime, corruption and money laundering. Weak legislation and weak
institutions make the region especially vulnerable to such
activity. Norway has begun collaborating with the Institute for
Security Studies (ISS) to help strengthen relevant laws and
institutions within SADC countries.
Norway has supported the
secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development
(NEPAD), which is situated in South Africa.
In 2005 Norway joined South Africa
in a cooperative programme supporting the expansion of police
services in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.
Norway’s contribution to promoting
peace and security in the region while enhancing the regional
impact of South African institutions includes financial support to
regional organizations dedicated to the environment and natural
resources as well as institutions devoted to a free press and free
elections.
The fisheries, environment and
education programmes supported by Norway help in the establishment
of regional institutional partnerships.
(Updated November 2005)
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