6 Partners

Norway’s international work for peace and conflict resolution is mainly led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and this effort is an important part of the Foreign Service’s work. At the same time, Norway’s efforts are part of a larger whole, where we collaborate with a number of actors. Other ministries and agencies have important roles and contribute support to the work. Norwegian, local and international non-state actors are also valuable partners. In addition to the partners mentioned in this chapter, Norway works closely with a number of other countries. This is discussed in several other places in the white paper and is not repeated here.

6.1 Other Norwegian state institutions

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in close dialogue with other ministries and agencies and directorates that are relevant to peace initiatives and negotiations, including the Ministry of Justice, the Directorate of Immigration, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Climate and Environment. There is also contact between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Intelligence Service in connection with several conflict situations, while the clear distinction between the roles of diplomacy and intelligence remains unchanged. Over the past twenty years, the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) has built up operational expertise in security and logistics, and contributed to Norway being able to quickly and professionally offer confidential meeting places.

6.2 NOREF

The NOREF Centre for International Conflict Resolution was established in 2008 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an independent foundation. NOREF works discreetly through self-initiated, informal, and operational diplomacy and support for Norwegian and international initiatives for conflict resolution. The funding comes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. NOREF works in several regions and countries, including in the Middle East, the Sahel, Myanmar, Colombia, and the Philippines.

6.3 Norwegian civil society organisations

Many Norwegian civil society organisations and church actors have worked in conflict areas over time. The humanitarian and development-oriented efforts, often based on local partnerships, have given these organizations a deep understanding of the area in which they work, a broad network in society, and access to key decision-makers. This has spurred several of them to explore opportunities for political dialogue and peace talks. Examples are Norwegian Church Aid’s engagements in a number of countries, including Eritrea and Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Mali, and East Timor, and Norwegian People’s Aid’s efforts in South Sudan and Myanmar, among others. The Norwegian Refugee Council, Caritas Norway, the Norwegian Red Cross and Save the Children are other Norwegian organisations that have been involved in various conflict countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has good cooperation with the Norwegian organisations in conflict areas where Norway is involved.

Norwegian organisations have also consolidated their efforts through people-to-people cooperation with local communities in Norway. Various diaspora groups have also emphasised the importance of involving local communities and ensuring popular ownership of the political processes.

Photo: Katja Strøm Cappelen/NOREF

Photo: Ali Hashisho/REUTERS

6.4 International dispute resolution organisations

International and regional conflict resolution organizations have contributed to peace and conflict resolution around the world, often in cooperation with Norway. Norwegian funding is provided in the form of core support or project support. The areas of work range from local conflict resolution to facilitation of peace processes, humanitarian negotiations, and analysis activities. The organisations have expertise in many fields and provide advice to parties. They often play complementary roles to official actors such as Norway. In their own way, these organisations contribute to Norway achieving the goal of reducing and resolving conflicts.

For example, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) has supported the UN and Turkey’s facilitation of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia that resulted in the grain agreement in 2022, and it promotes dialogue on cooperation and risk management between countries in the South China Sea. In addition, HD has supported the UN in negotiating the ceasefire in Libya in 2020 and facilitated agreement on local ceasefires in the Sahel region. Promediation is also an important partner in the Sahel, facilitating local negotiations with local communities and armed Islamist groups to curb violence and increase humanitarian access. The Berghof Foundation contributes with capacity building and expertise for parties in conflict, with a particular focus on resistance groups and women. It works directly with women to strengthen their voice in negotiations, including in Sudan. It has helped negotiate local agreements for the distribution of water and other resources in Iraq and built a network of local resource persons who assist in clan conflicts in Somalia. The Berghof Foundation has also supported regional dialogue initiatives in Ethiopia (including dialogue between Oromo groups).

The international partners receiving Norwegian support include:

• Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)

• International Crisis Group (ICG)

• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)

• Berghof Foundation

• Inter Mediate

• Promediation

• European Institute of Peace (EIP)

• Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT)

• Stimson Center

• Atlantic Council

• Dialogue Advisory Group (DAG)

In addition to the major international organisations, Norway supports local organisations involved in dialogue and conflict resolution work at the country level. These are often well placed to mitigate conflict in their areas. Norway gives particular priority to support for local women-led organisations.

Photo: Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and Flick/Ilja C. Hendel/Oslo Forum

6.5 United Nations

Norway is committed to supporting the UN’s role in peace diplomacy, which is enshrined in international law and values in the UN Charter and based on political neutrality. Norway has cooperated closely with the UN at various levels in a wide range of peace processes. Increased geopolitical tension between the permanent member states of the UN Security Council in recent years has stood in the way of the major wars we are facing, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, the war in Gaza and the civil war in Sudan, being resolved through the UN. Nevertheless, the UN has a unique toolbox for peace, from preventive diplomacy to peace operations, special representatives, and peacebuilding at the grassroots level, which is supplemented and supported by the organisation’s work under the other pillars of comprehensive efforts. The Secretary General can provide so-called ‘good offices’ – a platform for talks between parties in conflict. The United Nations Department of Political Affairs and Peacebuilding (DPPA) plays a key role and is an important partner. With Norwegian support, it maintains a travelling team of experts in peace mediation who assist with advice and facilitation of peace processes (Mediation Support Unit, MSU).

UN peace operations, both peacekeeping operations and special political missions, play an important role in preventing conflict and maintaining peace. Norway is contributing personnel and funding to UN peace operations as part of our comprehensive peace efforts. Often, an operation will support and contribute to the implementation of peace agreements achieved through peace diplomacy and mediation. One example is the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC), which monitors the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement. The Norwegian Armed Forces are currently contributing personnel to the UN peace operation in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Observer Corps in the Middle East (UNTSO). The police also secondment personnel to UNMISS and UNVMC, and Norway sends civilian experts to UN operations through the Norwegian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights (NORDEM).

UN peace operations have been under pressure over time, and it is now more than ten years since a new major operation was last established. This is due, among other things, to geopolitical tensions, a lack of resources, and the need for modernization. Strengthened cooperation with regional and sub-regional organisations, not least the African Union (AU), is an important part of the innovation in this area. Norway actively supports the reform efforts, based on a clear view that UN peace operations are an important tool for safeguarding international peace and security.

6.6 Regional organizations

In order for a peace process to make progress and produce results, regional anchoring is often crucial. Occasionally, peace processes are also initiated in – and by – the regions. Parties to conflict often need neighbouring countries to support peace and refrain from exacerbating conflicts. Regional cooperation can help neighbouring countries come together in supporting peace rather than emphasising competing interests that can exacerbate conflict. The region can also put pressure on parties if necessary. Key regional players include the African Union (AU), the Arab League (AL), the European Union (EU), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Organization of American States (OAS), and various sub-regional organizations.

Norway is well positioned to achieve results together with regional organisations. Norway has a strategic partnership agreement with the AU Commission and supports the AU’s work on peace and conflict management, as well as the AU’s work on women, peace and security, including the women peace mediator network FEMWISE. In Southeast Asia, Myanmar is the most high-profile conflict in which Norway has been involved. Our long history of support for peace and democracy in Myanmar has given Norway good insight into a complex conflict that is destabilising the region. This is valued in ASEAN. Since 2015, Norway has had a partnership with this association of ten countries that are home to 660 million people in Southeast Asia. This is Norway’s fifth largest trading partner after the EU, the UK, China, and the US.1 There is great potential for cooperation and trade in a wide range of fields of importance to Norway.