Historical archive

Norway to sign new framework agreement with UNICEF giving priority to girls’ education

Historical archive

Published under: Bondevik's 2nd Government

Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Next year Norway will support UN Girls' Education Intiative with an allocation of NOK 275 million. (15.12.03)

Press release

No.: 208/03
Date: 12.12.2003

Norway to sign new framework agreement with UNICEF giving priority to girls’ education

Minister of International Development Hilde F. Johnson and UNICEF’s Executive Director Carol Bellamy are to sign a framework agreement today on continued Norwegian support for UNICEF. In 2004, this will include an allocation of NOK 275 million to the UN Girls’ Education Initiative.

UNICEF is one of Norway’s most important multilateral partners. The overriding objective of Norway’s funding for the agency is to support its efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Two of these are related to education, which is a very important part of Norway’s co-operation with UNICEF.

As a step in the implementation of Norway’s strategy "Education – job number 1", Norwegian funding for UN Girls’ Education Initiative was doubled from 2002 to 2003, and it will be almost doubled again in 2004. The framework agreement will be supplemented with programme co-operation agreements, usually for a two-year period, which will specify priority areas and funding levels, subject to allocations by the Storting. Funding for girls’ education will be given priority in these agreements.

Press contact: Trine Øveraas, mobile phone: +47 91 69 77 74