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UN multi-partner fund

Experience gained in other crises has shown the importance of working towards long-term goals, even amidst crisis. That is why Norway raised the idea of a multi-partner trust fund at the United Nations. The fund was launched on 31 March by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with the goal of limiting the extent and duration of the pandemic’s negative effects on developing countries. To date Norway has contributed NOK 150 million to the fund.

More information about the UN multi-partner fund is available here:

• Norway takes initiativ for new coronavirus fund at UN 
• Norway to contribute to new UN fund to fight coronavirus

Norway’s core funding to UN organisations

For several UN organisations, Norway is among the countries that provide the greatest amount of core funding. Core funding makes it easier for our partners to plan for the long-term and channel resources where they are needed most. This is especially crucial at a time of crisis, such as the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to core funding, Norway provides substantial amounts of programme and project support to many UN organisations.

To enable UN organisations to quickly address the coronavirus pandemic, Norway moved up its provision of core funding and has already made most of this year’s disbursals.

An overview of core funding to UN organisations is available here:

WHO (World Health Organization): In 2019 Norway was the third-largest provider of core funding. NOK 26.3 million (USD 2.6 million) of mandatory funding for 2020 was disbursed on 28 February. Norway will also disburse NOK 229.5 million in core funding to the WHO.

Ocha (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs): Norway was the third-largest donor of earmarked funding in 2019. To date in 2020 Norway has disbursed NOK 90 million (USD 9 million) in un-earmarked funding to Ocha.

CERF (UN Central Emergency Response Fund): On 11 February Norway disbursed NOK 420 million to CERF. The contribution is part of a four-year agreement between Norway and CERF amounting to nearly NOK 1.7 billion.

UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund): Norway was the largest donor of core funding in 2019. Its core funding of NOK 530 million for 2020 was disbursed on 31 March.

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme): Norway was the third-largest provider of core funding in 2019. Its core funding of NOK 555 million (USD 55 million) for 2020 was disbursed on 3 April.

Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund): Norway was the fourth-largest bilateral provider of core funding in 2019. Its core funding of NOK 410 million (USD 41 million) for 2020 was disbursed on 3 April.

UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees): Norway was the third-largest provider of core funding in 2019. Its core funding of NOK 380 million (USD 38 million) for 2020 was disbursed on 11 February.

WFP (World Food Programme): Norway was the fifth-largest provider of core funding in 2019. Its core funding of NOK 300 million (USD 30 million) for 2020 was disbursed on 6 February.

UN Women: Norway was the fourth-largest donor of core funding in 2019. Its core funding of NOK 100 million (USD 10 million) for the year was disbursed in April.

UNaids: Norway was the fifth-largest contributor of core funding in 2019. Its core funding of NOK 60 million (USD 6 million) for the year was disbursed on 30 April.

UNRWA: Norway was the eleventh-largest provider of core funding in 2019. Its core funding for 2020 of NOK 125 million (USD 12 million) was disbursed on 11 February.

OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights): Norway was the largest provider of core funding in 2019. For 2020, Norway plans to provide NOK 55 million (USD 5.5 million) in core funding.

Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization): Mandatory Norwegian funding of NOK 25 million (USD 2.5 million) was disbursed in January.