(Check against delivery)  

Your Royal Highness, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues,

Krig er forakt for liv

War is contempt for life

This is stated in Nordahl Griegs famous poem “To the Youth”

And this is what people in Ukraine and Palestine face every day and what we just heard from Alla Salah’s powerful story from Sudan.

Thanks to Gunn Jorid and Norad for putting together this timely conference

War and conflicts are reversing progress achieved over decades on peace, rights, and development.

War and conflicts are the biggest threats to development:

  • Creates enormous human suffering: Starvation, poverty, displacement and collapse in infrastructure and services. Homes, schools, hospitals and energy systems destroyed
  • Lack of hope for future generations: Breakdown of communities, economies and life for millions of people
  • Distrust: Trust erodes when established norms no longer offer protection. A breakdown of the rules‑based order and the multilateral cooperation meant to protect security and freedom.
  • States collapse: More refugees, displacement and extremism follow. Political polarization and regional instability.
  • Steal all the attention: War and conflict dominate the political agenda and redirect funding to emergency response and security needs

Therefore, development is more important than ever before.

A fundamental condition for development is to prevent wars and end conflicts

Let me state clearly that development policy is an integrated part of our security policy and our own national interest.

An effective development policy contributes to stable societies and locally led development

Dear friends,

It is good to be among friends. We need each other.

Today we are experiencing the biggest change in international development cooperation in modern history.

We experience many crises at the same time

Financial  cut

Political  attacks on the multilateral system and basic human rights

On the ground – human suffering

Development assistance has contributed to a historical improvement in global economic and social development over the past decades.

Poverty has been reduced considerably; millions have learned to read and write and are protected from life-threatening diseases.

But the map no longer matches the terrain.

This is not just a phase. These are lasting and profound changes.

There is a saying: Never waste a good crisis.  

In this room there are many people that for many years have been working for a reform of the development and humanitarian agenda.

This is a momentum for reform

The multilateral architecture as we know it will change. 

On the international level we need to improve structures and implement reform policies

We want the outcome of the UN reform process to be a more effective system, working across the pillars of peace, development and human rights

Friends,

I am calling for a broad debate about the long-term objectives for Norway’s development policy.

As the world is changing, we must adapt the Norwegian development policy to the world as it is, not as we wish it were.

This is why I have initiated a process, which will result in a White Paper to be presented to Parliament in the spring session of 2027.

I want us to think in entirely new ways and address difficult dilemmas. Does this mean everything will change? Of course not.

But I will be asking many questions.

We will consult widely with both national and international audiences before concluding on our long-term priorities.

I invite all of you to be a part of this process!

Through the project we aim to learn, listen, discuss, be challenged, be criticized, and be inspired through consultations, seminars, stakeholder meetings, and debates.

I will also listen to stakeholders and participants beyond the traditional voices in the development discussion, such as the private sector, defense actors, the justice sector, and the diasporas in Norway.

So, in 2026 I will be travelling in Norway to meet many of you.

I plan to meet with major actors and international partners to discuss common ground and perspectives.

Dear friends,

Our goal is to achieve more – not less.

Development policy is a lot more than funding.

Funding alone cannot create sustainable change.

Governments, civil society, the private sector, and international actors must work even better together.

Strong development policies build partnerships and institutions, not just budgets.

We must focus on a knowledge‑ and rights‑based approach

The rule of law provides the basis for people to feel safe and for development to take root.

Stability and peace must be the foundations.

Valuebased backlash

How do we defend our values when opposing forces mobilize?
Human rights, democracy and gender equality are under pressure

Norway will lead in this normative work. I want Norway to continue to be the strongest, clearest, and wisest voice in this debate

We cannot turn away from difficult issues. We should always be prepared to discuss the most controversial topics, even with those we disagree with the most.

The financing gap has never been greater.

With shrinking global aid, we now face hard political choices: reform, consolidate, and prioritize fewer, more strategic channels

We need to help countries to raise more of their own funds (better tax collection and public financial management). It is more important than ever to address the structural drivers of inequality that fuel conflict and undermine development.

We see how damaging corruption is. We must continue to work systematically on anti-corruption

We need to build partnerships. Many emerging economies are contributing far too little.

Even though our aid budget is large, it is impossible for us to close the gap that has emerged. Should we be more targeted?

I started with a quote by Nordahl Grieg

The next line in this poem is

Peace is creation

That is what we need. 

We, who care most about international cooperation and development must be willing to make the biggest changes to create peace and prosperity

I hope that everyone here will help create the engagement we need to develop a new development policy.

What gives me hope

History

People

History shows that even after the darkest chapters — brutal war, apartheid, and colonization — societies can rebuild, heal, and move forward.

At the heart of development assistance is a simple idea: peace begins with people — here at home and around the world.

People continue to choose cooperation over war and conflict, justice over oppression, and rebuilding over resignation.

That is what creates the foundations for lasting peace. Even in the challenging times we face today, this remains my hope.

Thank you.