The Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation, or Norad, is a directorate under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2004 the Norwegian development co-operation administration was re-organised, and the responsibility for long-term government-to-government co-operation with developing countries was transferred from Norad to the Ministry as from 1 April of that year. Norad continues to serve as a leading centre for the development and delivery of expertise, and helps ensure the efficient administration of development assistance, including evaluation and quality assurance. Norad offers know-how in the fight against poverty, and co-operates closely with other national and international experts. It provides expert advice on the implementation of the government’s overall guidelines for combating poverty and the ongoing effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The directorate is also responsible for developing and supplying independent expertise in selected areas.
Norad channels substantial funds through Norwegian non-governmental organisations, which are important partners in Norwegian development co-operation. It also co-operates closely with Norwegian companies, trade unions, research institutions and other civil society-organisations.
Norad is organised into a number of departments, each of which deals with a particular area of expertise: the Department for Environment and Private Sector Development, the Department of Rights, Agents of Change and Civil Society, the Department of Human Development and Service Delivery, the Department of Governance and Macroeconomics, and departments for quality assurance, evaluation, information and administration.
By the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs