Co-operation (or framework) agreements offer large, experienced NGOs or umbrella organisations funds over period of three to five years to implement several large-scale development projects, while individual agreements cover multi-annual development projects by smaller NGOs. Information on how to apply is compiled on this webpage and can be downloaded here.

Background	Project Duration
Types of Grant	Deadline
Grant Size	Application Forms
Own Contribution	Application & Procedures
Funding Priorities	Languages
Grantmaking Criteria	Tips
Guidelines	Pdf Download

Norad provides co-financing for development projects of non-government organisations (NGOs) through co-operation and individual agreements. As part of these agreements, the recipient NGOs have to implement their projects in close co-operation with a local partner organisation in the South. The Norwegian government is also supporting civil society organisations in selected partner countries directly through funds provided by Norwegian embassies.

In 2006, Norad allocated more than NOK 1 billion (approximately US$ 159 million) in funding to around 100 Norwegian civil society organisations for projects in more than 80 developing countries. Co-operating NGOs range from large organisations – with a strong popular rooting in Norway and operations in several developing countries – to small, community-based organisations co-operating with one local partner on one project only. In some instances, non-Norwegian organisations have also been selected for these co-financing schemes.

Co-operation (or framework) agreements offer large, experienced NGOs or umbrella organisations funds over period of three to five years to implement several large-scale development projects in co-operation with local partners. Project interventions can take place in several countries or regions. For each year of the agreement, the NGO has to draw up an annual work plan outlining the planned activities for the coming year. In 2006, Norad entered into co-operation agreements with 29 organisations.
Individual agreements are the most common form of co-operation between Norad and Norwegian civil society organisations. This scheme covers multi-annual development projects by smaller NGOs in co-operation with a local partner. Norad funded 66 organisations with individual agreements in 2006.

Not specified

The grant recipient must provide at least 10% of the project costs. It can apply for an exemption of this rule if the project targets special thematic priority areas of Norwegian development co-operation. To cover administrative costs, the grant recipient can also apply for an additional amount equivalent to 8% of the funds provided by Norad.

The grant schemes for NGOs aim to enable civil society organisations to contribute effectively to achieving the main goals of Norway’s development assistance. All projects should strengthen local capacity and ownership and aim to build up the expertise of local NGOs to enhance their position within local society and in political decision-making processes. Therefore, projects must be carried out in close co-operation with a local partner.

The guidelines for ‘Grant Schemes for Humanitarian Assistance and Development Co-operation by Norwegian and International Voluntary Actors’ (2001) outline the following key thematic issues that should be addressed:

• Poverty alleviation and support for national poverty reduction strategies (PRSs);
• Promotion of human rights and democracy;
• Preserving natural resources and the environment;
• Preventing natural disasters and enhancing local capacity for crisis management;
• Strengthening popular participation in local and national decision-making processes;
• Improving access to social, economic and political resources for poor people;
• HIV/AIDS and its consequences;
• Gender equality and fostering the participation of women;
• Promoting the rights of disabled people;
• Promoting children’s rights;
• Promoting the rights of indigenous people and minorities;
• Strengthening solidarity between the people of Norway and those of developing countries.

For funds for humanitarian assistance, priority issues are aid for victims of natural disasters, war and conflicts, and peace and reconciliation in conflict and post-conflict situations.

The recipient organisation must be a separate legal entity (e.g. NGOs, organised interest groups, trade unions, religious movements, etc.) with its own statutes, a board of directors and a strategy for its involvement in the relevant developing country. Applicants must also have a sound financial basis and the necessary administrative and technical capacity for implementing the project. They must also demonstrate that they will provide added value in carrying out the activities in addition to purely economic contributions to local partners.

Support for international NGOs or networks active in several countries is subject to the same conditions as Norwegian applicants but will only be provided following a comprehensive assessment. Organisations based in developing countries will be given priority when allocating funds to international NGOs.

The local partner must be an established legal entity in the country in which the project is carried out. Public, non-government or voluntary organisations may be regarded as local partners. Norad must be informed whether the local partner is also receiving funds from other donors. While the local partner is usually responsible for the actual implementation of the project activities, the overall project responsibility to Norad lies with the grant recipient.

In addition to the above-mentioned eligibility criteria, all Norad grants will be appraised based on the following principles:

• Projects must be carried out in countries which are on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list of developing countries. In exceptional cases, grants may also be awarded for projects in other countries. All activities must benefit the local population, irrespective of social background, sex, religion, political views and ethnic or cultural affiliation.
• Activities must satisfy the same qualitative criteria as other Norwegian development assistance with regard to recipient and performance orientation. Strategic co-ordination between the various development actors in their efforts to achieve the development goals will be important.
• Projects must be planned and implemented in such a way as to provide the most effective and targeted assistance to reduce poverty. The form, scope and goal of the co-operation (both technically and financially) should be subject to local resources, with the main emphasis to be placed on co-operation with local civil society partners.
• Activities must allow for flexibility and must be subject to review and assessment. Systematic learning by the grant recipient, the exchange of ideas among project partners and the dissemination of lessons learned should be an important aspect of the intervention.
• The sustainability of all project activities should be safeguarded

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The Norwegian government published general guidelines for NGO co-operation in 2001, called ‘Grant Schemes for Humanitarian Assistance and Development Co-operation by Norwegian and International Voluntary Actors – Guidelines’. These guidelines apply to long-term development co-operation projects as well as to short-and medium-term humanitarian assistance, support for peace and reconciliation processes, and human rights and democracy-building measures. In 2006, Norad also published guidelines for completing the application form for individual agreements, which are available for download in English from the civil society section of the Norad website.

Co-operation agreements are concluded for periods between three and five years, in which several projects can be implemented. For individual agreements, the maximum project duration will be specified in negotiation with Norad.

In general, applications for co-operation and individual agreements must be submitted by 1 October of each year.

Application forms can either be obtained from Norad’s Civil Society Section (see ‘Contact’) or downloaded in MS Word format form the Norad website:
Co-operation agreements
Individual agreements

 

Civil society organisations that wish to enter into co-operation agreements with Norad should fill out the relevant application form carefully and make sure accounts for the last two years, the statutes of the organisation, and a document outlining the organisation’s development co-operation strategy are enclosed. Moreover, sub-agreements which may have been signed with Norad must be included. The application should also state the preferred duration of the co-operation agreement, which should coincide with an applicant’s strategy period.

Applicants for individual agreements are required to enclose the statutes of the organisation and the previous year’s audited accounts if they did not receive support form Norad in the previous year. If the organisation intends to implement several projects under the individual agreement, part 2 of the application form must be completed for each project. All applications for individual agreements must be accompanied by a covering letter stating the projects and countries for which funding is being requested.

More detailed information regarding the application procedure can be obtained from Norad’s Civil Society Section (see ‘Contact’).

Norwegian or English

The Norwegian government has recently tightened its regulations regarding the selection of NGOs for Norad’s grant programmes. Therefore, all rules and guidelines should be followed scrupulously when completing the application. The local project partner should be involved in the project design as early as possible, and the responsibilities of the project partner and the applicant should be clearly defined. Organisations wishing to submit applications for co-operation agreements should have completed at least one successful project co-operation with Norad in the past. Moreover, they must demonstrate a strong popular rooting in Norway.

Interested organisations from the South should contact the local Norwegian embassy to explore the availability of local funding. Most embassies in priority countries of Norwegian developing co-operation have a separate budget to support local NGO initiatives.  Embassies or Norad’s Civil Society Section can also provide helpful information regarding Norwegian NGOs which might be looking for a local co-operation partner. Contact information for Norwegian embassies can be found here.

In 2005, Norad established an online database containing evaluation reports of Norad-funded NGO projects.

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