Development & Humanitarian Assitance

23.04.2010 the Norwegian Ambassador Elisabeth Jacobsen attended the Launch of Fanisi Venture Capital Fund at Serena Nairobi Hotel. The Fund has been established with assistance from Norfund, The Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries. Norfund serves as an important instrument in Norway’s foreign policy. The aim is to contribute in reducing poverty by creating sustainable economic progress in developing countries - through both financial investments, as well as transfer of knowledge and technology.

23 March 2010 the Norwegian Ambassador Elisabeth Jacobsen visited Laikipia University College. The occasion was an invitation to Annual Students Forum, which highlighted the importance of reforms in Kenya. The theme for the Forum was “Kenya on the threshold of Change: Challenges of Institutional and Constitutional Reforms”, and the Ambassador had been asked to talk about “International Mobilization and Reforms in Kenya since 2007.

22 October 2009 was dedicated to civil society organisations from all over Kenya as Ambassador Elisabeth Jacobsen was guest of honour at the media launch of the unveiling of Amkeni Wakenya an the launch of the Quick Response Fund.

The Norwegian NGO Deaf Aid, assisted by Norwegian Ambassador Elisabeth Jacobsen, 17 February flagged off their new Mobile Hearing Clinic Truck. The Mobile Clinic will reach out to Kenyan communities to help identify, assess, assist or refer children and youth with hearing loss.

On September 9th 2009, Norway’s Ambassador to Kenya, Elisabeth Jacobsen, inaugurated the “Good Hope Village”, a children’s home and primary school, funded by the International Gospel Mission based in Nordkjosbotn, Norway.

Norway has frozen all payments of bilateral aid to Madagascar until further notice. No new development cooperation agreements will be concluded due to the crisis in the country.

The Platform for an Integrated Africa Policy gives an overview of Norwegian cooperation with Africa, and provides a basis for implementing concrete measures.

For the first time, Norway is allocating 1% of its GNI to international development cooperation. “This is a major victory for the world’s poor,” commented Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim.

The Norwegian Government has decided to allocate NOK 12 million to efforts to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Kenya. These funds will be channelled through Norway’s partners in the UN system, the Red Cross Movement and NGOs.

Norway takes a leading role in addressing environmental issues in development cooperation. Poverty and the environment is closely related, and the Norwegian government recently launched an action plan aimed at preparing developing nations for environmental dangers facing the world.