Green light for a secret plan

The aid budget was one of the budget losers this year, according to the opposition to Storting. According to critics, 16 billion are missing from the budget compared to what the government promised.

Dagbladet is aware of the fact that Development Minister Anne Beathe Tvinnereim (Sp) spoke even before the presentation of the state budget on Thursday last week.

On short notice, several humanitarian organizations were invited to a budget meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Wednesday.

The actors stepped forward on Thursday, particularly frustrated with the government’s priorities, according to several sources. Tvinnereim listened and showed sympathy for frustration.

High temperature meeting behind closed doors

Several Dagbladet people speak to say Tvinnereim and the government has long been criticized for the de facto cut in aid.

– I didn’t think it was true. It’s just brutal, former development minister Dag Inge Ulstein (KrF) said on budget day.

The aid budget will be increased on paper by NOK 2.5 billion next year, according to the government’s proposal.

But at the same time, it falls far short of the government’s own target: that 1 percent of gross national income (GNI) should be spent on aid. 1.6 billion in aid funds are also used in Norway, for Ukrainian refugees.

A problem abroad

If the government had kept to this, another 16.8 billion would have been set aside in next year’s budget.

It is not just humanitarian organizations that are shocked by the cuts in aid. Dagbladet is aware that the concern is also shared by several government ministers.

Norway earns a lot from high gas prices and the cut in aid gives Norway a problem of explanation abroad, it is pointed out. Ministers who travel extensively abroad are well aware of the challenge that now awaits them.

Government members are therefore prepared for critical questions as to why Norway, the richest country in the world, the largest gas exporter, spends aid funds for yes and it also fails to achieve its aid goals.

A battle plan on the chamber

Dagbladet can now say that the government, led by Development Minister Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, is working discreetly on a strategy to find more crowns for aid anyway.

His plan is to find money “below the line”, that is, by means other than the state budget. They are the capital injections from aid-related funds that the government is now preparing to use. In particular, Klimafondet and Norfund are relevant tools for the Støre government.

These are funds that to a very small extent have to be accounted for in the state budget and give the Minister of Development Tvinnereim some leeway to increase aid funds in 2023.

Green light

The Prime Minister’s Office (SMK) has already given the green light to hunt for money, Dagbladet learns.

The case appointees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are therefore preparing the groundwork, but the work is currently described as unofficial.

As Dagbladet understood, the “under the line” move is described as a tool that Tvinnereim and the government want to stay in the closet. A roll-out decision has not yet been made.

The government believes it can benefit from it on two levels in particular:

• The extra funds give ministers a bright spot of help to mention in meetings with foreign colleagues.
• The extra funds also provide ammunition to the government in the face of opposition fire.

– You painted yourself in a corner

Former development minister Dag Inge Ulstein (KrF) is aware that Tvinnereim has some measures that can improve the aid budget somewhat.

– But the government still got cornered. They will not use actual additional income for the state, although of course it will not be inflationary in Norway to give money to Malawi, so to speak. This is much-needed money in the world, Ulstein tells Dagbladet.

– The government has the opportunity to use the climate fund to increase the total amount given in aid next year, but for many who are affected by the Norwegian cuts, it will have no effect, Ulstein continues.