Petroleum management – Oil for Development
Both Norway and Nigeria are leading producers and exporters of petroleum. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the governments of the two countries signed in 2000 provides the basis for a wideranging development co-operation on petroleum management. The goal is to promote an efficient and safe development of the Nigerian petroleum resources and sustainable economic development.
The original co-operation has two parts. The first is an institutional cooperation between the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) in Stavanger and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Lagos. NPD has provided technical assistance and training to DPR regarding resource management, monitoring, metering, deep sea operation, data management, and health, safety and environment (HSE).
The second part is driven by industry. The goal is to increase the proportion of Nigerian content - goods, services and manpower of Nigerian origin - in the petroleum activities taking place in Nigeria. From the Norwegian side this part of the co-operation is headed by INTSOK, a Norwegian umbrella organisation of authorities as well as industry engaged in petroleum activities. The main Nigerian partner is the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). INTSOK has also organised a number of capacity-building seminars on petroleum-related topics in Nigeria as part of this co-operation.
An MoU meeting in Abuja in October 2007 decided to extend the co-operation in accordance with the Norwegian government’s Oil for Development programme (for more information, use link to the right). Two new elements were added: Revenue management and environment. Accordingly, the Norwegian embassy has started supporting the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and is co-operating with the Federal Ministry of Environment. Other new areas of co-operation are being considered.
Governance, human rights and womens’ rights
In order to support democracy and good governance in Nigeria, Norway supports the National Governance Programme. Funding for the Governance Progamme is channeled through the UNDP and is for capacity building in the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (BMPI).
The Norwegian Embassy also supports a number of independent projects mainly related to women and gender issues and for the prevention of trafficking in persons.
Norway's total development budget for Nigeria in 2008 is approx. USD 2,2 million (NOK 13 million).
Maternal and child health
Norway together with the United Kingdom supports a Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Programme in Northern Nigeria. The Norwegian contribution (approx NOK 250 million/USD 50 million from 2008 – 2012) is part of the global initiative of the Norwegian Government to address Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. The UK contribution is part of DFID’s bilateral country programme with the Government of Nigeria. Partners include federal, state and local government, civil society; other donors such as the EU and USAID; international organisations such as the UN, GAVI and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; and other DFID consortia and programmes.
The goal of the initiative is to improve maternal, newborn and child health in Northern Nigeria by improving the quality and access to MNCH services in four states – Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe and Zamfara. The initiative will support an established routine immunisation programme (PRRINN) working in four States (Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe and Zamfara and develop a new MNCH programme focussing on three of these States (Katsina, Yobe, Zamfara), although cross-cutting issues may apply to Jigawa also. PRRINN will also be the implementing consortium for the MNCH Initiative.
ECOWAS
Norway also supports the peace and security efforts of the Economic Community of West African States. ECOWAS is an increasingly important partner for the international community, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN). Norway supports the ECOWAS Small Arms Programme (ECOSAP), ECOWAS’ peace building and conflict prevention efforts and election monitoring missions to Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in the fall of 2008.