"Money Talks" at the Norad Conference 2025

Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Time: 09:00-15:00 Location: Sentrum Scene, Oslo

The world stands at a crossroads. With just five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the urgency for action has never been greater. Climate change, natural disasters, war, conflict, and an unstable geopolitical landscape are compounding the challenges we face.

At the same time, the financing gap looms large. With current levels of funding, we will not meet the Paris Agreement goals by the stipulated deadline. In what is being called a critical year for development financing, with both the Financing for Development conference in Seville and the climate summit in Belem, Norad is putting money in focus at this year’s annual conference.

While the resources are available, significant effort is required to channel them effectively for maximum impact. The objective of the conference is to discuss how this can be done in the best possible way, and to inspire cooperation and a new course towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The Norad conference is Norway's foremost gathering for those involved and interested in international development and the 2030 agenda, bringing together key figures from the private sector, civil society, academia, as well as public officials from Norway and around the world. There will be lectures, discussions, and the launch of important reports.

Press Accreditation

The press is welcome to cover the conference. Register here for press accreditation. 

Contact Norad's press team if you have questions or are interested in interviews with any of the speakers at the conference (see list below).

These are some of the people you will meet at the conference:

• Kristalina Georgieva, Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She will participate digitally at the conference.
• Gabriel Zucman, Professor of Economics at the Paris School of Economics and founder of the EU Tax Observatory. He is particularly known for his research on tax systems and the taxation of the world's wealthiest.
• Mohammed Nasheed, Secretary-General of The Climate Vulnerable Forum V20, an international partnership of 70 countries particularly vulnerable to climate change. Nasheed was the first democratically elected president of the Maldives (2008-2012). He is a champion for human rights and democracy in Islamic countries and an international icon in the fight against climate change. He became world-famous when he held a government meeting underwater to emphasize the seriousness of the Maldives' situation.
• Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand. In 2009, she became the first female head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Throughout her career, she has been a strong advocate for sustainable development, gender equality, and global health. She currently chairs several international boards and is engaged in pandemic preparedness and other global challenges.
• Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, leader of the Presidential Initiative for Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security in Sierra Leone. He has also led several global initiatives on climate change and renewable energy. Dr. Yumkella has held prominent roles in the UN, including as Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of UNIDO, where he was central in promoting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
• Marie Nielsen, Partner at Antler Africa. The firm supports startups in Africa by providing funding, guidance, and networking opportunities. Nielsen is also known as the founder of Penda Paper, a paper recycling company in Ethiopia.
• Raphael Debaux, Deputy Finance Minister of Brazil. The country has made great strides in rainforest conservation and sustainable development in recent years. Brazil is also hosting this year's climate summit in Belem in November, where climate financing will be central.
• Tove Bjørgås, US Correspondent for NRK
• Tellef Thorleifsson, CEO of Norfund, the Norwegian Investment Fund for developing countries
• Dagfinn Høybråten, outgoing Secretary-General of Norwegian Church Aid
• Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Minister of International Development
• Bård Vegar Solhjell, Director General of Norad