Norwegian People's Aid says no to U.S. Department of State  funding under new conditions

The  U.S. Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (US DoS PM/WRA),  the largest donor to NPA's mine action and disarmament work,  has introduced new requirements for organisations receiving US DoS funding, including restrictions related to abortion, equality and diversity that extend beyond US DoS-funded programmes to also include other parts of an  organisation’s  work.  NPA  considers these requirements incompatible with the organisation's values and has therefore decided to phase out its cooperation with the largest donor to  NPA’s mine action and disarmament  work.

Decades of life-saving cooperation 

NPA is one of the world’s largest humanitarian mine action  organisations  and currently receives US DoS funding for mine action  programmes  in seven countries. The  long-standing  partnership  with the U.S.  as a  donor  has helped protect thousands of people from landmines and other explosive ordnance and has contributed to creating the conditions for recovery, reconstruction and development in communities affected by armed conflict  for  more than  two decades. 

U.S. funding currently accounts for approximately 40 per cent of NPA’s income for its mine action and disarmament work. The complete loss of this funding would reduce NPA’s annual income by nearly NOK 400 million and affect approximately 1,700 positions, significantly reducing the scale of NPA’s mine action operations and having major consequences for the  organisation  as a whole. 

The new US requirements do not apply only to activities financed by the United States. They would also impose restrictions on other parts of NPA’s work, including activities funded by other donors, such as Norway. NPA has sought exemptions that would allow this vital mine action  work  to continue without compromising the  organisation’s  principles and commitments. These efforts have not succeeded. 

Conditions NPA cannot accept 

"It is of course extremely difficult to  turn down funding on this  scale, with everything that entails. But these  are  conditions we  cannot  accept. Equality, dignity  and diversity are not  threats; they are values that strengthen our work and  help  make societies better. Values  we will keep fighting for," says  NPA’s  Secretary General. 

NPA  has  considered the implications of this decision  carefully and over  time, in close dialogue with the  country  programmes that will be most affected by the loss of funding. NPA  has  reason to believe that other mine action  organisations  intend to accept the new conditions and may be  in a position  to take over parts of the operational work currently carried out by  NPA. However, NPA  also implements specialised programmes focused on strengthening national mine action capacity and developing innovative methods and approaches, for which the organisation is working intensively to secure alternative funding.

NPA hopes that the Norwegian authorities will continue to  prioritise  rights-based   international  aid, including in decisions on future funding for the mine action and disarmament sector. 

"This  has been  an incredibly tough decision, and we are deeply concerned about the consequences   for our staff and, above all, for all the civilians who continue to  live with the threat of landmines and  other  explosive  ordnance  long  after conflict  has ended.  Nevertheless, this is a line we have to draw. Accepting these conditions would risk opening the door to further restrictions on fundamental  rights . We have to stand up for what is right, even when it comes at a cost," says Johansen. 

Despite these dramatic cuts, 60% of our mine and explosive ordnance clearance work will continue, and we will remain a major and well-recognised actor globally.

Press  inquiries:  Press Officer Håkon Ødegaard  on: +47 950 45 667