UNHCR Standing Committee: 95th Session, 24 - 26 March 2026.
Item 5: Update on budgets and funding (2025 and 2026).
Statement delivered by Mr Svenn WROLDSEN First Secretary, Humanitarian Issues Permanent Mission of Norway.
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26 Mars 2026
Norway would like to thank you for this update on budgets and funding.
We reiterate our encouragement to all donors to exercise good humanitarian donorship by providing predictable funding levels, and limiting conditionality, to enable UNHCR to meet the needs of the most vulnerable refugees, internally displaced and other persons of concern.
For Norway, our humanitarian budget remains stable. Our priorities remain the same. We will continue to promote gender equality and protection. The inclusion of women and vulnerable groups in humanitarian interventions enhances their impact and effectiveness, including in terms of lives saved. Ensuring inclusion, sustainability, and the effective use of funds is a key part of our current funding arrangements with humanitarian partners, including UNHCR.
Norway welcomes progress on UNHCR budget reform. The significant budget gap of around 50% over the last ten years, and the more significant gap of 63,7% last year, underline the need to align the budget with funding realities. At the same time, we recognize the continued need to bring attention to real and persistent humanitarian needs – and in particular the critical efforts of countries hosting large numbers of refugees and other persons of concern. We would strongly encourage UNHCR to proceed swiftly on this issue, in consultation with member states, to allow for the implementation of a new budget structure as soon as possible.
Let me end by reiterating that protection of all persons of concern will continue to be Norway’s core humanitarian priority. In this, UNHCR is a most valued partner.
Thank you.