Norway's new Strategy for Norwegian Engagement with African Countries

Africa is undergoing rapid change. It is a vast continent of more than 50 countries with widely differing development trends. The continent is rich in opportunities, but it is also contending with long-term challenges that must be resolved if the countries and peoples of Africa are to realise their full development potential.

Political, economic, and demographic developments contribute to African countries’ ever-increasing importance in international economy and politics. To safeguard Norwegian interests, we must strengthen and further develop our relations as the world changes. This requires clarity on what Norwegian interests and advantages are. It also requires Norway and African countries to have a good mutual understanding of each other's analyses, positions and priorities.

Norway's relationship with many African countries today covers a wide range of interests. These include security policy, multilateral issues, cooperation on solving global challenges - such as climate change, health crises and future food security - and economic cooperation with an emphasis on business, investment, technology, and knowledge exchange.

Development co-operation and humanitarian efforts remain an integral part of Norway's relations with many African countries. The Government is therefore presenting a new comprehensive strategy for Norwegian engagement with African countries. The aim is to strengthen political and economic co-operation through partnerships based on equality, mutual interests, knowledge and understanding.

Read Strategy here: Strategy for Norwegian engagement with African countries (regjeringen.no)