Ivco 2006 Fk Norway Private Sector

Private sector programme development 2001 - 2006 → Traditionally the NGO sector has been negative toward involving the private sector in development cooperation. Fredskorpset would like to explore possibilities with an open mind. → Some development professionals in Norway think that aid and business cannot be combined. Fredskorpset strongly believe the opposite. → The business community (The big corporations) was sceptical toward the new Fredskorpset. Fredskorpset has to convince them about opportunities.

1

Fredskorpset ’s priorities at the beginning (2001 – 2006) → No set priorities. Fredskorpset communicated with all sorts of corporations. The Result → The majority of our corporate partners already had a relationship with a business enterprises in the south. Fredskorpset became supplementary. → All the international consultancy firms became partners. They saw the need to build north/south partnerships as their best business strategy. → Some small companies approached Fredskorpset to seek opportunities. Very small companies were not so successful within the Fredskorpset partnership model. 2

2003 – 2006. Growth in number of partnerships to 15% of programme portfolio. → North/South programmes were initiated. → Thematic programmes were initiated. → More and more companies saw Fredskorpset as a good/serious partner. → More contact and cooperation with other government development assistance programmes to the private sector. → All Norwegian companies shared the view that they really need to learn more about cultures in the south.

3

The way forward → Increase the share of private sector programmes of the total programme volume. → Explore more possibilities on thematic programmes – especially focus on a growing CSR programme. → More cooperation with other development assistance programmes. → Be more attractive to larger companies.

4

2015 What are the priorities? → The Chinese ”development packages” has outnumbered the development assistancefrom the Western Countries. → A large and growing number of intellectuals will say no to traditional aid and ”patronising” from the north. → A growing number of people in the north will not support traditional aid. Conclusion: Lots of future possibilities for partnerships in the corporate sector. 5