Norwegian People’s Aid believes it is more important to work on abortion, gender ideology and diversity than to accept NOK 400 million in annual income from the United States.
Norwegian People’s Aid rejects the new American conditions for aid. The price is NOK 400 million in annual income and around 1,700 positions worldwide.
The organisation announced the decision on Thursday. The US State Department requires partners not to work on abortion, gender equality or diversity. This follows a major public debate over the introduction of DEI – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Norwegian People’s Aid applied for an exemption. The answer was no.
– The United States is trying to dictate that we stop working for gender equality and diversity. Not only in the programmes they themselves finance, but in everything we do, says Secretary General Raymond Johansen, a former SV and Labour Party politician.
– We abide by Norwegian law and Norwegian policy and do not exchange values for money, he says.
The break removes 40 per cent of the funding for the organisation’s mine and explosive ordnance clearance. Work in seven countries will be affected.
– This is an incredibly difficult decision, and we are very concerned about the consequences it will have for our employees, says Johansen.
The figure of 1,700 is the same as in February 2025. At that time, Norwegian People’s Aid laid off 1,700 of its 3,200 employees after Donald Trump froze US aid for 90 days. Mine clearance ground to a halt in twelve countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine and Vietnam.
There are three specific requirements from the US authorities.
1. Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance
It is not permitted to carry out or promote abortion as family planning.
2. Combating Gender Ideology in Foreign Assistance
This requirement means that foreign organisations receiving US funding must not promote gender ideology, that is, the idea that a man can become a woman – and carry out operations or treatment involving a «sex change».
3. Combating Discriminatory Equity Ideology in Foreign Assistance
There is a requirement to eliminate discrimination from the organisation, and that people cannot be hired on the basis of skin colour or ethnicity. In other words, what would violate anti-discrimination laws in the United States.
In May last year, the board made the opposite choice from today. At that time, Norwegian People’s Aid accepted the American requirements to remove all DEI elements from projects and refrain from placing emphasis on sex and identity in hiring for US-funded work.
The youth organisation Solidaritetsungdommen voted against. Leader Maria Hundeide warned that the organisation was becoming donor-driven. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee rejected similar requirements and called them unthinkable.
Now Norwegian People’s Aid is reversing course.
– Nevertheless, we have to put our foot down now. If we do not, actors who want to strip away further rights will be given free rein, says Johansen.
Norwegian People’s Aid had revenues of just over NOK 1.8 billion in 2024. The US authorities contributed NOK 457.9 million and were the largest single donor from abroad. Norwegian taxpayers contributed more: NOK 401.8 million from Norad and NOK 326.7 million from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — a total of NOK 728.5 million.
In February 2025, one week after the mass layoffs, Norad renewed its agreement with the organisation. It is worth NOK 1.22 billion over five years and covers work in 20 countries.
This is not the first time Norwegian People’s Aid has broken with the Americans over conditions. In August 2018, the organisation terminated a partnership with USAID that had lasted more than 15 years and withdrew from an emergency relief project in South Sudan. Then Secretary General Henriette Westhrin called the requirements unreasonably restrictive.
