What we do

The Oil for Development Programme aims to contribute to this goal by providing assistance directed towards three main outcomes:

1. The authorities have established a legal and regulatory framework for the petroleum sector

Sound policies and legislation must be in place, and responsibilities organized in a manner that ensures oversight and minimizes conflict of interest and duplication of effort. To help partner countries address these issues, the OfD Programme provides capacity development related to the policies and the legal framework governing the petroleum sector.

2. The authorities manage the petroleum sector according to their mandate

For the sector to be well managed the authorities must have the capacity and resources to carry out their responsibilities as defined in the legal framework. The OfD Programme develops capacity mainly through long-term institutional collaboration between Norwegian sector authorities and partner institutions.

3. The authorites are transparent in their management of the petroleum sector, and the public holds the authorities accountable

Accountability is necessary both for preventing wrongdoing and for addressing offences where they have occurred. In dialogue with partner institutions, the OfD Programme suggests opportunities for transparency and inclusion in institutional frameworks and in their implementation. Parliamentary committees, civil society organizations and media are crucial in holding the executive body to account.

In order to play a meaningful role, these actors should have independence, relevant competence and capacity as well as access to information about the petroleum sector. 

The OfD Programme takes a holistic approach in its assistance to partner countries, meaning that the management of resources, revenues, environment and safety are addressed in a coherent manner. Anti-corruption, climate and gender are cross-cutting considerations. 

The OfD Programme supports a number of organizations working to enhance accountability, and collaborates with partner institutions to establish feasible legal frameworks, transparent, inclusive processes and information dissemination. 

Government authorities need to consider how to complement the OfD efforts with other mechanisms for responsible petroleum management and poverty reduction, such as directing public expenditures towards development-oriented goals and strengthening oversight bodies and the judicial system.