Grant schemes for humanitarian assistance and development cooperation by Norwegian and international voluntary actors : guidelines

The cooperation covered by these guidelines encompasses short- and medium-term humanitarian assistance, support for peace and reconciliation processes, human rights and democracy-building, and long-term development cooperation.

The schemes are primarily aimed at strengthening civil society as a driving force and agent for change in achieving national and international development goals. For the purpose of these guidelines, "civil society" means the formal and informal networks that are active in the public sphere between the state and the family. Development assistance directed towards civil society encompasses not only the actors concerned, but also the steering parameters, meetingplaces and interaction that provide the actors with influence and room for manoeuvre. Norwegian NGOs and other voluntary actors have a comparative advantage in their cooperation with civil society in developing countries because of the role they play in the development of Norwegian society.