Support to Human Rights Activities through the Norwegian Institute of Human Rights.
Level of funding: NOK 65 million
Funding Period: 2005 – 2009
The Programme at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR), a multidisciplinary centre at the University of Oslo, was established in 1998 as part of the Norwegian strategy on development co-operation with South Africa. The Programme was until 2004 financed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (NORAD). The first contract entered into by the NCHR ended in 2000, and after a review of the Programme in May 2001, it was decided to extend the period of co-operation until the end of 2004.
In line with new regulations, a competitive tender process was announced by Norad in November 2004, whereby Norwegian institutions were invited to present their bids for the continuation of the Programme in the period 2005-2009. Based on a successful bid dated 22 November 2004, the Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria requested the NCHR to take on responsibility for the development, implementation and follow-up of the Programme through to 2009.
The Programme is in the current period giving thematic emphasis to economic and social rights in general, access to justice (civil rights), political participation and access to information (political rights). The approach of the Programme is to emphasise engagement with government on these themes in order to ‘promote respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights in a manner that consolidates democratic development in South Africa’. Regional co-operation on the above themes is sought when beneficial to goal achievement at the national as well as regional level.
This framework guides the development and administration of a project portfolio with South African partners which is the Programme’s main component. It also aims to inform the other two components, i.e. to provide advisory services to the Embassy on human rights issues; and competence building in Norway on South Africa. The NCHR is fully responsible for the development, implementation and follow up of the Programme in close consultation and agreement with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria.
The signed contract between the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University of Oslo/NCHR can be found here.