Norwegian Development Minister Erik Solheim promises multi-year funding and more money to UN agencies, but combines this with demands spelled out in letters to four UN heads. Solheim uses the money weapon to counter the Bush administration’s pressure on key UN agencies like UNICEF and UNFPA. Solheim also links increased funding to UN agencies hiring more Norwegians.

Finally, the donors are seeking answers to some of the questions asked by Carlos Cardoso, Mozambique’s foremost investigative journalist, who was murdered five years ago. A Deloitte report shows that two donor-financed loans to private companies amounting to USD 17 million were never repaid. The report was commissioned by the Swedish and Norwegian embassies.

The Red Cross’ decision to keep an evaluation of its global tsunami activities secret undermines the organisation’s credibility, a Sida official comments to Development Today.

Danish Development Minister Ulla Tørnæs announced earlier this month that Mali has been selected as a new Danish programme cooperation country. She said her decision marks the beginning of a long-term partnership, which should last at least 15-20 years.

This means that actual Danish aid is set to increase by about DKK 600 million in 2007 to maintain a minimum aid level of 0.80 per cent of GNI set by the Denmark’s right-wing government after it was re-elected one year ago.

The new Danish head of Norad is a veteran aid professional who strongly defends the new development agenda where funds are channelled jointly with other donors through sector and budget support. At the same time, Poul Engberg-Pedersen embraces the political focus of his new boss, Development Minister Erik Solheim, as being the key to maintaining public support for aid.