Norwegian aid level to fall to 0.9% of GNI, new figures show

The medical aid group MSF says a USD 1.5 billion aid deal to develop new vaccines for poor countries is much too lucrative for the drug industry. MSF has estimated an earlier version of the scheme to be overpriced by USD 600 million, but has been denied basic facts about the latest proposal. Donors are to settle the deal May 20.

A review of Danish aid projects carried out in Iraq since 2003 gives good marks, in spite of the extremely difficult security situation. The study provides input into the on-going review of Denmark’s policy on civilian-military cooperation.

At the Oslo donor conference for Sudan, the World Bank took a beating for its bureaucratic and inflexible administration of a multi-donor trust fund for Sudan. NGOs criticised the Bank for favouring private firms.

The deadlock between Denmark and Sudan took a new turn at the Sudan donor conference in Oslo this week, where Denmark refused to pledge future development assistance for the country. Sudan has urged for a global boycott of Danish goods and is not allowing Danes to enter the country, following a reprint of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad in Danish media earlier this year.

Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland pledged almost USD 770 million in support for Sudan over the next four years at the Oslo donor conference.