Save the Children Norway

Save the Children Norway
Name	Save the Children Norway
Type	Non-governmental organization
Founded	1919
Location	Oslo, Norway
Area served	Worldwide
Focus	Children's rights, humanitarian aid, development

Save the Children Norway

Save the Children Norway is a Norwegian humanitarian and children’s rights organization founded in 1919 that works internationally and domestically on child protection, emergency relief, and long-term development. Rooted in a global movement with historical links to post‑World War I relief efforts and interwar humanitarianism, the organization operates alongside national societies, international institutions, and multilateral agencies to influence policy, deliver services, and coordinate emergency responses. Its activities intersect with major humanitarian crises, philanthropic networks, and international law fora.

History

The organization was established in the aftermath of World War I with ideological and institutional connections to figures and movements associated with postwar relief such as the League of Nations, the international relief efforts that followed the Russian Civil War, and Scandinavian philanthropic traditions exemplified by institutions in Oslo and Stockholm. During the interwar period and World War II the society engaged with relief work related to the Spanish Civil War, the Winter War, and later reconstruction projects tied to the Marshall Plan era. In the late 20th century the organization expanded its operations in response to crises in regions including Biafra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rwanda, and Kosovo, adapting approaches influenced by humanitarian law debates at venues such as the Geneva Conventions and the United Nations General Assembly. In the 21st century its work has addressed emergencies connected to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the Syrian civil war, the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present), and displacement linked to the Afghanistan conflict (2001–2021), reflecting broader shifts in international humanitarian coordination including mechanisms related to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the European Union humanitarian instruments.

Organization and Governance

Governance is carried out through a national board and secretariat headquartered in Oslo, with statutory oversight and member accountability mechanisms that mirror governance models used by other national societies such as Save the Children UK and Save the Children International affiliates. Senior staff liaise with Norwegian public institutions including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway), the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, and parliamentary committees in the Storting. The organization maintains compliance with Norwegian regulatory frameworks and auditing practices involving entities like the Office of the Auditor General of Norway and financial reporting standards aligned with international NGOs including Norwegian Refugee Council and Norwegian Red Cross. Leadership has included figures from the Norwegian civil society and international relief sector who have engaged with panels convened by the United Nations Secretary-General and participated in summits organized by the World Bank and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Programs and Activities

Programs encompass child protection, health, nutrition, education, and emergency response delivered in partnership with local actors across regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Domestic initiatives target vulnerable populations within Norway including refugee and migrant children arriving via routes associated with events like the European migrant crisis, with program design informed by research from institutions such as the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and universities including the University of Oslo and Norwegian University of Science and Technology. International programming frequently operates in coordination with agencies like UNICEF, World Food Programme, and UNHCR, and uses sectoral standards developed by bodies such as the Sphere Project and the International Rescue Committee. Emergency deployments have been mounted to respond to disasters such as the Haiti earthquake (2010) and cholera outbreaks in coordination with the World Health Organization.

Funding and Financials

Revenue streams include public donations solicited through national fundraising campaigns, grants from governmental donors including the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, institutional funding from multilateral organizations like the European Commission and the United Nations agencies, as well as private foundations such as the Gates Foundation and corporate partnerships with firms operating in Norway and internationally. Financial oversight follows auditing practices similar to those used by Amnesty International and Médecins Sans Frontières, and reporting aligns with standards promoted by networks like the International Non-Governmental Organisations Accountability Charter and the Norwegian Fundraising Council. Budget cycles reflect commitments to humanitarian appeals coordinated through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and donor conferences convened by actors such as the World Humanitarian Summit.

Advocacy and Campaigns

Advocacy priorities include child rights promotion under instruments like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, campaigning on issues such as child poverty in contexts studied by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, child labour highlighted by International Labour Organization reports, and protection of children in armed conflict referenced in UN Security Council resolutions. The organization has run national and international campaigns to influence policy debates in forums including the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and bilateral negotiations with the Norwegian Government, collaborating with civil society coalitions such as Save the Children International networks, UNICEF Norway allies, and youth-focused groups associated with the World Organisation of the Scout Movement.

Partnerships and International Work

Operational partnerships span intergovernmental organizations like UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO, and the European Commission; bilateral relationships with state agencies including the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and civil society collaborations with entities such as Norwegian Church Aid, CARE International, Plan International, and Oxfam. The society contributes to international coordination mechanisms such as the cluster system, participates in donor consortia linked to the Global Partnership for Education and the Global Fund, and engages in research partnerships with academic centers including the Institute of Development Studies and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. It also interfaces with private sector partners and philanthropic actors who support programming through mechanisms similar to those used by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and corporate social responsibility initiatives aligned with standards from the International Organization for Standardization.

Category:Non-profit organisations based in Norway