Organisation in Norway

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in charge of Norwegian foreign affairs, including UNESCO activities. Co-ordination of UNESCO initiatives in Norway is managed by the Ministry of Education and Research. This ministry is also in charge of implementing the Education and Sciences Programmes in Norway. The Ministry of Culture is responsible for UNESCO´s Culture and Communication programmes, while the Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs handles questions concerning indigenous people. The Ministry of Environment is responsible for all environmental matters in UNESCO, and for implementing the World Heritage Convention in Norway.

While the ministries are responsible for Norway’s official UNESCO policy, the Norwegian National Commission for UNESCO, consisting of 12 representatives from the civil society, forms a linkage between the civil society and Norwegian authorities.