The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that viruses know no borders, underlining the importance of funding global health initiatives. Investments in health not only benefit vulnerable communities, like those in the Global South, but also strengthen health security for everyone on the planet.
And at a time when traditionally bigger contributors to global health are turning inward, there is a massive leadership opportunity for countries who understand that investing in global health actually benefits the global economy, creates stability instead of conflict, and is morally, the right thing to do.
One country is poised particularly well to fill that leadership vacuum — Norway.
Norway’s Track Record as a Global Health Leader
For decades, Norway has been a leader in funding and shaping the global health agenda. In fact, Norway was one of six founding countries that created Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has helped protect over 1.1 billion children in 78 countries since the year 2000.
Examples of Norway being a leader in global health are numerous. Norway helped create a new pandemic fund at the World Bank, and was a leader of the ACT Accelerator, which opened up access to COVID-19 tools like testing, treatments, and personal protective equipment. Norway is also the 11th largest funder of The Global Fund, which combats tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS.
Further, many Norwegian political leaders have gone on to serve in leadership positions for global health organizations: former Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland was Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) from 1998 to 2003. Current Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre served as Bruntdland’s chief of staff at the WHO. And Dagfinn Høybråten was the chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, from 2011 to 2015.
Beyond health, Norway has earned a reputation as a generous contributor to Overseas Development Aid (ODA), which is funding from wealthier nations to support countries in need. ODA foreign aid plays a crucial role in efforts to fight poverty around the world. In 2023, it was the 10th largest donor to ODA programs.
Norway has been contributing 1% of its Gross National Product (GNP) to ODA, which is well above the official UN target of 0.7% for developed nations. The government has recently confirmed its commitment to continue providing the world's highest aid levels for 2025.
However, in more recent years, Norway’s support for global health programs has declined. There has been a significant drop in the share of the development aid budget invested in global health, extending into 2025, with the exception of the Covid-19 years 2020 and 2021.
Norway itself seems to recognize that it can be doing better. In fact, a report was commissioned in 2024 to explore exactly how Norway can and should be stepping up (it’s even titled “Norway Can, Norway Should.”) That report, led by a panel of Norwegian health experts, found several opportunities for Norway to build on its past achievements and to continue playing a leading role in global health.
Investing in Children’s Health Is Investing in a Better Future for All
Norway has a unique opportunity to save children’s lives by supporting vaccine programs. This can be done through global health institutions like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and backing global health initiatives such as the Lusaka Agenda.
Twenty-five years ago, a united global community — including Norway — helped establish Gavi. Since then, Gavi has been a driving force behind vaccination, reaching over 1 billion children and immunizing them against potentially life-threatening diseases. Gavi has prevented the death of nearly 19 million children. And Norway has remained one of the top contributors to Gavi since the beginning.
The funding from Norway has contributed to significant progress. Since 2000, global child mortality has dropped by an impressive 50%. One of the reasons is the significant effort in comprehensive child global vaccination programs. Norway has contributed over $ 1 billion to Gavi and its related programs, showing that when countries step up, lives are saved.
Funding Gavi Protects Lives
With more and more countries turning away from prioritizing global health, Norway has a chance to step up and be a global health leader once again.
The 2025 Gavi replenishment, co-hosted by the European Union and the Gates Foundation is slated to take place in June 2025, and will attract world leaders and global health experts with the goal of raising at least $9 billion to support Gavi's work from 2026 to 2030.
This fundraising effort will not be easy, as many traditionally strong donor countries are under financial pressure to focus on national economic crises, global conflicts, and climate change.
But vaccines remain one of the most effective investments to protect children’s health, and global health at large, and the success of this summit will influence how many children get access to vaccines that can save their lives.
Norway Can Regain its Global Leadership
Norwegian global health experts are speaking up. With Norway’s experience, skills, and ability to contribute, comes a responsibility to act. The report “Norway Can, Norway Should” outlines how Norway can continue to lead in global health, both out of solidarity with those who need it most and because better global health also benefits Norway’s own safety, well-being, and economic growth. These goals are more connected than we might think.
The experts state that Norway should support Gavi in its goal to vaccinate 500 million children by 2030. The report continues that Norway should invest in a more flexible WHO by providing funding which is not tied to specific projects. This would give the organization more freedom to respond quickly and effectively to emerging health threats.
Also, according to the experts, the Lusaka Agenda is part of the bigger picture as a global health roadmap promoting stronger national health systems by reducing dependence on external funding and making global health initiatives more flexible and responsive to local needs. The idea is simple: local challenges need local solutions. When communities have a say, healthcare becomes more effective and suited to people’s real needs.
As Norway’s new Development Minister, Åsmund Aukrust, has the opportunity to uphold Norway’s leadership in global health. Now is the time to urge him to take action and make a lasting impact. Take this action now to call on him to stand up for global health by supporting Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.