6 April 2017: Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the launch of a national action plan for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by which “all relevant aspects of new Danish legislation will be assessed in relation to the Global Goals.” Meanwhile, Norway presented a policy for development intended to serve as its contribution to the achievement of the SDGs.

Launching Denmark’s plan on 31 March 2017, Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs described the action plan as a tool to involve a range of actors in Denmark in fulfilling the Goals, including public authorities, business and civil society. He noted that all countries’ commitment to the SDGs must incorporate efforts in developing countries, including collaboration with local authorities to engage private companies and other actors.

All countries’ commitment to the SDGs must incorporate efforts in developing countries, said Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation.

Tørnæs also stressed the need to increase awareness of the SDGs throughout Denmark, where the level of awareness is estimated at 12%. This ambition, he said, “will be very clearly reflected in how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicates about Denmark’s efforts in emerging and developing countries.”

Officials also highlighted the country’s upcoming presentation of a Voluntary National Report (VNR) on SDG implementation efforts at the 2017 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Minister of Finance Kristian Jensen, who will represent the Government at the HLPF, noted that the Government has committed to reporting annually on its progress. Denmark is one of 44 countries that are preparing to present VNRs to the HLPF in July 2017.

In a white paper released on 6 April, the Government of Norway outlines a policy to address the need to mobilize “major flows of capital’ in addition to aid, to finance the work of the SDGs. The white paper indicates key actions including: doubling of Norway’s funding for renewable energy, to mobilize private funding; increasing Norway’s efforts in areas affected by fragility; doubling funds to protect religious minorities; promoting innovation in global health; and increasing efforts for access to sexual and reproductive health services. The policy also maintains a high level of aid to Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative in the period leading up to 2030.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende noted that Africa will continue to receive the largest amount of aid from Norway, and that the Government will take a longer-term approach to humanitarian crises, with 15% of Norway’s aid for humanitarian needs in Syria devoted to education.

Norway presented a VNR to the HLPF during its 2016 session. Norway and Denmark were designated among the ‘Fit Five’ countries in a September 2015 study, as the countries best positioned to implement the SDGs. The other countries were Finland, Sweden and Switzerland. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release] [Norway Press Release] [VNR Platform] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on ‘Fit Five’] [Sustainable Development Goals: Are the rich countries ready?]