Icelandic Development Cooperation
The overarching objective of Iceland's international development cooperation is contributing to the fight against poverty and working towards improved living conditions in Least Developed Countries. Iceland's Active participation in development cooperation, furthermore, acknowledges Iceland's political and ethical responsibilities as a responsible member of the international community. Decisions on Official Development Assistance (ODA) carry significant responsibility towards recipients and Icelandic taxpayers. Adhering to a professional, and systematic, approach is necessary for optimum outcomes and ensure that development cooperation renders sustainable results. It is also important that the allocation of ODA complies with strict requirements of transparency, efficiency and integrity. Iceland's Strategy for International Development Cooperation 2011-2014 was prepared on the basis of Act no. 121/2008, Article 3 of the Act and reads as follows:
“Every two years the Minister shall submit a proposal for a parliamentary resolution concerning the Icelandic Government's Strategy for International Development Cooperation for a four-year period. The Programme shall cover all contributions to international development cooperation and how they are divided between Iceland's long- and short-term policy objectives. Furthermore, the Strategy shall include a comprehensive overview of how the Minister intends to achieve the strategy's goals. The Strategy shall, inter alia, specify the percentage of the Gross National Income that is planned to be allocated to Official Development Assistance.”
Iceland's membership to the United Nations is the main foundation for its international development cooperation. As a sovereign state in the community of nations, Iceland participates in UN activities in support of the UN charter. The United Nations Millennium Declaration, approved by the UN General Assembly in 2000, states that the fundamental values of international relations in the 21st century are freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility. The Declaration states that the nations of the world will strive for peace and security and join forces in the fight against poverty. It is resolved to make the United Nations more effective in resolution of disputes, post conflict reconstruction and peacekeeping. Furthermore, the Declaration addresses issues that are crucial to promote social and economic development as well as prosperity. The Declaration is the foundation for the MDG, the internationally agreed targets for international development cooperation, to be achieved by 2015. Iceland as a developed county is committed to the UN target, of allocating 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) to official development assistance by 2019.
International development planning and policy formulation reflects viewpoints which are based on a wealth of experience that has been accumulated over time. Experience has shown that although similar methods can be applied from one country to the next, local conditions and circumstances, which differ from one country to another, must always be taken into account. The Strategy's emphasis is on supporting LDCs and poor people in countries where there is significant disparity in living conditions. Partnerships for peace and reconstruction in conflict-affected communities is also an important element of development cooperation. Furthermore, focus is up on fragile and conflict-affected states with weak capacity and governance. Icelandic development cooperation reflects values that are upheld by the Icelandic people: respect for democracy and human rights, human diversity, tolerance, justice and solidarity.