Each year, enormous sums disappear from developing countries in the form of capital flight, payment of debt and unjust trade systems in which rich countries protect their own markets. Under a more just system, developing countries could use more resources for health and education.
There are large disparities within developing countries, and corruption is a serious problem many places. High economic growth in some poor countries is often unevenly distributed, and it can be difficult for people to secure a livelihood for themselves. Working for people’s rights and making the state, authorities and companies accountable is a key task for Norwegian Church Aid and our partners.
Our global programmes
Norwegian Church Aid works with local partners in many countries to contribute to economic justice. We have two global programmes within this field:
Our advocacy work
Capital flight and tax evasion
The financial secrecy of tax havens makes it possible for multinational corporations to avoid taxation. Our British sister organisation, Christian Aid, has estimated that developing countries lose 160 billion USD in tax money each year because of this practise.
Norwegian Church Aid is working for an accounting standard in which companies must provide their accounts, country by country. Today, it is permitted to merge several countries, so that one keeps one account, for example, for all of Africa. This makes it easy to conceal where profits are generated and taxes should be paid. Norwegian Church Aid is working to change legislation so that companies pay fair taxes in the countries in which they operate.
Debt cancellation
Repayment of debt is a great burden for many poor countries. But thanks to the global movement against illegitimate debt, of which Norwegian Church Aid is a member, some debt has been cancelled. The present goal is to stop the making of irresponsible loans and identifying and cancelling illegitimate debt. Norwegian Church Aid is working to establish binding rules, both in Norway and internationally, to avoid a new debt crisis.
Responsible partnerships and investments
We advocate companies to respect and promote human rights, for investors to demand this in their investments and for authorities to make good regulations.
A fair trade
Norwegian Church Aid is working to change trade agreements so that developing countries have access to other markets while at the same time protecting their own markets against unfair competition.