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Why NCA rejects new aid conditions from the US
Norwegian Church Aid has decided not to accept funding under the new conditions set out in the United States' foreign aid framework. “Humanitarian principles are not for sale,” says Secretary General Anne Cecilie Kaltenborn.
Anne Cecilie Kaltenborn, secretary general of Norwegian Church Aid.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of State introduced new rules imposing extensive conditions on organizations receiving U.S. foreign aid.
The framework, “Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance” (PHFFA), introduces politically defined restrictions on how humanitarian organizations receiving US foreign aid may work on issues such as gender equality, inclusion, diversity, and sexual and reproductive health.
The framework also includes an expansion of the Mexico City Policy, commonly known as the “global gag rule,” which prohibits U.S. authorities from providing funding to organizations that perform or provide information about abortion.
As early as March this year, NCA decided not to accept funding from U.S. authorities under these conditions. NCA is not alone among aid organizations in taking this position.
“NCA has long been engaged in work related to women’s health and gender-based violence. Our assessment is that the conditions, as they currently stand, are not compatible with the organization’s humanitarian and professional commitments, including our work on sexual and reproductive health, rights, and needs-based humanitarian assistance,” says Anne Cecilie Kaltenborn, Secretary General of NCA.
Ongoing assessments
“This does not mean that we oppose funding from the United States or American organizations as a matter of principle. Our concern relates to the conditions attached to certain forms of U.S. government-funded foreign assistance. When those conditions are compatible with our humanitarian principles and professional commitments, such funding will certainly be considered and utilized,” says Kaltenborn.
NCA therefore continuously assesses funding opportunities and partnerships, including those that may involve U.S. funding.
For example, NCA is currently implementing a project in South Sudan with support from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which receives U.S. funding. In this case, however, those funds are explicitly exempt from the restrictions established under the PHFFA framework.
Humanitarian principles
Kaltenborn points out that accepting funding under this framework would have consequences beyond Norwegian Church Aid’s own programmes.
“If an organization accepts funding under these conditions, the regulations may, at the instruction of U.S. authorities, also apply to all partners, sub-agreements, and the way organizations conduct their broader work. In other words, this affects more than just us. That is precisely why such conditions must be assessed at the organizational level, not merely at the project level. This is at the core of why NCA is being so cautious,” says Kaltenborn.
Humanitarian principles form the foundation of NCA’s work.
“Humanitarian principles are not for sale. Assistance must be provided based on need, without discrimination, and independently of the domestic political and ideological agendas of changing governments,” says Kaltenborn.
More than abortion
Kaltenborn emphasizes that this position is about far more than abortion.
“Sexual and reproductive health encompasses much more than abortion, and is, in most cases, not about abortion at all. It includes family planning and preventing unintended pregnancies, hygiene and menstruation, contraception, protection from violence, maternal healthcare, safe childbirth, prevention of unsafe abortion practices, treatment following sexual violence, and healthcare services for young people,” says Kaltenborn.
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