Caritas is pleased that the government continues to focus on combating hunger and strengthening food security in the budget proposal. But the focus is too weak.

We are also disappointed that they are once again failing to deliver on their promise of one percent of GNI for aid. In 2024, it has been announced that Norway will earn even more from oil and gas. We had therefore expected the government to deliver more than 0.94 percent of gross national income (GNI) for aid. The ripple effect of the war in Ukraine is hitting the world's poorest people hard, and we would therefore have expected emergency humanitarian aid to have responded better to the increased needs.

- With increasing humanitarian needs and sharp cuts in international support to fight hunger and poverty, we had expected greater solidarity from the government. We live in a time when the UN is drastically cutting life-saving food rations in more and more countries due to a lack of resources. Not delivering on the aid promise breaks with what both parties have set out in their manifestos and committed to in the Hurdal Platform," says Martha Skretteberg, Secretary General of Caritas Norway.

The government is doing a lot of good things at food security and last year launched the strategy "Strengthening the fight against hunger - a policy for increased self-sufficiency". This has the potential to save millions of lives. The budget proposal increases the budget for food security by NOK 246 million.

- It's good, but it's not all fresh funding and it's nowhere near enough to meet the needs of 735 million people who are starving in the world. Of these, 258 million live in or on the brink of famine. Without massive investments in sustainable food systems in the South, the negative trend will continue," says Skretteberg.