Norway Engages UNFPA and Partners on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, and Reproductive Health

Norway's Minister of International Development, Åsmund Aukrust, has reaffirmed his country's dedication to promoting gender equality, human rights, and reproductive health during a  visit he made to the UNFPA Ghana Office on 17th March, 2025. The minister engaged with partners and young people, discussing critical issues affecting reproductive health, gender equality and women empowerment, and human rights.

Norway has consistently been one of the leading supporters of UNFPA's work in advancing gender equality, human rights, and reproductive health.

Young people from the UNFPA’s Fellowship Programme, representatives from various partner institutions and civil society organizations engaged the minister and his team in diverse conversations spanning peacebuilding, young people’s involvements in decision making, intensifying partnerships, and accelerating current scope of collaborations to advance the ICPD agenda and reproductive health. 

Dr. Wilfred Ochan, UNFPA Ghana Country Representative, welcomed the Minister and his team, acknowledged Norway’s strong support to UNFPA’s agenda at the global and local levels, and encouraged the partners and young people in the meeting to express their views and perspectives on the context and lived experiences in relation to gender equality, women empowerment and reproductive health.

It is worth noting that recently, the Norwegian Embassy in Ghana, under the leadership of Ambassador H.E. Ingrid Mollestad, signed a 2 million Norwegian Kroner partnership agreement to strengthen institutions and provide integrated gender-based violence prevention and response services. 

The engagement was attended by Civil Society Organizations, Partners and representatives from UN Agencies.