Prime ministers’ global initiative brings tangible results

The Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Dagfinn Høybråten, reported to the prime ministers on the progress of efforts under the initiative, Nordic Solutions to Global Challenges.
Highly pleased at the progress so far, the prime ministers emphasised the importance of following-up on and assessing what has been achieved.
- Many of the solutions highlighted in the initiative are promising and we need to investigate how they can be carried forward in the coming years, noted Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir. Iceland will take over Presidency of the Council of Ministers in 2019.
Nordic response to Agenda 2030
The initiative is a way for the Nordic countries to translate words into action. The objectives that have been established are closely linked to the global Sustainable Development Goals and have a clear vision: the Nordic prime ministers want to share the region’s knowledge, values, and experiences to help achieve the goals of Agenda 2030.
Activities in 30 countries
50 strategic results have already been reported, working with partners in some thirty countries around the world, including India, Zambia, Ethiopia, Poland, and Ukraine.
- Read more about the results here: 50 steps for global change
The initiative focuses on areas where the Nordic countries are in the forefront: climate and energy, urbanisation, welfare solutions, gender equality, and sustainable food production and consumption.
Three-year undertaking
The total budget for Nordic Solutions to Global Challenges amounts to around DKK 74 million. The program period for the initiative is 2017-2019.
The prime ministers also discussed joint efforts on the development of the 5G network and digitalisation.
Over the next three years, the Nordic Council of Ministers will prioritise efforts relating to freedom of movement and mobility, including implementing this through digital co-operation.