Around the world with Kavli Trust: "International collaboration is crucial"

This article is published in Kavli Trust’s annual report 2023.
Photo on top: Human Practice Foundation

Editorial: Stronger together for good causes!

Since 2001, Kavli Trust has contributed over NOK 340 million to various aid projects in Africa and Asia.

Support has focused on areas such as education for children and young people, job creation, maternal and infant health, rotavirus vaccine development, combating child marriage, vocational training for women and life skills programmes for young people.

The foundation’s current allocation strategy prioritises development projects within two key areas:

Child and adolescent mental health
Innovative solutions for the climate and environment, with a particular emphasis on responsible consumption and production.

“International collaboration is crucial for solving our greatest challenges,” says Paasche. ”Those of us with the most resources have a moral obligation to help those with the least.”

”Furthermore, the poorest countries often bear the heaviest burden of man- made climate change,” she emphasises.

”Kavli Trust is proud to be a foundation with an international commitment, a role more important than ever in today’s world.”

Education: A common focus

Education is a cornerstone of all development projects supported by Kavli Trust.

This support currently goes to four organisations – Norwegian Church Aid, Strømme Foundation, Adra Norway and the Danish Human Practice Foundation.

“These are four experienced and competent NGOs with strong local partners, rooted in the communities they serve,” says Grant Manager for International Development Projects in Kavli Trust, Rune Mørland.

Strengthening schools

Human Practice Foundation empowers local schools in highland regions of Nepal. Improvements include better facilities, teaching materials and more teachers.

”This has led to significantly improved school attendance, student well-being and academic achievements. Authorities have responded with increased funding for schools and education in those areas,” Mørland says.

**INVESTING IN EDUCATION**: *Students learn and thrive at a school supported by Human Practice Foundation. Photo: Human Practice Foundation*

Invited by the president

Strømme Foundation’s life skills programme, Samvad, empowers young people in Nepal. It has played a crucial role in reducing human trafficking risks and even led to regions in lowland Nepal being declared child marriage-free.

”The programme fosters mental health awareness among young people,” explains Rune Mørland. ”A clear decrease in suicide rates is one positive indicator of its impact.”

**SAMVAD:** Samvad, which means dialogue in the national language Nepali, is a non-formal empowerment programme for adolescents. It is designed for young people who have dropped out of school or are at risk of doing so, and for those who have never started school. Photo: Strømme Foundation

Samvad’s success is evident in the frequent invitations its young people receive from Nepal’s president to share their programme and its achievements. This positive impact has prompted authorities to strengthen public health and education services for children and young people.

In 2023, Strømme Foundation also received support for a new Nepal-based project providing adolescent mental health support through parenting courses.

Solar solutions

ADRA Norway is establishing education centres in Ethiopia specialising in the installation, repair, and maintenance of solar energy solutions for public buildings.

”Training is offered in-person and digitally,” explains Mørland. ”After the initial setup and a two-year period, authorities take over management of the centres.”

Jobs for women

Norwegian Church Aid’s Waste for Value program in Ethiopia is a multifaceted success. It benefits the environment, creates jobs for women and boosts economic growth.

”The programme also plays a role in developing national circular economy guidelines in collaboration with Ethiopian authorities and PETCO,” says Rune Mørland, emphasising:

”These four organisations work closely with local authorities, integrating services with existing health and education systems for systemic change and long-term, sustainable programme operation. We’re proud to partner with them and are delighted by the positive outcomes they achieve with Kavli Trust’s support.”

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