Norway Provides Funding for ITCP
IMO’s technical co-operation activities in Africa have received a major funding boost with the conclusion of an agreement between IMO and NORAD, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the two organizations on 30 October 2006, NORAD will provide $226,000 towards three technical co-operation activities in Africa in the field of maritime security, to be executed through IMO’s Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme (ITCP). The agreement sees the establishment of a bilateral trust fund arrangement between IMO and NORAD.Norway has long been a major donor to the ITCP and, since its funding has resulted in the delivery of key assistance to developing regions, particularly Africa, within Norway’s stated priorities of maritime safety and security, protection of the marine environment, and women in development. Considerable support has also been provided by Norway to strengthen maritime training institutes, including annual donations of some US$600,000 to the World Maritime University through the ITCP.