Non-governmental organizations and Norwegian foreign policy

Humanitarian assistance has become an important part of Norwegian foreign policy. The non-governmental organizations are the most important channel for official Norwegian humanitarian assistance: more than 50% is channelled through Norwegian NGOs. How does the "Norwegian system" function in the foreign policy arena? To what extent will the Ministry be able to control or influence the work of the NGOs in the field? What factors will influence and decide the character and control of this policy on the ground? Can we speak of a new type of foreign policy? This article is based on an empirical analysis of Norwegian humanitarian assistance to Southern Sudan from 1986 to 1995 and the work of the two most central actors, Norwegian Church Aid and Norwegian People's Aid.