Cooperation with Civil Society and NGOs

Icelandic non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a significant role in implementing Iceland’s policy on international development cooperation. Their close connection to grassroots communities, extensive experience, and diverse field activities makes them important partners in development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

To strengthen the foundations of Icelandic NGOs and further enhance knowledge and experience in the field of development cooperation, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs offers three types of grants to NGOs each year; for development programmes, humanitarian assistance and for communication and advocacy projects. Around ten short or long-term agreements are made with NGOs each year through this grants process.

In addition, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs offers larger NGOs to apply for four-year framework agreements. The aim of this partnership is to increase effectiveness and efficiency of projects and to provide the organizations with greater predictability in their work. In 2025, the ministry signed framework agreements with four organizations, i.e. The Icelandic Church Aid, Barnaheill – Save the Children in Iceland, the Icelandic Red Cross, and SOS Children’s Villages Iceland.

In addition, to facilitate broad engagement around the implementation of Iceland’s development cooperation policy, five NGOs have representatives in the Icelandic Committee for Development Cooperation. Regular consultations are held at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The collaboration with Icelandic NGOs is guided by a strategy, creating a common vision for partnerships with NGOs and ensuring transparency and efficiency in the use of public funding for development cooperation.