Multilateral Cooperation

Four multilateral organisations are of particular importance for the priorities of Iceland’s international development cooperation policy: the World Bank, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Iceland works in accordance with its multilateral cooperation strategy for international development cooperaration.

Furthermore, Iceland collaborates for the protection of the earth and sustainable use of natural resources with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).  Iceland also supports and collaborates with some key UN institutions in the field of humanitarian assistance and emergency response. 

The contribution by Iceland to multilateral development cooperation is primarily based on contractual core contributions, as such contributions enable institutions to organise their operations in accordance with their policies and objectives. Support is also provided in the form of earmarked contributions that are either subject to conditions related to support for a specific issue or state, as well as through the fieldwork of seconded experts. 

Iceland strives to actively participate in the policy making of partner multilateral organisations, through constituencies, governing boards, or bilateral partnerships. Such platforms are used to advocate for the values held by Icelandic society, in addition to emphasising the efficiency and effectiveness of the institutions.