Iceland’s cross-cutting Themes

Everyone has a role to play to achieve Iceland's goals in international development cooperation. With active participation in development cooperation, Icelandic companies can fulfill their social obligations as well as support Iceland's obligations and goals regarding development cooperation.

Human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development are cross-cutting goals in Icelandic development cooperation and its main theme when it comes to its policy making and implementation. Companies are encouraged to consider in what way their collaborative projects in developing countries support human rights by referring to international norms and methodologies for human rights-based development cooperation.

It is preferable that collaborative projects promote gender equality and women's empowerment, as gender equality is a prerequisite for performance and development, including economic development. Furthermore, it is desirable that collaborative projects contribute to sustainability and positive development of the environment and climate.