As laid down by the Crown Prince Regent’s decree of 2 March 2000, as amended by Royal decree of 3 December 2004
Submitted by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1. Background
In Parliamentary Bill (St.prp.) no. 1 (1998-99), the Norwegian Government concluded that Fredskorpset in its then form had outlived its usefulness. In Parliamentary Bill (St.prp.) no. 67 (1998-99), the Government presented the overarching goals and principles on which it would base a restructuring of Fredskorpset.
In its consideration of development policy report, Report to the Storting no. 28 (1999-2000) Concerning development policy from the Minister for International Development and Human Rights of 18 November 1999, the Storting endorsed the Government’s restructuring of Fredskorpset.
On this basis, on 19 December 1999, the Storting made an appropriation decision for Fredskorpset for 2000 in accordance with Budgetary Report to the Storting no. 3 (1999-2000) of 3 December 1999.
2. Execution of the restructuring
The restructuring of Fredskorpset shall be effected in accordance with the present Statutes as of their entry into force, cf. Article 14 below.
3. Objectives
Fredskorpset shall assist in implementing the overall objectives of Norway's cooperation with the developing countries by: contributing to lasting improvements in the economic, social and political conditions of the populations of developing countries, with particular emphasis on ensuring that development assistance benefits the poor.
In this regard, Fredskorpset shall focus its efforts on promoting a more just world based on the recognition of fundamental human rights.
To that end, Fredskorpset shall assist in establishing contact and collaboration between individuals, organisations and institutions in Norway and the developing world, based on solidarity, equality and reciprocity.
Fredskorpset funds shall be spent on initiatives aimed at countries classified by the OECD as possible recipients of official development aid (ODA countries). Of these funds, at least half is to be spent on initiatives that include the least-developed countries (LDCs).
4. Tasks
Within the scope of its objectives, Fredskorpset will:
• promote reciprocal learning
• assist participants in transferring knowledge and experience back to their own societies
• contribute to developing and strengthening civil society in developing countries
• strengthen local organisation and democratic structures in developing countries
• empower people to set and achieve their own development goals
• promote greater participation by developing countries in international cooperation.
In order to perform these tasks, Fredskorpset shall support organisations and institutions in Norway and in developing countries (collaboration partners) who collaborate through their own staff (Fredskorpset participants).
As part of this requirement Fredskorpset shall organise the recruitment and training of Fredskorpset participants and different forms of collaboration between a diverse range of public organisations and institutions
- in the developing countries, between Norwegian organisations and institutions and organisations and institutions in the developing countries and between organisations and institutions in the developing countries that have established collaboration with Norwegian organisations and institutions (South/South collaboration).
- in Norway, between Norwegian organisations and institutions and organisations and institutions in the developing countries.
Fredskorpset shall furthermore assist the collaboration partners in experience exchange, advice, quality control and development associated with such collaboration.
5. Status and powers of authority
Fredskorpset is a governmental administrative agency possessing separate powers of authority, under the aegis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Fredskorpset’s separate authority entails that:
- Fredskorpset has been granted exemption from the gross budgeting principle, cf. Regulations on financial control in central government and circulars issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Finance applicable at any time, concerning state enterprises exempted from the principle of gross budgeting.
- Fredskorpset shall perform its tasks independently. Any important matters of principle arising within Fredskorpset’s work shall be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its decision.
- Fredskorpset independently creates such positions of employment and appoints such staff it deems necessary for attending to assigned tasks and with regard for the fact that staffing and organisation must be adjusted to the given framework conditions. Those appointed are civil servants and covered by the Norwegian Civil Service Act. Fredskorpset’s civil servants are appointed by Fredskorpset’s appointments board.
6. Organisation
Fredskorpset is administrated by a Board and a Director
A Secretariat led by the Director will be responsible for day-to-day operations.
An Executive Committee is to be appointed to advise the Board on the activities of Fredskorpset.
7. Board
The Board is to be appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Board consists of seven members with personal deputies. One of the seven members and his/her deputy shall be elected from among Fredskorpset’s staff. Members and deputies hold office for 2 years and are eligible for reappointment.
In appointing members to the Board, due emphasis must be given to ensuring that its composition reflects the breadth of the organisation and the diversity of the contributing actors, and that it has the expertise and independence necessary for performing its assigned tasks.
The Board forms a quorum when more than half of its members are present or participate in Board proceedings. Decisions are made by ordinary majority. In case of equality of votes, the Chairman of the Board has the casting vote.
The Board lays down instructions to provide detailed rules concerning the Board’s work and proceedings, cf. Article 12 below.
- The Board is responsible for executive technical and administrative management of Fredskorpset. The Board is responsible for ensuring that Fredskorpset is run in accordance with the Statutes and the applicable rules governing state enterprises, cf. Article 12 below, and shall see to proper organisation of the enterprise in relation to these frameworks. The Board is charged with the following chief tasks:
• to outline policies for Fredskorpset’s activities
• to set the framework for Fredskorpset’s organisation
• to approve the annual plans of Fredskorpset
• to submit budget proposals to funding authorities
• to distribute resources within guidelines supplied by funding authorities
• to have responsibility for following up results and controlling the budget
• to submit an annual report and financial statement on Fredskorpset’s activities
• to ensure that Fredskorpset’s activities are performed in a professionally proper manner
• to ensure that programmes for guidance or services are developed for current or potential partners in respect of the activities of Fredskorpset
• to have overall responsibility for information regarding the activities of Fredskorpset
• to deal with other matters of importance to the activities of Fredskorpset.
8. The Director
The Director is appointed by the Board. The appointment is for a term of 4 years with the option of renewing it once for a further 4 years.
The Director is responsible for day-to-day management of Fredskorpset’s activities and shall follow guidelines and instructions issued by the Board.
Day-to-day management does not comprise matters of an unusual nature or of great significance. However, the Director may decide on such matters with authority from the Board in specific cases or when the Board’s decision cannot be awaited without substantial disadvantage. In such a case, the Board shall be advised as soon as possible of the decision.
The Director ensures that Fredskorpset is run in accordance with the Statutes and the applicable rules regarding state enterprises, cf. Article 12 below.
The Director is the secretary to the Board.
Detailed instructions for the Director are laid down by the Board, cf. Article 12 below.
9. The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is made up of members appointed by Fredskorpset’s collaboration partners. Each collaboration partner may have one delegate on the Executive Committee.
The Board may invite other organisations and institutions to attend meetings of the Executive Committee. Any questions arising concerning the composition of the Executive Committee shall be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its decision.
The Executive Committee should have at least 15 members.
The Executive Committee is the advisory body to the Board on matters concerning Fredskorpset activities as regards the principal framework for its activities and other matters of principle.
The Executive Committee shall elect its own Chairman and Vice-Chairman and shall set its own agenda.
The Executive Committee and the Board shall meet at least every two years.
10. Criteria for support from Fredskorpset
Organisations and institutions seeking to engage in joint projects as Fredskorpset’s collaboration partners under the auspices of, and with support from, Fredskorpset, can apply for support from Fredskorpset for the posting abroad of Fredskorpset participants, together with a feasibility study, competency building, follow-up activities and associated public relations activities.
Fredskorpset elaborates and gives notice of special criteria and guidelines for when such support may be granted, cf. Article 12 below. The criteria and the guidelines shall be confined to the framework of the present Statutes, cf. Articles 3 and 4 above especially, and shall require that:
- collaboration between the organisations and institutions concerned have the full backing of their respective enterprise
- the posting and receiving of Fredskorpset participants shall be part of a long-term, binding collaboration between the parties
- a detailed report on tasks to be performed by the Fredskorpset participants, stating how these tasks are to contribute to achievement of Fredskorpset’s aims and the discharge of its tasks. Fredskorpset participants should not be assigned tasks associated with control and management of finances and resource consumption in the developing countries and must not replace the local workforce
- learning and competence building be key components of the tasks of Fredskorpset participants
- acquired knowledge and experience be transferred to the Fredskorpset participants’ home country on completion of their posting
- collaboration partners assume the employer’s responsibility, including administrative and work-related responsibility for the Fredskorpset participants, and for coordination of the participants’ activities at country level, as agreed between the parties
- recruitment and training of Fredskorpset participants be based on the following principles:
- explicit requirements regarding the individual participant’s qualifications, with emphasis on social commitment, organisational experience and communication skills et cetera
- requirements concerning satisfactory language skills prior to commencing the assignment
- participation in joint training for Fredskorpset participants
- the primary age group for the participants is 22-35 years
- as a rule, postings abroad shall last 1-3 years
- participants shall receive an allowance commensurate with local conditions up to a modest standard in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Board.
11. Separate programmes
FK-youth
FK-youth shall be aimed at participants between the ages of 18-25 and shall place special emphasis on opinion-forming public relations work and reciprocal learning. The programmes shall as a rule be of 6-12 months’ duration.
FK-senior
FK-senior shall be aimed at individuals with long working experience and who are nearing the end of their professional career. As a rule, Norwegian participants should be in the age group 55 to 70. The individual programmes shall as a rule be of one year’s duration and place special emphasis on competence building among managers and/or key specialists in developing countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may charge Fredskorpset with organising separate initiatives and projects at variance from the general programme lines.
12. Procedural rules
The financial regulations applying to Norwegian state enterprises (Regulations on financial control in central government and Provisions regarding financial control in central government) are applicable to Fredskorpset with such exceptions, addenda and specifications as are set out in Ministry of Finance circulars applicable at any time concerning the applicability of the financial regulations to state enterprises granted exemption from the gross budgeting principle, cf. Article 5 above.
The Public Administration Act is applicable to Fredskorpset’s enterprise. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the complaints authority for individual decisions made by Fredskorpset.
13. Modifications to the Statutes
Modifications to the Statutes are prescribed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Proposals for modifications shall be submitted for comment by the Board. The Board itself may submit proposals for modifications to the Statutes.
14. Entry into force
The present Statutes enter into force immediately.