Fact Sheet

The Norwegian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights, NORDEM, was established in 1993 to assist the international promotion of democracy and human rights through the mobilisation of an adequate Norwegian human resource base.

NORDEM is now made up of a Resource Bank and a Stand-by Force. The Resource Bank consists of approximately 120 persons who are ready to render assistance and advice in different professional areas, including election assistance, democratic organisations, news media, minority protection, constitutional reform, rule of law, good governance, and human rights education.

The Stand-by Force, consisting of approximately 250 persons, was established in 1995 to ensure a high degree of preparedness for personnel categories in frequent demand. On 1–3 weeks’ notice the Stand-by Force should be ready to deploy trained personnel within the areas of election assistance and observation, human rights monitoring, investigation of human rights abuses, and democratisation support projects.

On an annual basis, NORDEM carries out about 40 assignments (comprising 400–500 person-months) in approximately 20 different countries. More or less half of the assignments have fallen within the areas of election observation and election assistance, and the other half within the areas of human rights actions and democracy building. NORDEM’s services have been in high demand among international actors. Most NORDEM missions in recent years have been requested by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, (mainly within the Balkans) but substantial secondments have also been rendered to the United Nations and others.

NORDEM is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since the establishment of the Stand-by Force in 1995 NORDEM has received approximately NOK 20 million a year: a total of some NOK 136 million since 1993. In that period of time, more than one thousand Norwegians have been posted by NORDEM for tasks abroad. General responsibility for NORDEM lies with the Norwegian Institute of Human Rights, whereas administrative and operational duties rest with the Norwegian Refugee Council.