Norwegian People's Aid to cut 1,700 jobs over US terms

Norwegian People's Aid said Thursday it would end cooperation with the United States because it rejects conditions attached to US aid, a move it said would cut more than $40 million in funding and require around 1,700 job reductions.

The Norwegian non-governmental organisation, one of the world's largest humanitarian demining groups, said it "cannot accept" conditions imposed by the US State Department. It said the conditions require organisations receiving US support to refrain from work in favour of abortion, gender equality and diversity.

NPA said the conditions apply both to US-funded programmes and to activities supported by other donors. It said US funding accounts for about 40 percent of its income for demining work.

The organisation said the loss of US funding would reduce its annual income by nearly 400 million kroner, or $43 million.

"It is of course extremely difficult to turn down funding on this scale, with everything that entails. But these are conditions we cannot accept," NPA secretary general Raymond Johansen said.

NPA said it had already announced 1,700 job cuts in February 2025 after a freeze on foreign aid announced by US President Donald Trump's administration. The organisation said US funding was later partially restored, allowing it to continue Washington-backed demining operations in seven countries.