Attitudes towards Norwegian development cooperation, 2006

Statistics Norway have carried out surveys on peoples attitudes towards development cooperation several times. In addition to 2006, surveys were conducted in 1972, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1990, 1993,1995, 1996, 1999 and 2001. The surveys have been commissioned by the Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

The survey in 2006 included the following topics:

• Attitudes towards development aid, for different parts of the world. One question focuses on aid to Asia, Africa, Latin-America and another question on aid to Eastern Europe, former Soviet republics and Russia.

• Attitudes towards the size of development aid. For one half of the respondents, the aid budget was compared to a larger bugdet (social security budget) and for the other half, it was compared to a smaller (environmental budget).

• Whether or not Norwegian foreign aid is regarded as successful. Questions are asked about the impression of the quality of emergency aid, long term aid and a combined evaluation of Norwegian development aid. Also, it asks about the respondents' impressions of Norad's work on development aid, i. e. if the institution administers the fundings efficiently and if it secures high quality aid work.

• Attitudes on different types of development aid. It is asked whether or not it is right that Norwegian authorities asserts certain conditions for the countries that are aided by Norway and what channels are regarded as most cost-efficient. There are also questions about people's view of prioritizing emergency or long term aid.

• Perceptions of why it is hard to create economic and social growth in developing countries. We have asked to give people their opinion about ten possible obstacles of growth.

• Knowledge of organisations, firms or state institutions that works with different types of aid.

• Knowledge abour which countries Norwegian authorities cooperate with. Interest of foreign aid-topics and developing countries in the media. Impressions of mass medias coverage of developing countries, whether it is correct, too positive or too negative.