India and Norway have established bilateral cooperation’s way back in 1947. Both countries share and respect common values such as democracy, human rights and rule of law. Over the years, the cooperation has grown and expanded to include Trade, Investment, Science and Technology, Education and Research, Health, Culture, Climate Change and Blue Economy.  Among others, cooperation in health, started by the two Prime Ministers, is represented by the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI). This strategic bilateral partnership has been providing strategic, catalytic and innovative support to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and state National Health Missions for improved health outcomes in the focus states of Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir. 

Following the successful completion of NIPI Phase 3, both the countries have now agreed for a Phase 4 of the partnership. NIPI Phase III will be providing technical support to the existing NIPI supported States of Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir. 

Both the countries share a common vision that for solving priority health issues, global cooperation is the necessity of current times. Attainment of health targets of SDGs provides a powerful motive for using already existing platforms to work more effectively for shared priorities in global health.

NIPI 4 Specific Objectives 

NIPl's overall vision will continue to be to provide strategic, catalytic and innovative support to the National Health Mission, by designing, testing and piloting innovations and interventions that can improve women's and children' s health.

In this regards to continue the partnership, fifth annual meeting of NIPI held under the leadership of Mr Apurva Chandra (IAS), Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Co-chaired by Ms. Martine Aamdal Bottheim, Deputy Ambassador of Norway to India. 

The participants were Ms. Meera Srivastava, Joint Secretary RCH, MoHFW, GoI, Dr. Shobhna Gupta, Deputy Commissioner (Child health), MoHFW, GoI, and Principal Health Secretaries/Mission Directors of NIPI 5 States along with few team members from Royal Norwegian Embassy and CURE (implementing partner). 

The objective of this annual meeting was approval of the NIPI III progress report 2023 and wrap up of NIPI phase III. Then Signing of NIPI Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for NIPI IV and afterwards discussions on proposed work areas for NIPI Phase IV. 

All the Principal Health Secretaries/Mission Directors of NIPI 5 States talked about the real groundwork and technical support of NIPI as a leading partner. The meeting concluded with signing of MoU and discussion of NIPI IV work areas.

Government of India and Government of Norway is looking forward to the beginning of new phase of NIPI and wishes to continue doing the good work.  For more on this partnership, please visit www.nipi-cure.org