Centre of Competence on Rural Development

Norway is distinguished by its active political approach to maintaining the population in rural regions in spite of a long-standing trend of centralisation and urbanisation. The main role of the Centre of Competence on Rural Development (Distriktssenteret) is to lend support to Norwegian municipalities, community associations and local and regional initiatives in the field of rural development.

Gathering information

The Centre collects and disseminates relevant know-how, both in the form of best practice examples and assessment reports on various projects, and by commissioning research within relevant fields. A wide range of material on rural development in Norway is available in the national database at distriktssenteret.no.

This database draws on a variety of sources, such as interviews with local practitioners and scientific reports. The Centre does not carry out research, but frequently commissions R&D. Some of the reports commissioned by the Centre provide a basis for future policies pertaining to rural development.

Offering advice

By drawing on accumulated know-how, the Centre functions as an advisor to the national, regional, and local levels of government in questions related to community development in rural regions. The Centre also contributes to competence-building at the county administrations, as well as interacting with other state agencies and organisations involved in rural development.

The geographical target area for rural development policies in Norway includes 16 out of 19 counties. The ones excluded are Oslo, Akershus, and Vestfold, as well as cities such as Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger. One advisor is in charge of following up each of the Norwegian counties within the rural development target area.

A decentralised organisation

The Centre’s staff comprises 17 advisors based in three different locations – Steinkjer, Sogndal, and Alstahaug – in addition to the Director and his staff, who are all based in Steinkjer. Each advisor focuses on one or two specific areas, enabling them to accommodate specialised requests.

The Centre of Competence on Rural Development is managed by Director General Halvor Holmli. The Centre is funded through the State Budget of Norway, and receives an annual letter of regulation from the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Although the Centre is formally owned by the Ministry, its professional independence is underlined in the Centre’s statutes.