Get funding for your international project

FAQ about work exchanges

• Who can apply for a grant?

  Norec supports international partnerships in and between countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Norway.

  We accept applications from voluntary organisations, the public sector, and the private sector. Applicants must be based in Norway or one or more of Norec’s partner countries.

  Read more about who qualifies here

• What does the grant cover?

  The grant covers all expenses related to the exchange itself, including travel, accommodation, salary, and insurance. Additionally, a sum is provided to cover administrative costs.

  Companies also receive funding for both employers and employees to attend preparatory courses before the exchange project begins. We also offer courses for employees after the exchange is completed.

• What exactly is a work exchange?

  For over 20 years, Norec has provided grants for companies and organisations to send employees on work exchanges. These exchanges take place between Norway and countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

  Here’s an example to illustrate:

  A hospital in Norway has a collaboration with a hospital in India. This is called a partnership. They want to learn from each other.

  A young Indian nurse and a young Norwegian nurse swap places for a year. This is known as an exchange.

  During their exchange, the nurses face challenges, achieve successes, and experience both highs and lows. They acquire new skills, learn a new language, and immerse themselves in a different culture. In short, they gain valuable insights about both their profession and themselves.

  When they return home, they use everything they have learned to help their hospitals provide better healthcare services to their local communities.

  Before, during, and after the exchange, Norec offers courses and guidance for both the nurses participating in the exchange and their supervisors. This ensures that all parties gain maximum benefit from the exchange.

• Who can participate in a work exchange?

  The Norec grant for exchanges is primarily intended for young employees under 35 years old.

  Participants in the exchange program must either be current employees of the company or recruited specifically for the exchange.

  Exceptions to the age limit can be made under certain conditions.

  Norec generally has no restrictions on the number of participants you can send at the same time. Each project will be evaluated on an individual basis.

• What countries are eligible for support?

  The Norec grant is available for specific countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. See the full list by following the link below.

  If there are three or more companies, organisations, or institutions collaborating, we can make exceptions to the country list if two of the countries qualify.

  Eligible countries

• How do I find a company/organisation to exchange with?

  Unfortunately, Norec does not have the capacity to find relevant partners for companies and organizations seeking exchanges.

  We are working on a digital portal where you can leave your contact information, but it will not be ready until late 2024 at the earliest.

  If you do not have a company or organization in your network, we recommend researching companies abroad that excel in the areas you wish to learn about and contacting them directly.

• What is Norec?

  The Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Norec) is Norway’s only competence centre for international exchange collaboration. As an agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are part of Norway’s overall effort to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

  Primarily, we provide grants so that your workplace can send employees on exchange to another country, while also receiving an employee in return.

  Our method is mutual exchange. This means we work with international partnerships that wish to use exchanges to learn from each other and develop.

  In addition, we:

  • Manage the Norec Network – a network of former exchange participants.
  • Provide grants to Norwegian political parties and their youth wings to support their work on democracy development in developing countries.
  • Increase the number of Norwegians in the UN and other international organisations that are strategically important for Norway.