A former employee of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry claims that support for Terje Rød-Larsen's think tank, now known as the International Peace Institute, was pressured from higher authorities contrary to the Ministry’s claim of it being a professional assessment.
In a recent statement to Panorama news, Tor E. Gjerde, a former employee of Norway's Foreign Ministry with over 35 years of service, voiced concerns regarding the financial support awarded to the International Peace Institute (IPI). He argues that the ministry’s assertions of the support being based on professional evaluations are misleading and that the direction to allocate funds was actually given from upper management, suggesting a lack of transparency and autonomy in decision-making processes regarding international aid.
The IPI, previously known as the International Peace Academy, has been a recipient of substantial financial backing from Norway, totaling approximately 130 million NOK between 1997 and 2018. Under the leadership of Terje Rød-Larsen, the organization has grown in stature, yet recent revelations regarding Rød-Larsen's alleged connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have raised ethical concerns about the governance of the think tank and the nature of Norwegian support. Gjerde’s perspective sheds light on the internal dynamics of the Foreign Ministry and questions the integrity of financial allocations intended for international peace initiatives.
Rød-Larsen's compensation, reportedly amounting to 7.6 million dollars over his 15 years at IPI, equates to about 55 million NOK at historical exchange rates, further complicating the narrative surrounding the funding and its implications. As he faces serious charges related to corruption, this situation not only jeopardizes his legacy but also brings the involvement of Norwegian governmental support under scrutiny, prompting calls for a reevaluation of funding practices for similar organizations going forward.
