National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct | Norway

What National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct | Norway does

Norges kontaktpunkt for ansvarlig næringsliv (National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct, Norway, "NCP Norway") is a Norwegian government body administratively under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that promotes the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct domestically and operates as part of a global OECD-coordinated network of 51 NCPs across 52 adherent countries. The organization is structured as a multi-stakeholder expert body consisting of four appointed members (with chair Frode Elgesem, judge at Borgarting Court of Appeal) and a three-person secretariat headed by Kristel M. Tonstad, with members nominated by social partners (LO and NHO) and civil society.

NCP Norway's core products and services comprise free expert guidance on OECD Guidelines and risk-based due diligence, courses and seminars delivered across Norwegian cities in cooperation with the Norwegian Consumer Authority (Forbrukertilsynet), sectoral and thematic guidance documents, the RBC Compass (Ansvarlighetskompasset) self-assessment spreadsheet tool co-developed with KPMG and updated in 2025, the OECD Due Diligence Checker tools launched January 2026, and a unique non-judicial grievance mechanism ("specific instance" complaint handling) that conducts examination and mediation. Technology consists of OECD due diligence frameworks, Excel- and browser-based self-assessment tools, recurring business surveys (600 respondents in 2023), and traditional case-handling procedures; no proprietary software platform or AI components are developed.

The business model is fully government-funded with no commercial revenue: NCP Norway receives its operational budget from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and provides all services free of charge to Norwegian businesses of all sizes, government ministries, trade unions (LO, NHO, Virke), and civil society organizations. Customer engagement is horizontal and segmented by stakeholder type rather than revenue tier, and the primary distribution channels are the responsiblebusiness.no website, direct outreach, the annual Norwegian conference on responsible business conduct co-hosted with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, NHO, and LO, Arendalsuka panels, and OECD international forums and peer reviews.

Name

National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct | Norway

Legal name

Norges kontaktpunkt for ansvarlig næringsliv

Website

https://responsiblebusiness.no

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NCP Norway is the Norwegian government's expert body under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that promotes the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct, offering free guidance, training, due diligence self-assessment tools, and a non-judicial grievance mechanism to Norwegian businesses, ministries, trade unions, and civil society as part of a 51-NCP global OECD network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Regulatory Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

SIC

Services-Services, Nec (8900)

akta.pro primary industry

Ethics, Integrity & Whistleblowing Program Advisory (BPAHAFAI)

Keywords

• Responsible business conduct
• OECD Guidelines advisory
• Due diligence guidance
• Non-judicial grievance mechanism
• Corporate accountability mediation

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: NCP Norway is a government body administratively under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Utenriksdepartementet). It receives its operational funding from the Norwegian government. The organization provides all services free of charge and does not generate commercial revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NCP Norway disseminates knowledge about the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct, delivers free guidance and training to Norwegian businesses on risk-based due diligence assessments and the Transparency Act, and operates Norway's non-judicial grievance mechanism for handling complaints (specific instances) about alleged corporate violations of the OECD Guidelines. Its core deliverables include courses and seminars, the RBC Compass self-assessment tool co-developed with KPMG, sectoral and thematic guidance documents, and mediation services between complainants and companies, all provided free of charge under a statutory government mandate.

Product overview

National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct Norway operates as a single integrated service providing expert guidance, complaint handling, and educational programs on responsible business conduct based on OECD Guidelines. The organization offers a unified portfolio of services including: guidance dissemination on OECD Guidelines, due diligence guidance, courses and seminars, the Ansvarlighetskompasset (RBC Compass) self-assessment tool, OECD Due Diligence Checkers, specific instance/complaint handling through a unique grievance mechanism, and sectoral/thematic guidance documents. These services work together to help Norwegian businesses understand and implement responsible business practices in line with the Transparency Act and international standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Guidance on OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached over 4,300 people in 2023 through information and guidance activities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Nordic-Baltic Network of National Contact PointsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2024An annual network of NCPs from Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. NCP Norway participates in annual meetings (hosted in Tallinn in 2024) and issues joint statements. The network reminds OECD member states of their obligation to ensure NCPs have adequate personnel and financial resources.
• OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCP Norway is a statutory component of the OECD's national contact point system for responsible business conduct. It operates under OECD Guidelines and Implementation Procedures, cooperates with the OECD Secretariat in Paris, participates in the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct, NCP network meetings, and sectoral forums. The OECD provides peer reviews of NCP performance and coordinates cross-border case handling.
• Norwegian Consumer Authority (Forbrukertilsynet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForbrukertilsynet is the supervisory authority for Norway's Transparency Act. It co-organizes and co-delivers workshops on the Transparency Act and OECD Guidelines with NCP Norway across Norway. NCP Norway cooperates with Forbrukertilsynet on the annual business survey (2023). Both organizations have a combined newsletter audience reaching 3,000+ recipients.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Utenriksdepartementet)coreOthersNCP Norway is administratively under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which provides its mandate and primary funding. The Ministry appoints NCP members and oversees the organization's operations. NCP Norway serves as a resource for the Ministry in developing policy on responsible business conduct.
• Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries (Nærings- og fiskeridepartementet)coreOthersCo-hosts the annual conference on responsible business conduct with NCP Norway. Appointing authority for NCP members in consultation with other ministries. Key government partner for business-related aspects of the OECD Guidelines mandate.
• Ethical Trade Norway (Etisk Handel Norge)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEthical Trade Norway collaborates with NCP Norway on workshops about the Transparency Act and due diligence. The organization is a civil society actor in Norway's responsible business ecosystem. NCP staff member Åse Kristin Sand took a one-year leave to work at Ethical Trade Norway in late 2024.
• Future in our Hands (Framtiden i våre hender)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture in our Hands is a Norwegian civil society organization that nominates members to NCP Norway and participates in workshops and stakeholder dialogues. The organization filed complaints against companies and engages in advocacy on responsible business conduct. NCP member Carin Leffler is a coordinator at Future in our Hands.
• Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and Confederation of Norwegian Business (NHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLO and NHO are Norway's principal social partner organizations. They nominate members to NCP Norway and co-host major events (annual conferences, Arendalsuka panels) with NCP. They represent the labor and employer perspectives in NCP governance and stakeholder engagement.
• Chilean National Contact PointminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chilean NCP is serving as a supporting NCP in the Mapuche-Williche vs. Statkraft AS specific instance. Joint statements have been issued by both NCPs. The case demonstrates the cross-border cooperation mechanism within the OECD NCP system.
• KPMG NorwayminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKPMG Norway co-developed the RBC Compass (Ansvarlighetskompasset) self-assessment tool with NCP Norway. The tool was updated in 2025 by NCP Norway in collaboration with KPMG. KPMG contributed technical and methodological expertise to the development of this Excel-based due diligence alignment tool.
• Korean National Contact PointminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Korean NCP handled the part of the Workers Support Team & KTNC Watch vs. TotalEnergies/Equinor/Technip Energies specific instance that directly concerned Samsung Heavy Industries. NCP Norway handled the part concerning the Norwegian companies (TotalEnergies, Equinor, Technip Energies).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Danish National Contact Point: Denmark's NCP is part of the Nordic-Baltic NCP network alongside NCP Norway, with the same mandate to promote OECD Guidelines and handle specific instances for Danish businesses.
• German National Contact Point (OECD NCP Germany): Germany's NCP, hosted at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, performs the same specific-instance, promotional and advisory functions under the OECD Guidelines as NCP Norway and participates in the same peer network.
• Korean National Contact Point: Korea's NCP, hosted at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, cooperates with NCP Norway on cross-border specific instances (e.g., Workers Support Team & KTNC Watch vs. TotalEnergies involving Samsung Heavy Industries). It performs identical functions within the OECD framework.
• UK National Contact Point: The UK's National Contact Point operates under the same OECD Guidelines mandate as NCP Norway, handling specific instances and promoting RBC to UK businesses. It is the closest functional peer, differing only by geography.
• Swedish National Contact Point: Sweden's NCP operates within the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and is a Nordic-Baltic network peer of NCP Norway, with the same OECD Guidelines mandate for Swedish businesses.
• French National Contact Point (Point de Contact National France): France's NCP, housed at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, is a direct functional peer of NCP Norway within the OECD NCP network, handling specific instances and providing guidance on responsible business conduct.
• Dutch National Contact Point (NCP Netherlands): The Netherlands' NCP for the OECD Guidelines operates as an independent secretariat performing identical functions to NCP Norway - handling specific instances and providing RBC advisory - and is often cited as a high-functioning peer.

Broad incumbents

• Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI): ETI is a UK-based alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs promoting workers' rights in supply chains. While not an OECD NCP, it is an adjacent multi-stakeholder initiative focused on similar responsible business conduct and due-diligence themes that NCP Norway addresses.
• Danish Institute for Human Rights (Human Rights and Business Programme): The Danish Institute for Human Rights runs a globally recognized Human Rights and Business programme offering due diligence advisory and tools. It is an adjacent peer in the responsible business conduct advisory space, although it is not an OECD NCP.

Emerging players

• Shift (Business and Human Rights Resource Centre): Shift is a leading center of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. It provides advisory services to companies and governments on human rights due diligence, overlapping substantively with NCP Norway's mandate but operating in a non-judicial, non-OECD capacity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OECD_NCP_Norway
• Facebookfacebook.com/OECDkontaktpunkt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/norges-oecd-kontaktpunkt-for-ansvarlig-n%C3%A6ringsliv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct | Norway