Forum for Technology and Development Cooperation (FTU)
FTU – Forum for Technology and Development Cooperation – works for sharing knowledge on all UN Sustainability Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
We are a media house with purpose and main objective to present technical solutions, research and increase innovation for achieving global sustainability. We also aim to inspire engineers and students to travel abroad for working in Developing Countries with Technology. At the UN World Water Day 2026, 65 % of the audience were students from College or University.
FTU were founded in 1978 by NORAD, The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. We own professional streaming and podcast equipment which we have used for streaming the UN World Water Day 2026 and our last Ukraine supporting seminar on democratic Urban Planning Processes:
Recent video recordings with our own equipment:
https://ftu.no/opptak-av-fns-vanndag/
https://ftu.no/opptak-fra-ukraina-arrangementet/
We have been visited by Norway’s special representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs several times. Norway’s Special Envoy on Climate and Security, Hans Olav Ibrekk, and Norway’s Special Representant for Ukraine, Christian Syse, were central speakers at the seminars above.
Also the State Secretary from the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Equality, Erlend Hanstveit, was present to open the UN World Water Day (as seen in the first video above). We are very greatful for the support from Norwegian Authorities.
We have a newly established our YouTube channel here where we Live Stream globally and keep our recordings:
https://youtube.com/@ftu-norway?si=i7iCKDleRV5cqSsa
FTU is a Norwegian Association of volunteering journalists and editors, and a non-profit NGO. All our volunteering journalists work for free without salary. Our activity and operations are ruled by Norwegian law and other regulations and guide lines for best practice for associations.
We are funded by membership fees. However, our Advisor, Erik Berg, is working on financing opportunities from public sources. We collaborate on our events with other organisations that are funded by the Norwegian State.
Our Advisor, Erik Berg, is a retired former Chair of the Department of Evaluation at both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and NORAD – The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. https://brukere.snl.no/409
All decisions in the FTU board or in the FTU Yearly Assembly follow good standard practices for Norwegian associations.
The logos of FTU’s institutional members are displayed to the right on our frontpage.
Video overview page
The EU adopted new sanctions and opened the way for LNG transport from Siberia
The EU adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia in an extraordinary meeting of the ambassadors on 23/7. In that package, they also opened the way for the Greek company Dynagas to continue transporting Russian LNG (liquefied natural gas) from Siberia. In fact, the EU had already sanctioned the transport of LNG to countries outside the EU in its 19th…
Greece blocks new EU sanctions against Russia.
Last week, Greece prevented the EU from adopting new sanctions against Russia. The Greek company Dynagas transports Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) using specialized Arc7-class vessels from Siberia and the Yamal gas fields. Greece blocked the sanctions out of consideration for Dynagas, which would lose its largest customer if the transport of LNG from Russia were sanctioned.
“We believe that…
International Seminar on Disinformation, 7/9, in Fredrikstad.
On Monday, 7th of September, at 19:00, our next major seminar will take place in Fredrikstad. The program for the disinformation seminar is now complete:
Speakers will include researcher Carl Heath from Sweden (RISE and the University of Gothenburg). He developed the educational materials on influence and disinformation for the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency.
The following speakers from Norway will…
Journalism Education
We at the FTU editorial team have taken several courses at the Institute of Journalism this spring.
We will apply what we have learned in podcasting, investigative journalism, and video storytelling to our publications. We are launching a podcast and an online newspaper very soon, and video content may follow later.
Follow our website and give us feedback on our…
FTU Online Newspaper
We are launching an FTU online newspaper in both Norwegian and English. The first articles will focus on corruption, human rights, AI technology, and climate change.
We are currently exploring suitable online platforms to publish significantly more written content than we have done previously..
FTU Podcast
FTU is launching a podcast series. Work began last week. We will cover important international topics that are relevant to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The topics will be central and global issues, including climate change, corruption, education, health, polarization, and more.
Follow our website for the launch in August.
New Board Members from UNDP, NHC, and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute
We warmly welcome them to FTU. With these new board members, FTU strengthens its expertise in the UN system and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, climate change and solutions, as well as corruption and Eastern Europe.
We look forward to new opportunities for FTU’s strategic development. Given our strong in-house capabilities for video and podcast production using our own equipment,…
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Launches National Project on Technology and Development Assistance
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is launching a national project on technology and development assistance. This is very encouraging for FTU. It means that Norway’s government and ministry support FTU’s purpose and are elevating it to the level of national policy. Watch the recording of the dialogue meeting between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norad, SINTEF, and the technology communities…
Climate Finance with Norges Vel
We are pleased to announce our next climate finance seminar. It will take place on October 12 at 17:00 at Asplan Viak, with light refreshments served beforehand.
Our members Norges Vel, Rasmus Benestad, and Morten Svelle are responsible for finalizing the program and finding the experts. The main topic will be the climate finance initiatives that Norges Vel has worked…
Disinformation and Influence—How Can Technology Help Find Solutions?
We are grateful to present our new collaboration with the House of Literature in Fredrikstad. FTU and the House of Literature have identified several leading experts from Norway, Ukraine, France, Finland, and Sweden, and the House of Literature is co-organizing the event.
On Monday, September 7, at 19:00, our next major Ukraine seminar will take place in Fredrikstad.
Speakers will…
Video recording from UN’s Water day
We organized an excellent UN World Water Day event on March 19 together with the Norwegian Hydrological Council and the Norwegian Water Association. This year’s theme was Gender Equality and Water. The livestream recording has so far been viewed online by 200 people. We had a full house at Asplan Viak, with 35 guests.
Many thanks to State Secretary Erlend…
Ukrainian Engineer Joins the Board
We are very pleased and grateful to welcome Sergiy Zamulko as a new board member of FTU. He has lived in Norway for nine years and works as a computer engineer at Torvald Klaveness. He is also a volunteer head of the Resource Development Committee of the Ukrainian Association in Norway.
Zamulko has an extensive international network in humanitarian aid,…
New Political Adviser for FTU
We are pleased to welcome Erik Berg, a retired senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norad. Berg is joining FTU as a political adviser and volunteer. He has great confidence in FTU and believes that FTU has an important role to play in Norwegian society.
Berg also believes that FTU provides a valuable counterweight to the dangerous…
