The Government agencies of Norway are state-controlled organizations that act independently to carry out the policies of the Government of Norway. The government ministries are relatively small and merely policy-making organizations, allowed to control agencies by policy decisions but not by direct orders. A minister is explicitly prohibited from interfering with the day-to-day operation in an agency or the outcome in individual cases. While no minister is allowed to give orders to agencies personally, they are subject to decisions made by the government. Also, the minister is normally the instance of appeals for agency decisions.
Agencies are organised as . Still, some of the work of the government is carried out through state enterprises or limited companies. For a full list of enterprises and companies, see List of Norwegian government enterprises.
Storting
Office of the Auditor General of Norway (): auditor of all state accounts Norwegian Parliamentary Ombudsman for Public Administration (): ombudsman for all civil matters
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Agencies Norwegian Agricultural Agency (): manages agriculture, forestry, and reindeer herding Norwegian Food Safety Authority (): controls all aspects of food safety, including agriculture, import and trade
Enterprises Statskog: manages state-owned forests and natural property
Limited companies Staur Farm (): a farm
Ministry of Children and Families
Allocation Committee for support to voluntary children's and youth organizations (): issues grants for children and youth organizations County social welfare boards (): makes decisions of placement of children in institutions and foster homes Ecolabelling Norway (): awards ecolabelling County Governor (): regional authority, with a governor in each of 18 counties Market Council of Norway (): makes legal decisions concerning consumer rights upon specific or general cases National Institute for Consumer Research (): research Norway's Contact Committee for Immigrants and the Authorities (): dialog between immigrants and authorities Norwegian Assay Office (): control of trade of noble metals Norwegian Consumer Council (): pursues consumer interests Norwegian Consumer Dispute Commission (): settles consumer matters Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman (): handles complaints from consumers Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (): helps children, youth and families who need help Norwegian Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud (): fights discrimination Norwegian Equality and Anti-Discrimination Tribunal (): appeal board for the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service (): administrating age- and disability pensions and other welfare, and manages unemployment Ombudsman for Children in Norway (): promotes children's interests in society
Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs
Agencies Arts Council Norway (): issues grants to culture, and functions as an advisory board for the ministry in culture affairs Bunad- og folkedraktrådet: advises on and promotes the use of , the Norwegian national costume Det praktisk-teologiske seminar: educates ministers of the Church of Norway Church of Norway National Council (): head body of the Church of Norway Museum of Archaeology, Stavanger (): archeology and museum National Archives of Norway (): national and regional state archives National Foundation for Art in Public Buildings (): competence centre and producer of art for public buildings National Library of Norway (): national library Nidaros Domkirkes Restaureringsarbeider: preservation work on the Nidaros Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille (): publisher and library for audio books Norwegian Archive, Library and Museum Authority (): authority for archives, libraries and museums Norwegian Film Institute (): preserves, supports and distributes Norwegian and foreign films Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority (): supervises gaming, lotteries and foundations Norwegian Institute of Local History (): promotes local history knowledge Norwegian Language Council (): regulates the official version of the Norwegian language Norwegian Media Authority (): regulates all aspects of mass media, including content rating, ownership, concessions and advertising Opplysningsvesenets fond: manages the real estate of the Church of Norway, except the actual church buildings Concerts Norway (): mobile music performance that performs throughout the country Riksteatret: mobile theatre that performs throughout the country
Diocesan Councils Agder og Telemark Diocesan Council () Bjørgvin Diocesan Council () Borg Diocesan Council () Hamar Diocesan Council () Møre Diocesan Council () Nidaros Diocesan Council () Nord-Hålogaland Diocesan Council () Oslo Bishop and Diocesan Council () Stavanger Diocesan Council () Sør-Hålogaland Diocesan Council () Tunsberg Diocesan Council ()
Limited companies National Theatre of Norway (): theatre in Oslo Norsk Tipping: holds a monopoly on all gambling Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (): public broadcaster of radio and television channels
Ministry of Defence
National Security Authority () Norwegian Defence Estates Agency () Norwegian Defence Research Establishment ()
Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
Agencies Foreldreutvalget for barnehager: cooperation between parents of daycare-aged children and daycare authorities Foreldreutvalget for grunnopplæringen: cooperation between parents of primary school-aged children and school authorities Norway Opening Universities (): promotes cooperation between business and higher education, and aims to increase lifelong learning Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (): supervises and works to improve the quality of higher education Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education (): promotes international cooperation in higher education and research Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (): responsible for the development of primary and secondary education Norwegian Institute for Adult Learning (: promotes adult learning in reading, writing, arithmetic and ICT Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (): research Norwegian Meteorological Institute (): performs weather observations and calculations Norwegian Social Research (): research Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (): grants loans and scholarships to students Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (): coordinates admission to undergraduate courses at state universities and colleges The Research Council of Norway (): grants funds for research : educates gardeners and flower decorators at secondary school level.
Universities Norwegian University of Life Sciences () Norwegian University of Science and Technology () University of Agder () University of Bergen () University of Oslo () University of Stavanger () University of Tromsø ()
Specialised colleges Oslo School of Architecture and Design () Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration () Norwegian School of Sport Sciences () Norwegian Academy of Music () Norwegian School of Veterinary Science ()
Regional university colleges Akershus University College () Bergen National Academy of the Arts () Bergen University College () Bodø University College () Buskerud University College () Finnmark University College () Gjøvik University College () Harstad University College () Hedmark University College () Lillehammer University College () Molde University College () Narvik University College () Nesna University College () Nord-Trøndelag University College () Oslo National Academy of the Arts () Oslo University College () Sámi University College () Sogn og Fjordane University College () Stord/Haugesund University College () Sør-Trøndelag University College () Telemark University College () Tromsø University College () Vestfold University College () Volda University College () Østfold University College () Ålesund University College ()
Limited companies Norwegian Social Science Data Services (): information and data services for higher education and research University Centre in Svalbard (): research on Svalbard UNINETT: operates the university/college/research internet communication network and the Norid domain register
Ministry of Climate and Environment
Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet): agency with main responsibilities connected to Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage (): authority that authorises preservation of cultural heritage Norwegian Polar Institute (): conducts research related to Arctic sciences Norwegian Mapping Authority (): manages maps of the entire country Norwegian Product Register (): maintains a database over the content of all products distributed in the country
Ministry of Finance
Pension Fund Global (): invests axcess capital abroad National Insurance Scheme Fund (): invests domestic pensions Norges Bank: central bank Norwegian Customs and Excise Authorities (): collects customs Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority (): controls banks and other financial institutions Norwegian Government Agency for Financial Management (): coordinates financial management within the Government Norwegian National Collection Agency (): collects dues payable to the state Norwegian Tax Administration (): manages and collects taxes Statistics Norway (): statistics collection, computing and publishing agency
Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs
Agencies Institute of Marine Research (): research related to marine biology and fish management Norwegian Coastal Administration (): owns and operates water transportation infrastructure, including harbours, piloting and navigation National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (): research related to nutrition and seafood Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (): authority concerning matters of fisheries
Limited companies Norwegian Seafood Export Council (): marketing of fish abroad Secora: construction company for water transport infrastructure
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Fredskorpset: exchange organisation to promote understanding between countries Norfund: capital investment in developing countries Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (): aid to developing countries
Ministry of Government Administration and Reform
Agency for Public Management and eGovernment (): management consulting, electronic commerce management and operation og government websites County Governor (): regional authority of the Government, with a Governor in each of 18 counties Government Administration Services (): provides administrative services for the ministries Norwegian Competition Authority (): regulates permission to merge, and regulates to stimulate competition Norwegian Data Inspectorate (): regulates permission to store information on persons or other entities Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property (): builds, manages and operates all government buildings Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (): fund allocating extra pensions for civil servants Personvernnemda: ombudsman concerning matters of privacy
Ministry of Health and Care Services
Agencies Norwegian Directorate for Health and Social Affairs (): central expertise in administering healthcare and social affairs Norwegian Board of Health Supervision (): highest supervision authority for the health and social services Norwegian Institute of Public Health (): preventative health work Norwegian System of Compensation to Patients (): can issue compensation for medical malpractice Norwegian Patients' Injury Compensation Board (): appeal board for the System of Compensation to Patients Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board (): a board that advises the authorities in matters concerning modern biotechnology