Arild Eik (16 September 1943 – 6 March 2009) was a Norwegian development aid worker and diplomat.
Development aid or development cooperation is financial aid given by governments and other agencies to support the economic, environmental, social, and political development of developing countries. It is distinguished from humanitarian aid by focusing on alleviating poverty in the long term, rather than a short term response.
His first ambassador post was in Tanzania. [1] From 1996 to early 1997 he was acting director of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.
Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in eastern Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands at the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to the south; Zambia to the southwest; and Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, is in north-eastern Tanzania.
Not to be confused with the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also abbreviated NORAD.
In the summer of 1997 he was promoted from assisting director of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation to Norwegian ambassador in Zimbabwe. [2] From February 1998 he was also the ambassador to Botswana, and from March 1998 he was also the ambassador to Mauritius. [3] [4] In 2002 he was moved to Malaysia, and from March 2003 he was also the ambassador to Brunei. [5] [6]
Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in southern Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. The capital and largest city is Harare. A country of roughly 16 million people, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, with English, Shona, and Ndebele the most commonly used.
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. Since then, they maintain a tradition of stable representative republic, with a consistent record of uninterrupted democratic elections and the best perceived corruption ranking in Africa since at least 1998. It is currently Africa's oldest continuous democracy.
Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. The main Island of Mauritius is located about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) off the southeast coast of the African continent. The Republic of Mauritius also includes the islands of Rodrigues, Agalega and St. Brandon. The capital and largest city Port Louis is located on the main island of Mauritius.
He was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1995. He died in March 2009. [1]
