Since being appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for UNDP in 2003, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway has been a strong voice for people and planet - supporting the fight against poverty, the protection of the ocean, and the search for sustainable solutions for a healthier planet.  

As UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, the Crown Prince has seen how poverty and climate change affect people’s lives every day - from families struggling to make ends meet, to communities facing floods, storms, and rising sea levels. His Royal Highness has also witnessed how UNDP’s work can make a real and lasting difference, helping people build safer and more resilient futures. "If we really mean that every human being is created equal, we cannot rest as long as millions of people are living in extreme poverty," the Crown Prince said. "To make progress we need organizations like UNDP [who] make a difference in the lives of individuals, in the development of societies, and ultimately for our common world."  

In  2024, the Crown Prince traveled to Jamaica together with UNDP, where His Royal Highness reinforced his commitment to sustainable solutions that foster resilience and inspire global action. The Crown Prince’s visit highlighted the significant challenges faced by small island developing states like Jamaica, including record temperatures, severe climate-induced disasters, disruption to ocean ecosystems and impact on lives and livelihoods.   

In 2025, His Royal Highness took part in the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, alongside global partners and fellow UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. His Royal Highness spoke about the importance of ocean health, fair governance, and supporting communities that depend on marine resources. Reflecting on his visit to Jamaica in 2024, His Royal Highness shared the story of Captain Michael Sterling, a fisherman from the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, who joined the Norwegian-funded Blue Justice Initiative to fish more sustainably. Over a decade of community-led ocean management, fish stocks in the area have grown by more than 500 percent. “Stories like this inspire. They bring hope,” said His Royal Highness. “We have the knowledge, we have the means, and when we also have the will, we can really make a difference. ”Over the course of his tenure as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, the Crown Prince leveraged his position to put the spotlight on the most vulnerable communities in many countries around the world, including  Jamaica, Kenya, Colombia, Liberia, Timor-Leste, Tanzania, Zambia, Haiti, Nepal, Botswana, Mongolia, Burundi, Guatemala and Sierra Leone. 

Over the years, His Royal Highness has also supported the launch of several UNDP Human Development Reports in Norway and spoken at international events such as the Kapuscinski Lectures, the International Peace Institute, and UNDP’s Global Goals Gala in New York. 

His Royal Highness continues to use his voice to raise awareness and inspire action for the Sustainable Development Goals - with a particular focus on ending poverty by 2030. 

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