Goals and principles of Finland’s development policy

Through development cooperation, Finland aims to achieve sustainable results and long-term impacts. Development is the sum of many factors. Development cooperation is just one instrument to effect change. A well-functioning democracy, the rule of law, human rights and a vibrant civil society are prerequisites for sustainable social development. Finland's development cooperation promotes the realisation of these prerequisites.

 

Development policy is an important part of Finland’s foreign and security policy. In a changing world, Finland actively participates in international cooperation and uses its expertise to resolve challenges. Finland engages in cooperation with developing countries especially in areas where it has special expertise.

Finland's development policy is defined in the Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation(Link to another website.), which complements the Report on Foreign and Security Policy(Link to another website.) with more detailed trade and development policy measures. It provides a more strategic and comprehensive examination of external relations, giving attention to the rapid changes in the international environment.

Finland will support the stabilisation of developing countries more selectively than before. The focus will be on promoting Finland's strategic interests and on fostering the strengths that have helped Finland develop into a stable democracy, such as the status of women and their right to self-determination, and local democracy.

In its development policy, Finland will focus on the strengths that provide good opportunities to support sustainable development. The objectives of development cooperation are based on the Sustainable Development Goals and widely shared priorities, such as strengthening the rights of women and girls, sexual and reproductive health and rights, education, and climate action.

Regionally, an increasing share of Finland's development cooperation will focus on Ukraine.

Finland's relations with developing countries need strengthening by means of a new, proactive and determined policy. Trade and development policies must be examined more comprehensively and in such a way that they support one another.

 

The readmission of nationals and support for the international rules-based order are conditions for Finland’s development cooperation. Finland does not engage in development cooperation with governments or actors that support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Finland promotes mutually beneficial trade opportunities with developing countries. Finland aims to increase private sector participation in development cooperation and funding and to strengthen developing countries’ own domestic financing.

Finland will continue its long-term human rights policy of promoting and defending the rights of women, girls, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples and gender and sexual minorities, and other people in particularly vulnerable positions. The work to promote and defend human rights also helps the efforts to tackle human trafficking.

Humanitarian assistance is an independent part of Finland's development policy. Finland will continue to provide humanitarian assistance, which is channelled through UN specialised agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and Finnish civil society organisations.

Position and rights of women and girls

Finland promotes the rights of women and girls, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, and supports the right of persons with disabilities to live without discrimination and violence.

Finland’s development policy’s key strength Position and rights of women and girls:

• Supports legislation and policies that guarantee sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)  for women and girls, including for women and girls with disabilities. Finland also supports actions that ensure equal access to non-discriminatory and quality sexual and reproductive health services.  
• Facilitates access to support services for victims of gender-based violence and supports the prevention of gender-based violence. Finland’s support focuses on persons in fragile conditions and persons with disabilities. Finland raises awareness among all women and girls of their rights and their capability to claim them, such as the right to bodily autonomy and self-determination. In addressing factors that weaken the position of women and to transform social norms, it is vital to involve men and boys in the processes.
• Advocates for the right of persons with disabilities to live without discrimination, stigma and violence. Finland works to strengthen the capacity of its partner countries to implement legislation and development measures that safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities and facilitate their participation. Finland supports the international disability rights movement and promotes the participation of organisations of persons with disabilities.

Finland enhances the position and rights of women and girls by financing gender equality measures, by providing expert assistance and political support to partner countries, and by working with civil society and multilateral partners. In addition, Finland engages in political dialogue and advocacy in the European Union, the UN, development finance institutions and partner countries.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)

Sexuality is an essential and valuable part of being human. The rights associated with sexuality are development issues, too. Finland’s development policy supports the global realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) mean that everyone has the right to control their own sexuality and to decide freely and responsibly matters related to their sexuality without being subject to coercion, discrimination or violence. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are in many ways the most vulnerable human rights, and special attention must be paid to their realisation.

Education

Education is one of the strengths of Finland’s development policy, and the experience from its own education system makes Finland well-positioned to promote the Sustainable Development Goal for education (SDG4) globally. Through its development cooperation, Finland promotes the realisation of opportunities for high-quality, inclusive and equitable primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education and lifelong learning for all.

Cooperation focuses especially on girls' education, teacher education, vocational education and training, and education for persons with disabilities. School meals and digital learning are key to the work in the education sector.

Finland supports the export aspirations and internationalisation of companies and educational institutions by intensifying cooperation between members of the Team Finland network and multi-actor cooperation between development cooperation and education exports. The participation of Finnish actors in the EU Global Gateway initiative in the education sector will be strengthened. Cooperation with international players in the education sector and with international non-governmental organisations will be continued by ways such as supporting UNICEF’s innovation activities. Finland will continue to serve as a Champion and co-chair on the global School Meals Coalition.

Climate action

In its climate policy, Finland is committed to implementing EU decisions and international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change. By means of climate and environmental diplomacy, Finland seeks to promote the global transition to climate resilient, low-carbon societies that protect biodiversity. As part of the work to implement international climate and environmental agreements, demand will be created for Finnish climate and environmental technology in developing countries. Climate measures and the clean energy transition support Finland’s foreign and security policy objectives.

Finland supports developing countries, especially the least developed countries and small developing island states, in climate change mitigation and adaptation and in combating biodiversity loss. Finland promotes the planning and implementation of international climate and environmental action in a manner that enhances gender equality and takes account of groups that climate change affects proportionally more than others.

Finland emphasises the need to anticipate risks caused by climate and environmental change and to prepare for them. Finland participates actively in international meteorological cooperation and efforts aimed at reducing the risks of disasters, including the implementation of the UN Secretary-General’s Early Warnings for All initiative. Finland promotes transparent and responsible extractive and energy sectors and developing countries’ opportunities for clean energy transition. Finland will continue to promote broad-based water and forest expertise in developing countries by making use of close cooperation with businesses, researchers and different administrative branches. 

Finland promotes democracy and the rule of law in developing countries

Finland supports measures to reduce developing countries’ economic dependence on development cooperation funding. A key part of this work is helping to strengthen developing countries’ own domestic resource mobilisation, for example by developing tax systems.

Finland supports the development of democratic public administration and fosters a diverse and independent civil society that functions efficiently and participates in decision-making. Stronger and more frequent interaction between the public sector and civil society consolidates mutual trust and enables peaceful problem-solving. Finland works towards improving the ability of the judicial system and political decision-makers to strengthen democracy and to promote the rule of law. We take action to enhance the implementation of legislation and to promote freedom of speech, assembly and association. Finland aims to increase the participation of women and those in the most vulnerable position in the decision-making process. Finland also supports independent media and the protection of human rights defenders and whistleblowers. 

Finland takes steps to provide more opportunities for women, young people and people with disabilities to participate in problem-solving in peace and security related matters. Finland contributes to social stability through more inclusive peace processes and through preventing conflicts and seeking peaceful resolution of conflicts. Finland supports the safety and wellbeing of people living in countries recovering from conflict and, together with its partners, seeks to maintain contacts with democratic actors and institutions in politically difficult contexts. Finland supports a comprehensive approach to supporting fragile states and seeks to ensure that the EU and its Member States take measures that are complementary and consistent. 

Finland’s immediate national interest is to strengthen the commitment of partner countries and the international community to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights and to maintaining a commonly agreed international rules-based system. Factors contributing to a peaceful and democratic society include the partner country’s own actions and attitudes and those of other development actors. Most importantly, solutions that spring from the partner countries’ own needs and resources are vital for any reforms.