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.