The Ministry for Foreign Affairs launches preparation of the Development Policy Action Plan

Press release 228/2011
5 September 2011

In the Government Programme, the Government made a commitment to reform the Finnish development policy to meet the future needs. The Government policies will be further specified in the Development Policy Action Plan, the preparation of which has been launched in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

“We are aiming at a so-called 'devoted development policy’, which means that Finland will listen to various views and engage in real dialogue about the direction of development both domestically and in the international arena. The practical measures have to be in line with the principles applied,” Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala states.

For the purpose of preparing the Action Plan, a series of discussion events under the heading KEPO OPEN will be launched in September. The participants to be invited to these thematic discussions will include stakeholders of development policy and development co-operation such as NGOs, enterprises and researchers. In preparation of the Development Policy Action Plan, the opportunities offered by social media open to anyone interested in the subject will also be exploited.

In a global world, the position of developing countries is affected also by many other measures than those taken as part of development policy and development co-operation, and reduction of poverty requires coherence between various fields of operation. Accordingly, during this autumn a wide range of other government and private sector operators affecting the status of developing countries with their activities will be consulted.

“The Action Plan aims particularly at enhancing the impact, quality and effectiveness of Finnish development aid and ensuring the continuity of such efforts. This requirement is also included in the Government Programme,” Minister Hautala says.

As priorities of the Finnish development policy, the Government Programme raises, for example, promotion of the rule of law, democracy and human rights, sustainable development, education, decent working conditions, reduction of unemployment among young people and improvement of the status of women and children. The programme also highlights the need to leverage Finland’s strengths in various sectors and thematic areas.

Additional information: Adviser Iina Soiri, [email protected], tel. +358 9 160 56172, Press Attaché to the Minister for International Development Milma Kettunen, [email protected], tel. +358 9 1605 6435, +358 40 522 9869