Finland and Afghanistan
A stable and peaceful Afghanistan that respects human rights and complies with the principles of the rule of law is in the best interests of the people of Afghanistan, Finland and the entire international community. The ultimate goal is a society where all Afghans can participate in building a stable, better, safer and more prosperous country.
More information on Finland and Afghanistan.
Finland’s development cooperation in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is Finland's most supported development partner country. Finland has participated in the stabilisation, reconstruction and development efforts in Afghanistan since 2002.
Finnish aid to Afghanistan’s development cooperation between 2002-2020 is EUR 385 million. At the 2020 Afghanistan Conference Finland’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari announced, that Finland will increase its development assistance to Afghanistan, pledging EUR 30 million per year, totaling EUR 120 million until 2024. During the period 2017–2020, Finland has committed to supporting Afghanistan annually by over EUR 28 million.
Finland and the EU emphasise the improvement of the status of women and girls in Afghanistan.
More information on Finland’s development cooperation in Afghanistan: Finland's Development Cooperation with Afghanistan
Finland and the 2020 Afghanistan Conference
Finland organized the 2020 Afghanistan Conference together with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United Nations. The Conference took place virtually from Geneva on 23-24 November 2020.
Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari and Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto co-chaired the conference on behalf of Finland.
The Finnish government has allocated 3.5 million euros for organizing the Conference but because of virtual format of the Conference, the overall budget will remain significantly below. A Finnish conference Task Force based in Helsinki and in Kabul is responsible for the Conference preparations led by Special Envoy, Ambassador Janne Taalas (CV, pdf).