New strategy helps Finland export water sector expertise

The Finnish Water Way is Finland’s new strategy for building a water-secure world. It was created through broad-based multi-stakeholder collaboration. The updated international water strategy extends to 2030 and presents Finland’s objectives as an operator in the water sector. It also presents means to achieve water-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Finnish Water Way – International Water Strategy Finland aims for responsible and equitable water security. It builds on the key concept of the Finnish Water Way, a Finnish approach to sustainable water management based on close cross-sectoral collaboration. Different actors in society play a key role in bringing together water sector expertise and in enabling domestic know-how to grow into international collaboration and business.

The objectives of the strategy are grouped under three pillars – Water for Sustainable Development, Water for People and Water for Peace. These are complemented by cross-cutting objectives. The strategy defines Finland’s objectives for all three pillars and presents means to achieve them. The strategy’s vision is to create a water-secure world by 2030.

The new strategy is an updated version of the International Strategy for Finland’s Water Sector from 2009, revised in line with the SDGs. Thus, it forms the framework for Finland’s water-related international ambitions and actions and contributes to the implementation of the water-specific SDG through international collaboration (SDG 6 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development).

The strategy will be supported by an action plan that will be updated during every Government’s term of office. The action plan will guide the allocation of national resources and the practical implementation of the strategy.

The strategy has been prepared in close collaboration between five ministries (the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Environment) and other stakeholders, such as research institutes and civil society. The work carried out by the ministries was supported in particular by Aalto University and the Finnish Water Forum.

Report: Finnish Water Way – International Water Strategy Finland