Photo: Mosadaq Muhannad Qadan / Studio Havana

Development policy and development cooperation

Development policy is an important part of Finland’s foreign and security policy. Development cooperation is one means to implement the policy. Development cooperation can give people a chance for a better life.

Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation

The report on international economic relations and development cooperation complements the report on foreign and security policy with more detailed trade and development policy measures. The aim is to better support Finland’s commercial and economic interests in developing markets and to increase the economic independence of countries by strengthening the responsibility of developing countries for their own development.

Tell us about any alleged misuse in development cooperation

We take all suspicions of misuse of Finnish development cooperation funds seriously. You can report any suspicions about the misuse through our service. Misuse may be due to carelessness or lack of professional skills, be deliberate or even consist of actions or negligence that fulfill the elements of a criminal offence. 

Current affairs

16.9.2026

Finland to help the Pacific and Indonesia prepare for climate change and extreme weather, with Finnish Meteorological Institute in project implementation

Finland will allocate EUR 2.55 million for preparedness for extreme weather events in Indonesia and the island nations of the Pacific. The Finnish Meteorological Institute will implement the PACIDFIN project together with the Pacific Meteorological Council and the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics.

Press releases
10.9.2026

Finland to invest EUR 120 million in new finance program being prepared to mobilise private financing in emerging markets

Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs will invest EUR 120 million in the Finland-IFC Blended Finance Program for private-sector investments. The program is being prepared in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. This will be the largest development policy investment ever made by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The appropriations will be allocated from the Ministry’s financial investment item.

Press releases
9.9.2026

Water for All: The Road to the UN Water Conference 2026, remarks by H.E. Ville Tavio, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development

Roundtable by Centre for Peace Mediation of the Finnish MFA and the Embassy of United Arab Emirates on the UN Water Conference 2026, 9th September 2026

Speeches
7.9.2026

Evaluation: Finnfund and Finnpartnership play a key role in delivering Finland’s international goals

According to a recently published independent evaluation, the Finnish development financier and impact investor Finnfund and the Finnpartnership programme are key instruments for advancing Finland's development policy objectives and international economic relations. They also support Finnish companies in entering and expanding in emerging markets. The evaluation concludes that maintaining their impact will require adequate public funding and continued development.

News
4.9.2026

Finland to grant humanitarian assistance to Nepal

The recent flash flood has ravaged northern Nepal, causing a humanitarian crisis across a vast area. Finland will grant EUR 1 million in humanitarian assistance to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to alleviate the humanitarian needs created by the flooding in Nepal. The funding to the IFRC will be channelled through the Finnish Red Cross.

Press releases