Finland's Development Policy and Development Cooperation in Fragile States   – Guidelines for Strengthening Implementation of Development Cooperation

Finlands Development Policy in Fragile States (PDF) (Opens New Window)

Violent conflicts and fragile states, in which some 1.5 billion people live, are one of the major global development challenges. Fragility and poverty go hand in hand. Currently around one third of the world’s poor live in fragile states, and it is probable that the UN Millennium Development Goals will remain partly unfulfilled in these states. It is estimated that by 2018 around half, and by 2030 most, of the world’s poor will live in fragile states.

The development policy dialogue relating to fragile states has focused specifically on how the effectiveness and impact of development cooperation can be increased in them and in post-conflict transition stages.

This guide is divided into three mutually complementary sections. The first section reviews the development policy dialogue relating to fragile states, and examines the specific needs of fragile states and international recommendations for engagement in fragile states.

In addition, section one presents a major international commitment from 2011, The New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States (New Deal), which specifies measures and principles by which states can find a way out of their fragility. Peace-building and state-building play a central role. 

The second section examines Finland’s thematic and regional priorities in fragile states in the light of Finland’s Development Policy Programme (2012) and the peace- and state-building objectives of New Deal.

The third section presents guidelines for Finland’s development policy and development cooperation in fragile states. The goal of these guidelines is that Finland would be able in development policy and cooperation to respond better to the challenges that fragile states and states in transition present as an operating environment.