Finland’s action to strengthen civil societies and advance their enabling environment

The strengthening of civil societies is an important goal in Finland’s development policy and a means to achieve other development policy goals. Supporting civil societies is important in the current world political situation, where civic spaces are shrinking and autocratization is on the rise. This commissioned study for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA) examines the strengthening of civil societies and advancing their enabling environment in Finland’s development policy and cooperation. It focuses on the implementation of the MFA Guidelines for Civil Society in Development Policy (2017) across Finnish development policy sectors. The study is based on document reviews and interviews. Additionally, an online participatory workshop with multi-sectoral stakeholders was organized. The results indicate that the strengthening of civil societies is perceived as very important across Finnish development policy sectors, and its emphasis has increased. Finnish development policy and cooperation supports civil societies through multiple funding instruments. However, much of this work remains invisible, and the overall perception regarding civil society support relates to the MFA support to Finnish CSOs. To respond to world political challenges, Finland should develop a more strategic and political approach in its support for civil societies and their enabling environments.

Kieli

en

Julkaisija

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Kirjoittaja

Kontinen, Tiina; Palmusaari, Maria; Pernthaler, Magdalena; Ranta, Eija; Salmivaara, Anna;

Sarja

Publications of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs 2022:7

Pysyvä osoite valtion julkaisuarkisto Valtossa

URN:ISBN:978-952-281-346-6(Linkki toiselle web-sivustolle.)

Huomautus

This report is commissioned as part of UniPID Development Policy Studies (UniPID DPS), funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA) and managed by the Finnish University Partnership for International Development (UniPID). UniPID is a network of Finnish universities established to strengthen universities’ global responsibility and collaboration with partners from the Global South, in support of sustainable development. The UniPID DPS instrument strengthens knowledge-based development policy by identifying the most suitable available researchers to respond to the timely knowledge needs of the MFA and by facilitating a framework for dialogue between researchers and ministry officials. The content of this report does not reflect the official opinion of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The responsibility for the information and views expressed in the report lies entirely with the authors.

Tekijänoikeus

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