New Country Strategies provide guidance for development cooperation in 2016–2019

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has prepared Country Strategies for bilateral cooperation for 2016–2019. The new Strategies lay greater emphasis than before on, for example, the improvement of the position and rights of women and girls and on strengthening the partner countries’ business life.

Additionally, compared to earlier Country Strategies, the cooperation will be more specifically targeted.  The Strategies underline that not only funding but also policy dialogue are necessary to ensure that results are reached.

Finland’s development cooperation in Nepal aims, for example, to improved health through access to safe water and sanitation. This Informative handwashing sign is displayed at a Kathmandu school. Photo: Hanna Päivärinta/Foreign Ministry

Country Strategies have been prepared for Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam. The Country Strategy for Vietnam is a transition strategy. The objective is to gradually replace development cooperation between Finland and Vietnam by more extensive, mutually beneficial forms of cooperation, where priority is given to increasing trade.

The Country Strategies are based on the Government Report on Development Policy, which was adopted last year. They implement the four priorities established in the Report and take into account the partner countries’ own priorities for development as well as the added value that Finland’s development cooperation brings. The UN’s sustainable development goals are also addressed.

The Country Strategies will steer Finland’s bilateral cooperation and provide an overall picture of Finland’s entire development cooperation in each country. Additionally, they outline the themes that Finland highlights in the discussion about the cooperation.

The Country Strategies serve as the most central means of performance guidance and learning in Finland’s bilateral cooperation. They are designed to improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperation, to help measure the results, and to enhance the effectiveness of the cooperation.

This is the second time that the Ministry publishes its Country Strategies. They were prepared for the first time in 2013.

Country Strategy for Development Cooperation Nepal 2016-2019

Country Strategy for Development Cooperation with Myanmar 2016-2019

Country Strategy for Development Cooperation with Occupied Palestinian Territory 2016-2019

Country Strategy for Development Cooperation with Zambia 2016-2019

Country Strategy for Development Cooperation with Tanzania 2016-2019

Country Strategy for Development Cooperation with Mozambique 2016-2019

Country Strategy for Development Cooperation with Kenya 2016-2019

Country Strategy for Development Cooperation with Ethiopia 2016-2019

Cooperation between Finland and Vietnam 2016-2020