Finland’s development programs in coming years will focus on promoting human rights and helping partner recipient countries become more self-sufficient.
This is in line with the new Finnish Development Policy Action Plan that the European donor adopted Feb. 16. The policy confirms Finland’s push for a more human rights-based approach to development cooperation, as shared by Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala in a recent conversation with Devex.
>> The future of Finnish development cooperation: A conversation with Heidi Hautala
Poverty eradication will remain the primary goal of Finnish international cooperation. But under the new policy, the donor’s development activities will also be guided by three overarching themes: gender equality, climate sustainability and reduction of inequality.
Future key partner countries identified in the new policy are Ethiopia, Nepal, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique. Finland will continue its assistance to Vietnam but will eventually forge new ways of supporting the country’s development. The donor is also committed to continuing long-term cooperation with Afghanistan. Finland, however, is expected to end aid to Nicaragua and will instead cooperate with nongovernmental organizations working there.
>> Finland weighs future of $13M aid to Nicaragua
Overall, Finland said it will increase its partnership with various NGOs and civil society groups as well as boost its contributions to multilateral development organizations.
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