Country Profiles
Finland
Context
There exists a strong political and financial commitment to global sexual and reproductive health and family planning (SRH/FP) within Finnish development policy and cooperation.
In 2023, Finnish ODA reached a total of 1.452 million Euros, equivalent to 0.52% of the country’s GNI. However, for 2024, ODA is projected to be approximately 0.42% of GNI. A new government has operated since 2023 and has outlined in its new programme that there will be reductions in ODA over the course of this four-year parliamentary period. By the end of the governmental period in 2027, ODA is expected to represent around 0.34% of GNI.
Nonetheless, in both the governmental reports on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation and on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy, the government has pledged to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) within its development cooperation. These new policies reinstate that one of the main goals of Finland’s development cooperation is to promote the rights of women and girls and SRHR.
Policies & funding
Finnish ODA tends to concentrate on the rights of women and girls. Finland spent almost 54 million Euros on SRH/FP in 2023, which is approximately 5 million Euros more than in the previous year. After adding support to other programmes more focused on governance initiatives for gender-responsiveness, the country’s contribution to SRHR amounted to 70 million Euros that year.
When it comes to multilateral development cooperation and specifically UN organisations, Finland’s priority is to support gender equality and reducing inequality. For this reason, Finland prioritises UNFPA, UN Women and UNICEF. Core funding to UNFPA was on a rising track from 2018 (17.5 million Euros) to 2022 (33 million Euros). The current government has nonetheless made some cuts, as UNFPA core funding for 2023 was equivalent to 30 million Euros and is expected to amount to 25 million Euros in 2024. Despite these reductions, UNFPA remains the largest receiver of Finnish core funding among the UN organisations, which indicates Finland’s strong commitment to SRH/FP related issues.
Finland also funds international NGOs (INGO) through its ODA. In 2022, Finland set SRHR as one of the priorities for INGO funding and has accordingly provided core funding to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Ipas, both amounting to 3.5 million Euros for two years, and 8 million to MSI Reproductive Choices for 2021–2024. If and how the new government’s emphasis on SRHR is channelled through INGO funding remains to be seen, as the new call for international NGOs opened in the late 2024, with one of the priorities being Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination.
Forecast
In the new Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation the government states that ‘The level of Finland’s development funding will be adjusted in accordance with Finland’s economic situation. Finland has historically committed to allocating 0.7% of its GNI to development funding in accordance with the UN Recommendation, even though the target has not been reached. However, in the current economic situation, the Government will cut development cooperation during its term.’ The ODA level is expected to reach 0.35 % of GNI by the end of the governmental period in 2027.
This new report also places greater emphasis on the synergies between foreign trade and development cooperation, a trend that has been growing since the previous governments. This may also affect the willingness to fund human development initiatives, including for SRHR/FP.
Internationally vocal
Defending and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights is one of Finland’s key goals in international advocacy and work in the international fora.
SRHR was also a strong focus during Finland’s term in the Human rights council 2022-2024. Finland has given multiple speeches including SRHR and also worked on a resolution regarding the rights of intersex persons in that context.
At the EU level, Finland has been vocal on SRHR and gender equality, and the new governmental reports give a strong basis for the continuation of this work.
Key documents
- Country factsheet 2023-2024-Finland.pdf
Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation
Women, Peace and Security : Finland’s National Action Plan 2023−2027
- Evaluation report: Evaluation of the Finnish Development Policy Influencing in the European Union
- Report on Development Policy Extending Across Parliamentary Terms
- Finland’s Humanitarian Policy (In Finnish)