Development policy is an integral part of Finland’s foreign and security policy. Development policy contributes to the global effort to eradicate poverty through economically, socially and ecologically sustainable development.
The main goal of development policy is to eradicate poverty and to promote sustainable development in accordance with the UN Millennium Development Goals which were set in 2000.
Finland places particular emphasis on the importance of issues relating to climate and the environment. At the same time, we stress crisis prevention and support for peace processes as an important element of the promotion of socially sustainable development.
Development cooperation is a key instrument of development policy. It can be used to promote the strengthening of an enabling environment for development in the poorest countries in order to improve the preconditions for investment and trade and to achieve economic growth.
Development cooperation is not the only policy sector that generates development policy impacts but, for example, trade policy also plays a role. The industrial countries' obligation to change their production and consumption habits in an ecologically sustainable direction is also one form of development policy.
Finland's development policy is steered by the government resolution on development policy from October 2007.
