Original title
Tuki kansalaisjärjestöjen kehitysyhteistyölle
Language: Finnish
Audit Description
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs grants support for the development cooperation of civil society organisations (CSOs). The audit assessed how the Ministry has succeeded in creating conditions for civil society organisations' development cooperation as a part of Finland's development policy.
In the budget for 2025, Parliament allocated EUR 534 million to the budget item for actual development cooperation. Of this amount, EUR 98 million was allocated to CSOs. The amount of support granted to CSOs has increased significantly: in 2019, the support was around one third lower compared with the current level.
The importance of Finnish CSOs' development cooperation has been emphasised strongly in the development policy guidance documents. In accordance with the policy lines, the support for CSOs has been increased and its share of development cooperation appropriations has grown significantly. The conditions and administrative requirements set for CSO support can be met mainly by large and established organisations. This is partially inconsistent with the diversity mentioned in the guidance documents as a characteristic of civil society organisations.
The Unit for Civil Society, which is responsible for the CSO support at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, has managed the grants appropriately, and the organisations' have mainly assessed the Unit's actions positively. CSOs' development cooperation generates extensive information on results, but it is not fully utilised. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has used external experts whose independence has not been verified to help with the processing of grant applications and the monitoring of grants.
In the budget for 2025, Parliament allocated EUR 534 million to the budget item for actual development cooperation. Of this amount, EUR 98 million was allocated to CSOs. The amount of support granted to CSOs has increased significantly: in 2019, the support was around one third lower compared with the current level.
The importance of Finnish CSOs' development cooperation has been emphasised strongly in the development policy guidance documents. In accordance with the policy lines, the support for CSOs has been increased and its share of development cooperation appropriations has grown significantly. The conditions and administrative requirements set for CSO support can be met mainly by large and established organisations. This is partially inconsistent with the diversity mentioned in the guidance documents as a characteristic of civil society organisations.
The Unit for Civil Society, which is responsible for the CSO support at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, has managed the grants appropriately, and the organisations' have mainly assessed the Unit's actions positively. CSOs' development cooperation generates extensive information on results, but it is not fully utilised. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has used external experts whose independence has not been verified to help with the processing of grant applications and the monitoring of grants.
tiina.palonen-roihupalo@vtv.fi
https://www.vtv.fi/en