In the Quest for True Commitment: The Finnish Aid Paradigm and the 0.7 Target in Domestic Politics

Figures & data

Table 1. Finnish Development policies since 1993: Continuities, Changes and 0.7 Commitments.

Name and government composition	Purpose of aid/main goals	Main elements of continuity	Changes from prior policy	Commitment to the 0.7 target
1993 Finnish Development Co-operation in the 1990s – centre-right government	- Poverty eradication first of three main goals	- Consolidated development policy as a part of external relations	- First framework constituting the Finnish paradigm	- ‘Cuts in aid temporary’, Commitment to 0.7 by 2000.
			- Gender mainstreaming
1996 Development policy Government Decision-in-Principle – ‘rainbow’ government	- Poverty reduction still listed first among the same main goals	- The same main goals and purposes.	- Goals of development cooperation now explicitly part of foreign and commercial policies.	- 0.7 in the government programme
		- Comprehensive foreign policy framework and national interests	- ‘Flexible’ selection of partner countries
		- Coherence	- The EU dimension
		- Aid as one of the means alongside developing-country domestic resources and private flows		- Target level to 0.4% by 2000, 0.7% as a long term objective. ‘Gradual increases to aid possible, economy permitting.’
				- The Nordic group set as a long term and the EU average as a short term reference (p. 139)
1998 Comprehensive policy on Relations with Developing Countries – same ‘rainbow’ government	- Worldwide security/peace	- Comprehensive foreign policy goals	- Focus on peace and security	- 0.7 presented as the global target.
	- Reduction of broad-based poverty as one of the main goals		- Increasing economic interaction and expanding partnerships
			- Even stronger alignment with the EU and with UN/IFIs/WTO/OECD
2001 Operationalisation of development cooperation Government decision-in principle – same ‘rainbow’ government, re-elected in 1999	- Comprehensive external relations goals	- Goal structure	- Increasing Finnish global security as a priority and economic interaction.	- 0.7 in government programme and in the policy. ‘Finland will raise the level of the funds … economic situation permitting.’
	- The same policy goals but with focus on security and conflict prevention	- Addressing global threats, while promoting development countries’ development largely for Finnish national interests		- 0.34% (1999) as the minimum.
	- Poverty eradication focus in long-term partner countries/LDCs
2004 Development Policy, Government Resolution – centre-left government	- Poverty reduction in line with UN MDGs	- Comprehensive development policy goals and thematic priority areas.	- Poverty reduction as the main objective/explicit primacy over other goals.	- ‘The government will increase development spending with the aim of reaching 0.7 by 2010, taking into account overall economic developments [in Finland].’
	- Development policy beyond aid covering other policy areas	- Policy coherence for development	- Concentration of aid to fewer recipients
		- Market-based economy as the most important precondition for any sustainable development and poverty reduction.	- Multistakeholder approach (private sector/civil society/research community)
2007 Development policy programme: Towards a Sustainable and Just World Community, Government Decision-in-Principle – Centre Party, National Coalition, the Greens and the Swedish People’s Party	- Eradicate extreme poverty, reduce poverty and promote sustainable development in line with MDGs	- Poverty reduction as the main goal, and thematic priority areas.	- Sustainable development and the environment in focus	- ‘The government ensures a budget framework, which takes Finland towards the UN set target of 0.7.’
			- New cross-cutting themes objectives
2012 Finnish Development Policy programme Government-decision-in Principle – ‘rainbow’ government	- Eradication of extreme poverty and securing a life of human dignity through human rights-based approach, and in the UN MDG framework	- Poverty reduction and addressing global challenges.	- Human rights-based approach foregrounded	- ‘The Government aims to ensure a steady trend in appropriations that would enable Finland to reach the international commitment of 0.7’
			- Enhanced focus on LDCs and vulnerable groups	- ‘In the EU, Finland is committed to achieving this target by 2015.’
			- Expanded thematic priority areas
2016 Government Report on Development Policy: One World, Common Future – Toward sustainable development – centre-right government	- Eradication of extreme poverty and reduction of inequality through four priority areas in line with 2030 Agenda	- Addressing global challenges and Finnish interests	- UN Agenda2030 and SDGs	- ‘Finland intends to increase its development cooperation funds as its own economy picks up. Our long-term goal is to raise the level of our development cooperation funds to 0.7 in accordance with UN goals.’
			- Declining role of the partner countries
			- Very strong emphasis on private sector and national interests.
			- New financial investments instrument
2021 Report on Development Policy Across Parliamentary Terms – ‘rainbow’ government	- Strengthening developing countries’ societies, including the promotion of non-discrimination and strengthening the basis of their economies.	- Addressing global challenges	- Long-term basis extending over government terms.	- ‘In line with its commitment to the UN, Finland aims to direct 0.7% of GNI to development cooperation … Finland will prepare a roadmap and timetable for attaining the UN goals.’
	- poverty eradication through five priority areas of action	- Finland’s foreign and security policy linkages	- Principles, values and goals highlighted.

Figure 1. Development aid disbursements as a share of GNI 1989-2021.

Figure 2. Finnish ODA disbursements 2013–2020 by channels.

Figure 3. Financial investments percentage from ODA 2000-2021.