Development cooperation seen as important for refugee crises prevention

Press Release 137/2016
12 July 2016

Development cooperation is considered very important or rather important by 84 per cent of Finns. As many as 80 per cent think that development cooperation can play a role in preventing refugee crises and reducing the need to leave one’s home country. Finns specially value activities aiming at people's well-being and the functioning of societies, including the improvement of education, water supply, health care and good governance.

These are the key results emerging from a survey on Finnish development cooperation, published on 12 July 2016.

“I’m very happy to see that Finns recognise the role of development cooperation in resolving migration issues and also other global crises. Contrary to what the general atmosphere might suggest, people understand the importance of development cooperation and support it more than before,” says Kai Mykkänen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development.

“This issue has been debated a lot in the past year. People can see that there is a connection between the developing countries standing on their own feet and a reduction in uncontrolled immigration. If people feel safe and have work and an income, they have future perspectives in their own country and do not feel forced to leave.”

Finns find that the significance of development cooperation lies, in particular, in activities with long-lasting impact, such as strengthening democracy and good governance, as well as education and gender equality work.

No more cuts in the development cooperation budget

The majority of Finns (62%) prefer to maintain the current level of development cooperation appropriations. The share of those in favour of cuts decreased from 26 per cent last year to 18 per cent.

The age, sex, level of education and political party affiliation have some bearing on people’s attitudes. The youngest respondents, under 25-year-olds, have the firmest belief in the role of development cooperation in preventing refugee crises. 35 per cent of university degree holders would step up the appropriations, while only 11 percent of those with a vocational degree or mere basic education share their opinion.

More information needed on development cooperation outcomes

More than half of the respondents (61%) agreed totally or somewhat that Finnish development cooperation is effective and efficient. Public trust in development cooperation outcomes has, however, diminished slowly but consistently over the past 15 years.

“The cuts that the Government Programme introduced into development cooperation appropriations have now been implemented and it is time to look forward. This year, the amount of available appropriations exceeds EUR 800 million. The survey also shows that we have the burden of proof for engaging in effective and efficient work,” Minister Mykkänen notes.

“In development cooperation, Finns appreciate activities aiming at securing vital basic needs for people in developing countries. Some examples are the enhancement of water supply, education and health care. In these sectors, the impact of aid can often be seen directly and immediately, and even a small monetary input can bring about a significant improvement,” explains research manager Juho Rahkonen of the Finnish market research company Taloustutkimus.

For this survey, commissioned by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Taloustutkimus conducted computer-aided personal interviews with 1,004 Finns over the age of 15 in May-June 2016. The MFA has surveyed citizens’ views of development cooperation every year since the early 2000’s.

Samples of survey results:

• 84% of Finns (2015: 87%) think that development cooperation and development policy are very or rather important, while 13% (2015: 12%) feel that they have relatively little or very little significance.
• 80% of Finnish citizens are confident that development cooperation can prevent the emergence of refugee crises, and 24% think that it can prevent refugee crises significantly.
• Finns believe that the best way for preventing refugee crises is support for democracy, good governance, gender equality and education through development cooperation, as well as peace mediation.
• 18% (2015: 11%) of the interviewees were in favour of an increase in development cooperation appropriations, while 62% (2015: 61%) thought they should remain unchanged, 18% (2015: 26%) would cut them, and 2% (2015: 3%) had no opinion.
• 61% of Finns regard Finnish development cooperation as effective and efficient, while 31% disagree.
• 84% of Finns (2015: 90%) think that Finnish humanitarian aid is very or rather important, while 15% (2015: 8%) believe it has rather little significance or doesn't make any difference.
• 34% of respondents had heard about the new UN sustainable development goals. Elimination of hunger, securing access to clean water and guaranteeing good health and well-being for all were seen by Finns as the most important goals.
• The interviewees (25 %) thought that development cooperation through the European Union is the most significant form of Finnish development cooperation (2015: humanitarian aid 34%). Supporting the private sector was felt the least important.
• 58% of Finns think that paying taxes is the most efficient way of helping developing countries as a private person (2015: 52%).
• What Finns think of development cooperation? Survey report 2016, and previous years (in Finnish)

Further information:

Juho Rahkonen, Research manager of the market research company Taloustutkimus, tel. 050 375 9008, [email protected]

Suvi Aherto, Special adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, tel. 050 349 6121, [email protected]
The Foreign Ministry's email addresses are of the format [email protected]