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The Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted EUR 17 million to international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) for 2021–2024. The support was granted to five organizations for their work on promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHRs) worldwide and for strengthening tax transparency in sub-Saharan Africa. The funding has a significant role in promoting the goals of Finland’s development cooperation. Support to INGOs is one of the ways to contribute to effective and efficient development cooperation. In this call for proposals for discretionary government grants, EUR 15 million was allocated for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights and EUR 2 million for strengthening tax justice.
Funding allocated to tax justice is part of the implementation of the Government’s Taxation for Development Action Program. “A reliable and efficient tax system that is considered just is an essential element of well-functioning societies. Through this funding, we support civil societies’ capacity to call on governments to collect tax revenue and use them for providing public services,” Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari says.
Promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights is one of the key goals in Finland’s development cooperation. The coronavirus pandemic has weakened the availability of SRHR services globally. “The funding will support women’s and girls’ opportunities to access these vitally important services. Through this support we contribute to advancing the lives of women and girls with disabilities, women and girls belonging to minorities and those suffering from humanitarian crises,” Skinnari says. Organizations that received the discretionary government funding include:
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) got EUR 3.5 million for 2021–2022. IPPF is an international federation of family planning associations. Its 118 Member Associations (including Family Federation of Finland) offer information about sexual and reproductive health and rights and related training and services. In addition, the federation is one of the most important actors in international forums in advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Ipas is one of the few international SRHR actors that concentrates mainly on safe abortion and improved access to modern contraception. Among other areas of work, the organization focuses on African countries where the availability of abortion care is limited. Ipas received EUR 3.5 million for 2021–2022
MSI Reproductive Choices (originally Marie Stopes International) is an international non-governmental organization that promotes sexual and reproductive health in 37 countries. MSI got EUR 8 million for 2021–2024
Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) received EUR 1.2 million for 2021–2022. NRGI is an international non-profit organization focusing on the transparency of the extractive industries in countries rich in oil, gas and minerals. NRGI aims to ensure accountability in the sector and sustainable benefits for citizens.
Stichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen (SOMO)is a non-profit center for research on multinational corporations. The organization investigates the impacts of said corporations’ business activities on people and the environment. It works in close cooperation with African non-governmental organizations in promoting tax justice. SOMO received EUR 800,000 for 2021–2022
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