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Finland

Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs handles the development policy and development cooperation.

Finland’s main goal is to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities. Finland’s development cooperation focuses on four priorities: (i) strengthening the status and rights of women and girls, with an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights; (ii) strengthening the economic base of developing countries and creating jobs, with an emphasis on innovations and the role of women in the economy and female entrepreneurship; (iii) education, well-functioning societies and democracy, with an emphasis on high-quality education, improved tax systems, and support for democracy and the rule of law; and (iv) climate change and natural resources, with an emphasis on strengthening adaptation alongside mitigation of climate change, food security and water, meteorology and disaster risk prevention, forests and safeguarding biodiversity.

Finland is a founding member of ADB and has committed $231.2 million to ADB special funds since 1966. Of this commitment, $207.6 million is for the Asian Development Fund (ADF). The ADF provides grants to ADB’s low-income, developing member countries to help reduce poverty and improve quality of life.

Priorities

  • Education
  • Climate action
  • Advancement of women's and girls’ rights
Source:

2030 Agenda – Sustainable Development Goals

News

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$5 Billion Asian Development Fund Replenishment Agreed to Support Most Vulnerable People in Asia and the Pacific

3 May 2024

Donors and ADB have agreed to a replenishment of $5 billion for ADB’s Asian Development Fund 14 and Technical Assistance Special Fund 8. The commitment was made during ADB’s 57th Annual Meeting.

Stories

Viet Nam
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E-Buses Drive Lower Emissions

Eco-friendly e-buses and the first national e-vehicle charging network are helping Viet Nam reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fight climate change, and move people.

Mongolia
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Saving Mongolian Forests with Finnish Expertise

The case study highlights Finland’s technical expertise and leadership in sustainable forest management as ADB tries to build resilience of forest ecosystems in Mongolia by boosting capacity for forest management.

India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic
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Rice Varieties That Are Ready for Climate Change

Climate-adaptive rice varieties are empowering farmers in South and Southeast Asia. The new breeds of rice are tolerant of water stress and will mean bigger harvests and higher incomes for farmers.

Nepal
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Strong Secondary School Systems for Sustainable Growth

The Government of Nepal is working closely with ADB and its financing partners to improve access to and quality of secondary education, beginning with competitive curricula, scholarships for poor students, and pilot-testing model secondary schools.

Cambodia
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Reducing Poverty by Empowering the Farmers

ADB, along with the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Government of Finland, has been helping reduce poverty in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Basin. Through the organization of livelihood improvement groups and the rehabilitation of road and agricultural facilities, they have increased farmers’ access to quality farm inputs.

Knowledge

ADB and Finland collaborated on several knowledge products and/or events including the following:

Active Trust Funds

Active trust funds are those a) with ongoing projects; or b) with no active projects but have remaining funds.

Financing Commitments

Finland contributes to ADB’s development initiatives through two key avenues: Cofinancing and Special Funds.

5-YEARS

  • Project-Specific Cofinancing $7.5 million
  • Trust Funds Contribution $21.8 million

Special Funds

  • Asian Development Fund $207.6 million
  • Technical Assistance Special Fund $11.3 million
  • Pakistan Earthquake Fund $12.3 million

2024 cofinancing highlights

Nonsovereign Cofinancing. The Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) supported 6 transactions valued at $11.1 million with banks domiciled in Finland from 2009 to 2024. During the same period, the TSCFP supported over 190 Finnish exports and/or imports valued at $243.5 million. In 2024 alone, the TSCFP supported 5 Finnish exports and/or imports valued at $1.4 million. Exports and/or imports were mainly to/from Bangladesh, Viet Nam, and Pakistan. Underlying goods involved mostly food and agriculture-related goods, technology and communications, as well as raw and non-energy commodities.

Projects