The National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme (VANUPO) in Finland is a cross-administrative programme that aims to improve the conditions in which young people live and grow by bringing together relevant youth policy actors. Since 2017 and every four years, the government defines its youth objectives and measures for attaining them. The programme also outlines youth work policy decisions, including the priorities determining the selection of national centres of excellence in the youth sector for this programme period, and sets Finland’s national objectives for European and international activities in the youth sector.
The National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme 2020-23 – Finland
Abstract
Description
Copy link to DescriptionThe National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme was adopted as a government resolution to provide guidelines to support young people in their activities and their work based on the Youth Act (1 285/2016). The programme targets all young people under the age of 29 years (1.8 million individuals in Finland) with a particular focus on those aged 12-25. It aims to address youth exclusion and strengthen youth involvement in policy making with three key objectives: promoting equal opportunities for young people and addressing social exclusion; equipping young people with the means and skills for participating and influencing policy making; fostering the safety of young people. To integrate young people’s perspectives into decision-making, the programme operates through three sections: co-ordinating policy goals, setting objectives for European and international activities, and outlining government’s support to youth work. To ensure effective implementation, the programme works in co-operation with other programmes and crosscutting government initiatives, including the Equality Programme, the Programme for the Promotion of Digitalisation, and the Programme to Address Reform in Child and Family Services. Schools and municipalities are involved alongside key stakeholders, including the Centre of Government, relevant national ministries, government agencies and civil society organisations.
Outcomes
Copy link to OutcomesAt the end of each government term, the State Youth Council carries out an assessment of the National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme to evaluate the extent to which objectives were attained and suggests recommendations for the subsequent period. The government’s youth policy programme encompasses 71 measures across 15 categories. The most recent evaluation, covering the 2020-23 period, involved interviews, surveys, memoranda and reports. The data indicates that three-quarters of the measures have been executed, with 51 fully implemented and 11 partially implemented or in progress. Successfully completed measures include a targeted focus on youth homelessness, living conditions, financial management and building financial literacy. Additionally, measures encouraging social inclusion among young people, particularly migrants, exhibited success. The programme positively impacted democracy and human rights education, fostering youth involvement in democratic processes and climate policy discussions. It also reinforced cross-administrative collaboration by identifying cross-administrative objectives, enabling the exchange of information and avoiding duplication of efforts, notably through the establishment of an inter-ministerial working group. Data also indicated that multidisciplinary co-operation among young people has been strengthened and that well-being among young people has been promoted.
Further reading
Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture (2020), The National youth work and youth policy programme 2020-2023; Valtion Nuorisoneuvosto (2023), Valtakunnallisen Nuorisotyön Ja -Politiikan Ohjelman 2020-2023 Arviointi.
This practice also supports the implementation of provisions II.1, III.1, III.2, III.3, IV.1, IV.2, IV.3, IV.4, IV.5 and VI.1of the OECD Recommendation on Creating Better Opportunities for Young People.
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