Finland

The current Finnish government has adopted a national implementation plan for its 4-year term running until 2019. It is aligned with a broad sustainable development strategy (Commitment 2050) developed by the multi-stakeholder National Commission on Sustainable Development.

The Finnish government is extremely open to NGO input on SDG implementation. NGOs have seats in the National Commission for Sustainable Development, in the sustainable development monitoring expert group, have been invited to the parliament hearings on SDGs, are invited to workshops with the ministries for developing sustainable development budgeting, are always in the HLPF delegation, and were given the floor during Finland’s VNR presentation.

In Finland, there is an informal working group or network for sharing information and planning advocacy with a focus on information-sharing. Members of this informal working group range from development, environment, youth and women organisations to trade unions and meet every 1-2 months. Regular policy dialogues are organised via the National Commission on Sustainable Development.

CSOs have started to adopt the SDGs and the Agenda 2030 in their own work, but no particular case studies are under way. The private sector is engaged as well and developed voluntary SDG commitments through the Society’s Commitment to Sustainable Development.