KEPA's principles

Approved in the autumn meeting 28.11.1997

Foreword

Once again, humankind has to find solutions to huge problems regarding not only the future of human beings but of the entire world. Technological advances have opened up new possibilities, which were hard to imagine in the past. At the same time, threatening agents of change have become even more real. We must develop our thinking and be even more purposeful in our deeds, if we are to ensure the conditions for a good life for us and for the future generations.

Since the end of the cold war the world has witnessed unprecedented upheavals. Science and technology have become significant production factors. Economic activity, trade and capital move almost without any restriction. Globalisation, the world-wide opening up of borders, has a contradictory impact particularly on developing countries, but also in the old industrialised countries.

The "North" does not represent a common social model. The struggle between the North-European welfare state, with its emphasis in solidarity, and North-American neo-liberalism, which advocates individualism, is continuing. In some parts of the former Soviet bloc, poverty and social problems are close to those of traditional developing countries. For many, the time has come to look for new social models, which allow the most positive aspects of different social approaches to come forward.

Market forces have been given more and more power to direct the development. Parallel, the possibilities for politics to regulate the development of society have diminished. This is the consequence of the decisions to dismantle the social regulations. The liberalisation of the market has also had a positive impact, when successful companies have produced new profits in an environment of international competition. However, the usefulness of these gains from the point of view of the entire society can be questioned, since investors operate beyond national borders and invest in the most profitable regions. Governments, in turn, have favoured the creation of such conditions that may be attractive to investors.

In the poor countries of the South the internationalisation has had a dual. The internationalisation of economic activity, of business and trade has prompted the emergence of fast-developing regions and centres, characterised by jobs creation and material well-being. Some countries, which not long ago were still among the poorest countries are quickly approaching the level of old industrialised countries. Private investors have increased their capital investments in a number of regions, e.g. in Asia, by ten times during the last ten years. On the other hand, development and economic growth only concern specific areas and companies, and not society as a whole. The majority of the least developed Sub-Saharan African countries have not been touched by this growth wave.

During the 1990s, investments flows from industrialised countries to developing countries increased vigorously, whereas traditional development cooperation has declined. Most of these investments have been directed towards the growth centres of some 20 countries and only an infinitesimal share went to the least developed countries. Simultaneously, development cooperation towards the poorest developing countries experienced the greatest cuts in relative terms. These factors enlarged traditional the gap between the "Third world" countries.

Globalisation has embraced not only capitals and labour markets, but also services, culture and even thinking. The negative effects of technological change can be seen in industrialised countries, but they constitute especially harsh threats for most vulnerable developing countries. There exists a danger that the independent development of poorer regions will be prevented.

Many institutions, organisations, governments and big corporations have taken care of their own interests amidst this internationalising world. However, one of the greatest questions of our time is how to change the direction of development in such a way that the interests of human beings and nature be taken into consideration.

And this requires action at all levels, locally and globally.

Global political cooperation is needed to regulate the operations of transnational corporations and to restrict their influence. For instance, far-reaching international cooperation is needed in the fields of fiscal and environmental policy. Moreover, it implies the strengthening and democratisation of the United Nations and other international institutions. The violations of human rights continue to be common in developing countries despite international declarations. Means must be found to implement the 50 years old UN Human Rights Declaration.

Initiatives are needed to broaden social and economic development as well as space for action and diversity at the local level. Localisation must be supported as a counterbalance to globalisation.

Organisations based on voluntary work and networks among people must influence development across the world. Development should be based on values which are acceptable and right for the majority of humankind. When defining this, one must take into account what is best for humans, communities, the entire globe and future generations.

Economic indicators only tell part of what development and good life really are. In addition to the economic aspects, they consist of the inextricable possibility for human beings to take part in decision-making - i.e. democracy and justice - to enjoy a more equitable distribution of well-being, gender equality, the right to grow up and have access to education, to work for a healthy life, to secure the biodiversity and the continuity of life cycles for future generations.

The present generation is facing the great challenge of bringing together the good opportunities provided by an opening world with the principles of shared responsibility and partnership, in which the values perceived by people as rightful , become true. We must create a world of new opportunities, where there is room for big and small, be it initiatives by individuals, social aspirations or corporate action.

We live together in the world. I parallel with a culture which stresses individualism and personal advantage we must educate for partnership and shared responsibility, which instil individual life with greater significance and purpose. Finland enjoys a good name in the international community and it is worth cherishing such reputation. As Finns we can influence the world's development more than many of those nations which are burdened by their heritage of colonial power and conquest policies.

We have tried above to describe briefly the world situation, which served as the background when drafting KEPA's declaration of principles. The world changes continuously, just as our understanding of the world and of the direction of the changes it requires. The time of eternal declarations of principles is over. But the basic values of our declaration, world-wide shared responsibility and international solidarity, remain for ever.

Tapani Ruokanen
Chairman

Folke Sundman
Executive Director

1. Basic tasks and values

KEPA is an ideologically, politically and religiously independent organisation of co-operation, whose members are committed to promoting collectively cherished values. The member organisations have their own specific goals and aspirations, which are not in conflict with the common values. The members of KEPA try to apply the common values in their own practical activities as well as in co-operation with other organisations. The differences in peoples' ideological background, age, gender, education, traditions along with the differences in traditions and culture of the member organisations provide various possibilities for a joint and consistent realisation of these principles in practice.

KEPA´s basic task is to encourage, support and organise the Finnish civil society to participate in actions that promote global responsibility. The main instrument for the fulfilment of this goal is the Partnership Programme through which KEPA

1. increases the awareness of global issues in Finnish civil society and improves its ability to act by organising information, training, campaigns and service activities for and in co-operation with Finnish non-governmental organisations and
2. strengthens the civil societies in the developing countries through their own field activities as well as through building co-operation networks between Finnish and Southern non-governmental organisations

By partnership we mean a long term equal relationship, interaction and co-operation between two or more partners.

The basic values of KEPA´s Partnership programme and its other activities are global responsibility and international solidarity.

These basic values include

• sustainable development
• environmental protection
• justice
• tolerance
• equality
• desire for peace
• human rights
• democracy

2. Main policy guidelines

KEPA is a network for co-operation, whose voice is that of the Finnish third world movement in which the accents of both the North and South co-operation partners are heard. Together with our partners we have more to say than we would have alone. At the same time we are a representative of Finnish organisations and their partners. Kepa acts both independently and in conjunction with its member organisations in concrete development co-operation work and on development political issues.

KEPA represents a broad spectrum of opinion in development co-operation in Finland. Development co-operation work, as we understand it, consists of interaction between civil societies and human beings, exchange of information and experiences and building bridges between communities and individuals. The opinion that is channelled through Kepa is the collective voice of the Finnish civil society to the government. In this way KEPA functions as an active moulder of public opinion.

KEPA is a builder of bridges and not merely content with the role as a conveyor of opinions, but also offers services and channels for the realisation of development co-operation in practice. In its public pronouncements and concrete actions KEPA leans on the support of its member organisations.

KEPA emphasises cultural exchange and co-operation of non-governmental organisations as part of development co-operation activities: both - the North as well as the South - have something to give to each other in a joint partnership. Cultural differences is a resource which Finns are also among the recipients.

KEPA follows the activities of international institutions, such as the European Union, the Word Bank and the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation and informs its members about the activities of these institutions and tries to influence their policies. It is Kepa's task to inform citizens of the effects of globalisation and the possibilities for action in the international institutions.

KEPA strives at developing local strategies and voluntary-based activities. Kepa wants to influence economic policies in the North and South. It has an initiating and co-ordinating task especially on issues and projects, in which there exists a broad common consent in the third world movement.

KEPA's field work and its activities in the area of development policy reinforce each other, brought together in KEPA's main task. The partnership between people and organisations in the North and South demands experience in both, and it is achieved through long term practical co-operation.

It is KEPA's task to inspire the general public into collaborative action through its campaigns and to offer people natural and easily accessible channels for practical work through its member organisations. KEPA is also itself a channel for work in the South. KEPA strives at influencing the political and economic decision makers in Finland as well as in the South. Credible actions require experience in both areas.

KEPA's field of operations consists of a wide variety of elements of different kinds at different levels. Our task is to support the work of our Southern partners in order to secure the basic conditions necessary for their capacity to function. Kepa also connects the small projects together in a larger context and network. KEPA's programmes are diverse, so that they can be useful at different levels of the society and by different kinds of organisations.

KEPA's task is to offer working possibilities in the developing countries to young activists and specialists. Therefore Kepa organises youth exchange, and gives its member organisations information about available persons.

KEPA also offers training and other services to Finnish non-governmental organisations on issues concerning development policies and development co-operation. KEPA also acts as an information bank on developing countries.

KEPA works in co-operation with different Government institutions and also tries to influence political decision makers. Its main co-operation partner in practical matters is the Department of Development Co-operation in the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. KEPA offers alternative channels and lines of action to the official development co-operation. The experience in practical field work offers possibilities and material for shaping and influencing a development co-operation policy. KEPA creates connections between the agents of official development aid and those of voluntary organisations, and between NGO´s, in Finland and those in the partnership countries in the South.

3. Working methods

By KEPA's operation strategy we mean undertaking concrete activities whose objective is to realise common cherished values. The strategies are pursued in a medium range action plan based on this declaration.

The goals of the strategy will be achieved through the following means and forms of action:

Partnership is our joint task and possibility!

• KEPA functions as a co-operation network between partners of the North and South.
  
• KEPA works to strengthen the activities of community groups, civil society and voluntary-based organisations in the South and promote networking between organisations.
  
• KEPA helps co-operation partners to strengthen their working capabilities and carries out joint projects with them.
  
• KEPA co-operates especially with organisations in the south whose activities are aimed at producing social changes, such as environmental, human rights, women's organisations and organisations for the disabled.
  
• KEPA promotes multiculturalism and participates in cultural co-operation and exchange.
  
• KEPA respects cultural diversity and the ability to learn in mutual interaction.

Together we constitute the voice of the third world movement!

• KEPA secures the basic conditions necessary for working for the activities of Finnish non-governmental organisations.
  
• KEPA also operates as an umbrella organisation carrying collective responsibility for Finland's third world movement.
  
• KEPA takes part in the discussion on globalisation also at a practical level through development co-operation projects.
  
• KEPA follows and participates the international development co-operation debate.
  
• KEPA supports the campaigns of the third world movement and organises joint prominent performances.
  
• KEPA represents the Finnish third world movement in, and takes an active part in shaping the development policy of the European Union.
  
• KEPA maintains active and diverse contacts with the international and local organisations and networks of the development movement.
  
• KEPA is engaged in information dissemination related to its area of activities and produces educational and other information services to Finnish non-governmental organisations.
  
• KEPA is engaged in study and research that are in accordance with and support its line of activities.