Involving stakeholders in implementing Finland's Sustainable Extractive Industry Action Plan measures

Challenge the practice is addressing: There was a need in Finland for a more broadly based approach and a strengthened framework for implementing agreed actions in the Minerals Strategy. The National Action Plan meets both these needs, while at the same time promoting coherence and consistency across the various initiatives being undertaken as a result of the Action Plan, which seeks to improve policy and the legislative framework.

Concrete practice to achieve the expected goal: Following activities outline the features of a collaborative approach for implementation: a) Stakeholder involvement and high level political commitment for implementation b) Multi-stakeholder collaborative implementation for individual actions: a mix of multi-stakeholder consortia, together with public sector actors (e.g. local or regional authorities or individual ministries), are responsible for the implementation of individual actions. Reporting on progress facilitates the long-term interest and commitment of actors that are responsible for implementation, and, in particular, high-level support (i.e. politicians or company CEOs).

Expected impact/goal of the practice: By building on the original national Mineral Resources Strategy in the Action Plan, Finland has achieved a high political profile for the sector through its engagement with a broader public, strengthening its commitment to developing a sustainable industry. In order to prioritize actions and monitor progress with the Action Plan, an ‘Extractive Industries Working Group’ has been established under the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, which has representatives from several ministries and other parties. A major task of the Working Group is to ensure a continuation of the dialogue between the various stakeholders, but it is also responsible for collecting data on the implementation of the Action Plan, reporting to ministries on progress, and communicating results, and any requirements for up-dating, to the general public.

Who is the target user group of the practice/intervention or implementing the practice/intervention? This practice is for policymakers.