Policy on non-government organisations
The objective of the policy on non-government organisations is to provide people with the best possible opportunities to organise themselves and take part in popular movements and voluntary associations of different kinds. Issues related to non-government organisations include general issues concerning the terms and conditions for popular movements and other voluntary associations. The policy is focused on the one hand at encouraging and supporting people´s organisation in associations and similar movements, and on the other, at helping to provide a favourable climate for these associations to pursue their activities. Sports issues and the social economy are also part of the policy on non-government organisations.
Work on issues concerning non-government organisations can be divided into four spheres of activity:
- general criteria concerning the terms and conditions for popular movements and voluntary associations,
- general matters concerning grants to popular movements and non-profit organisations,
- statistics, research and other knowledge creation on associations and popular movements and their activities.
All the ministries deal with matters concerning popular movements and voluntary associations, and policy on non-government organisations should therefore be seen as a supplement that specifically involves the voluntary sector.
A concept that is sometimes mentioned in connection with popular movements is "social economy". Social economy refers to activities:
- that are undertaken with the aim of yielding concrete benefits to members or other groups,
- that do not belong to the public sector; and
- where profit-making interests are of secondary importance.
