In the National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme (2024-2027) (Valtakunnallinen nuorisotyön ja -politiikan ohjelma (VANUPO) 2024–2027), adopted as a government resolution in March 2024, one of the main objectives is to improve young people’s opportunities to participate in and influence social debate and decision-making. The programme aims to better integrate hearings into the preparatory work of ministries, expand participation opportunities for young people, and strengthen democracy and human rights education in co-operation with the National Programme to Promote Democracy and Participation (2025-2027) (Kansallinen ohjelma demokratian ja osallistumisen edistämiseksi, in Finnish). Addressing climate change and biodiversity loss can be recognised as one of the thematic areas where young people’s participation is supported (See Youth Wiki/Finland 5.5 National strategy to increase youth participation.)

The development of youth participation opportunities, for example, through the establishment of youth councils, has a long history at the local level in municipalities. More recently, these councils have also become statutory at the regional level in the wellbeing services counties (see Youth Wiki/Finland 5.3 Youth representation bodies. The arenas of participation, for example, in wellbeing planning or participatory budgeting at the local and regional level, are described in Youth Wiki/Finland 5.1 General context. The principles of good administration in consultation processes are described in Youth Wiki/Finland 5.4 Young people’s participation in policy-making. 

As mentioned in Youth Wiki/Finland 5.6 Supporting youth organisations, non-governmental youth and youth work organisations set their own objectives, which means they enjoy a high level of autonomy. However, one of the most important laws regulating the activities of organisations is the Associations Act (Yhdistyslaki, also available in Swedish). On the other hand, the Youth Act (72/2016) (Nuorisolaki, available also in Swedish) specifies the objectives and values of youth work and youth policy. The aim of the Youth Act is to support young people’s growth and independence and promote active citizenship. National youth and youth work organisations are eligible to apply for state subsidies. In accordance with the Youth Act, subsidies for them are allocated based on the organisation’s management of its finances, its nationwide presence, and the quality, scope and social impact of its activities. The Ministry of Education and Culture takes into account the type of youth work the organisation carries out, its sphere of activity, membership base and degree of volunteering and youth participation in its decision-making.