The aim of the Civil Society Academy is to strengthen civil servants’ knowledge of non-governmental activities and to increase mutual understanding, dialogue and networking between the administration and CSOs.
The Civil Society Academy helps organisations to understand the roles and significance of civil society and civil society organisations in terms of both democracy and the wellbeing in society as a whole.
The Ministry of Finance organises the Civil Society Academy together with the following parties:
Central Organization for Finnish Culture and Arts Associations – KULTA ry
City of Helsinki
Citizen Forum
Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired
Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi
Finnish Union for Senior Services VALLI
Finnish Olympic Committee
Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations STEA
Mannerheim League for Child Welfare
Martha Association
Ministry of Justice Finland
Regional civil society academies
The Civil Society Academy model also serves as a local or regional event. Such events have been piloted and introduced by the Oulu, Jyväskylä and Vaasa regions, among others.
Watch the 2023, 2024 and 2025 Oulu event on YouTube.
NEXT EVENT in Oulu: In 2026, the Oulu Regional Civil Society Academy will be held on 1.10.
In 2024 the city of Oulu has received EU’s URBACT Recognition for Good Practices on its work on Open Gov and regional Civil Society Academy that offers organizations and the public sector a meeting place. The events are implemented and planned together with associations, Youth Councils, the wellbeing services county of North Ostrobothnia, the Council of Oulu Region, the Organization Advisory Board, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Finance.
The Open Government Team encourages all cities, municipalities and regions to use the model
If interested, please contact the Open Government Team.