Rural Policy Council (MANE) brings actors together to develop rural areas

Problem addressed: Sparsely populated areas cover 68 % of Finland, but less than 6 % of the population lives in them. The dramatically low population density does not allow to valorise the resources of those areas, for example, the raw materials for the bio-based economy which are located there. To understand the problems, potential, and optimise solutions for such areas, the Rural Policy Council has been set up by the Goverment of Finland; short name is MANE.

How objectives are reached: MANE is part of the implementation of the national Rural Policy Programme for 2014-2020. It is a policy -recommendation body designated and funded by the government of Finland, which also defines its tasks, members and terms of office. It functions as the bridge between rural and state levels. MANNE tasks include: supporting decision-makers in cross-administrative and strategically important rural policy issues and preparing and implementing Government's Rural Policy Agenda 2014-2020, including follow up & impact studies; thematic networks (5 networks: sparsely populated areas (Kainuu coordinates), vibrant operating environment; citizenship and well-being; knowledge knowledge and employment; Swedish-speaking areas); strengthening rural research and know-how; participating in the coordination of national and EU rural and regional policies EU & OECD representation).

Main stakeholders: Public, private and third sector actors from local to national level related to the rural policy.