With over 100,000 registered NGOs in Finland, the third sector has vast significance and potential in advancing the readiness of citizens to operate in a digital society. The role NGOs play in cultivating a sense of community and steering citizen activity is apparent nation-wide. NGOs are also valuable service providers, likely even more so in rural areas with less commercial interests at large.
Our research project gathered essential information on how digitalisation has been enhanced in rural Finland by the third sector, and what the implications to the digital competence of individuals in Finnish society it has had.
How we did this
In researching the digitalisation role of NGOs, we worked closely with regional and local organisations, such as existing regional forums for third sector organisations. Response from the third sector was analysed to spot the skill areas most in need of further training and support.
Results were cultivated into new practices of support for rural NGOs in the fields of digitalisation and the knowledge economy.
The project ran from April 2021 to June 2022 and was a collaborative venture between TIEKE, the University of Turku Brahea Center, and regional NGO Kainuun Nuotta in northeastern Finland.
Funding was provided by the Rural Development unit of Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Learn more about the results in Finnish:
