Work begins on national programme to prevent segregation

Work begins on national programme to prevent segregation

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment appointed a working group to prepare a programme to prevent segregation. The working group will identify measures to reduce segregation. The programme is due to be completed by the end of 2026.

"Preventing segregation is essential to ensure that Finnish cities remain good places to live for everyone. Cooperation between the central government, cities and other partners is key to this work. A national programme to prevent segregation will lay the groundwork for broad and long-term action that must carry across government terms," says Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen.

Segregation refers to the growing differences in the population structure of neighbourhoods, where deprivation and advantage increasingly cluster in specific areas. Area-based disadvantage is closely linked with and overlaps in many ways with people's experiences of wellbeing gaps and wider inequality trends. Segregation has deepened in recent years, especially in the largest cities. This undermines urban vitality and increases inequality.

The need for a national programme emerged in the cooperation carried out by Finland's six largest cities and the central government, although the challenge also affects other cities. Alongside the six largest cities, the working group includes the cities of Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lahti, Joensuu and Rovaniemi.

The aim of the programme is to reduce segregation and its negative impacts. It emphasises a comprehensive, knowledge-based and strategic approach, as well as wide-ranging cooperation between the central government, cities and other partners.

The working group will prepare a national overview of segregation as the basis for the programme. Ahead of the government session on spending limits in spring 2026, it will draw up short-term measures to combat segregation. The national programme to prevent segregation in the long term must be completed by the end of 2026.

The working group is chaired by Johanna Osenius, Director for Regional Development at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The vice-chairs are Senior Ministerial Adviser Jaana Nevalainen from the Ministry of the Environment and Director General Eeva-Riitta Pirhonen from the Ministry of Education and Culture. The working group includes representatives from several ministries, the largest cities and expert organisations such as the Association of Finnish Cities and Municipalities, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Finnish Environment Institute.

Inquiries:
Katja Palonen, Chief Specialist, secretary general of the working group, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 071
Johanna Osenius, Director for Regional Development, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 064 937

The Ministry's email addresses are in the format [email protected]