Crisis Management NOW brings together people interested in the future of crisis management

Crisis Management NOW brings together people interested in the future of crisis management

Crisis Management NOW was held on 5 May at the University of Helsinki. The event drew experts, decision-makers and others interested in the topic to discuss the development and future direction of comprehensive crisis management. In 2026, Finland marks 70 years of engagement in international crisis management.

Crisis Management NOW offered a broad overview of the current state and future of crisis management in the context of a rapidly changing international security environment. The discussions underlined the role of crisis management for international stability and the need for increasingly close cooperation between military and civilian crisis management.

Crisis management as consistent, value-based action

The event was opened by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, who highlighted Finland's long-term and consistent role in international crisis management.

"Finland is sometimes called a crisis management 'superpower'. For a country of our size, our contribution has indeed been significant - but even more importantly, it has been consistent and value-based."

In his video address, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for United Nations Peace Operations, provided an international perspective, thanking Finland for its long-term and committed participation in UN crisis management. He emphasised the central role of crisis management operations in supporting international stability and the need to develop activities in response to a rapidly changing security environment.

"The presence of peacekeepers has significantly reduced civilian casualties, shortened conflicts and helped to make peace agreements stick," Lacroix said.

In his pre-recorded remarks, Pekka Haavisto, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan, described the current situation in Sudan and gave an overview of the United Nations' work and the challenges in the region.

Panel discussions focused on the present and the future

The first panel discussed the evolution of crisis management from ceasefire monitoring to broad-based, multidimensional operations. Finland's engagement in international crisis management began with the 1956 UN operation in Suez. Since then, more than 60,000 Finns have served as soldiers and civilian experts in international operations around the world.

The second panel focused on the the deteriorating operating environment of crisis management as a result of geopolitical confrontation, Russia's war of aggression and protracted conflicts. The discussion emphasised the need for increasingly comprehensive crisis management centred on protecting civilians, upholding human rights and building resilience.

The panellists delivered a clear message. Despite the operating environment changing, crisis management is still needed - perhaps more than ever.

Career paths, connections and practical examples

Practitioners on stage explored the diverse roles and career paths in crisis management, ranging from mediation to humanitarian aid and rule of law and human rights work. Among the topics highlighted were EU and UN missions and operations as well as work promoting equality and preventing gender-based violence.

In the last session of the day, the focus was on the future of crisis management. The panellists discussed the risks and opportunities of new technologies and the growing role of diverse coalitions complementing traditional structures. They also stressed that sustainable crisis management requires genuine inclusiveness and new ways of engaging different actors, especially women and young people.

At the exhibition stands in Agora Hall, participants connected with crisis management operators, learned about education and recruitment opportunities in the field, and explored practical work in military and civilian crisis management. Equipment used in crisis management operations by the Police, the Finnish Defence Forces, the Finnish Border Guard and Customs was displayed at Senate Square. Customs dogs Ihme and Nekku became popular among the public.

Cooperation at the core of crisis management

The event concluded with remarks by Janne Kuusela, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, who emphasised the significance of cooperation between military and civilian crisis management, policing, development cooperation and humanitarian aid operators.

Crisis Management NOW was coordinated by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and CMC Finland. A wide range of authorities and organisations helped bring the event together.