Policy coherence across Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals: Lessons from Finland

Motivation Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) expand development agenda. While all major actors support policy coherence for (PCD), analysis has been lacking on how this can be achieved as agenda expands. We discuss relationship between SDGs PCD through a comprehensive case study from Finland. Purpose To examine of Finland’s foreign achieving SDGs, while leaving no one behind. Particular focus is given to policies related private sector’s role in development, attention also paid ministries other than Ministry Foreign Affairs. Approach methods carried out interviews with policy-makers stakeholders, analysed relevant documents. reviewed governmental high-level statements, sectoral alignments, aid position papers that Finnish Government had issued European Union (EU) processes, particularly regarding relating sector. Findings Finland uniquely positioned advance its policy, thanks co-ordination structures across government. Nonetheless, mainstreaming expanded largely limited Affairs department. The breadth SDG enabled individual targets cherry-picked, less advancing whole implementing Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle. Despite an institutional framework seemingly ideal coherence, traditional divisions separate field sustainability environmental issue, remain. Five factors particular hindered coherence: (a) EU taxes migration but ignored commitments; (b) emphasis sector narrowed considerations economic growth; (c) was seen green technology, scant regard social sustainability; (d) firms interpreted mean could address human rights-related concerns corporate responsibility initiatives; (e) cuts staffing stymied innovative thinking working departmental boundaries. Policy Implications generally front-runner issues, which makes it interesting case. outline key challenges faced tackling PCD, should Organisation Economic Co-operation (OECD) countries well. Many are political organizational. As such, they highly dependent settings each country. Our methodological approach replicated similar countries.