04.12.2024
Guidelines for municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia to enhance cooperation with organisations
By working closely with organisations, municipalities can gain significant benefits for the provision of services, as well as for increasing vitality and the well-being of their residents.
“We need to invest more in the development of cooperation now that the operating environment of municipalities has changed dramatically and the economic situation has tightened. That's why we set out in the North Ostrobothnia Organisational Advisory Board to develop guidelines for municipalities to strengthen cooperation." Esa Aunola, Chairman of the Advisory Board for Organisations and Executive Director of the North Ostrobothnia Village Association.
The guidelines are a concrete list of five measures.
- Associate person: A person responsible for organisational cooperation is appointed in the municipality, and his/her role and resources are clearly defined.
- Use of facilities: The municipality provides organisations with free and accessible facilities for activities of general interest on the basis of fair and transparent principles.
- Grants: Organisational grants are seen as an investment in the well-being and vitality of the municipality. Application processes are made clear and transparent in cooperation with organisations. Associations are granted temporary funding to start project activities.
- Well-being work: Organisations are involved in the preparation of welfare plans and the development of services to bring expertise and experience to them.
- Association cooperation document: Organisations and municipalities compile the practices of cooperation into a document that guides everyday work.
A key issue in the implementation of good cooperation with municipal organisations is the appointment of an organisation contact person. His/her task is to coordinate the activities and, among other things, to regularly invite the local organisations to a joint meeting. The form of action is not new, but the content of the task must be defined more precisely in the future and sufficient resources must be reserved for the work.
In terms of resources, the guidance also mentions grants.
“Despite the tight economic situation, organisation grants must be widely seen as a contribution to the well-being and vitality of municipalities. The expertise and experience of organisations is a significant asset in the operations of municipalities. Together, the actions will reach out to a wider group of citizens and involve them in the activities and their planning.” Heli Hietala The Finnish 4H Association. He was conducting a survey of the organisation's contact persons for the purpose of drafting guidelines.
The ready-made guidelines for organisational cooperation have been submitted to all municipalities in Northern Ostrobothnia and are available on the website of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia.
The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is a body appointed by the provincial government, which represents the provincial organisations in regional development work and acts as a communicator towards the citizens. The Advisory Board was established in 2014. Its term of office shall be a term of office of the Council.
Additional information:
Esa Aunola, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Executive Director of North Ostrobothnia Village Association, +358 40 551 3986, esa.aunola@ppkylat.fi
Heli Hietala, Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board, Specialist Membership and Fundraising Finnish 4H Federation, 044 5569 138, heli.hietala@4h.fi
Ilpo Tapaninen, Secretary of the Advisory Board, Strategy Manager, Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, +358 50 301 7546, ilpo.tapaninen@pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi
Instructions for organisation work available on the website of the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia Organisational Advisory Board - Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia
