How can civil society organisations support Finland in times of crisis? University of Vaasa leads nationwide research project

Alongside the University of Vaasa, the consortium includes Laurea University of Applied Sciences, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Pellervo Economic Research PTT and the University of Lapland. Commissioned by the Finnish Government, the KAMUT project will examine how civil society organisations contribute to the tasks set out in Finland’s Security Strategy for Society and help strengthen the resilience of Finnish society.

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– Many people take part in voluntary and organisational activities, for example through recreational organisations, organisations connected with their work or livelihood, and organisations involved in crisis preparedness. Civil society organisations are an essential part of the resilience of Finnish society, says Petri Uusikylä of the University of Vaasa, who leads the research project.

The project will also assess the economic value of the support provided by these organisations for crisis preparedness. The findings can be used to develop societal preparedness and crisis management.

– The capacity of civil society organisations to support society and the authorities during disruptions and emergencies is influenced by numerous factors. These include the organisations’ core missions, their geographical areas of operation and the availability of active members during a crisis. Evaluating this complex combination of factors requires a multidisciplinary approach, says Ville-Pekka Niskanen, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Vaasa.

The study will be based on document analysis, interviews with representatives of civil society organisations and central government, workshops and a survey. The multidisciplinary project will also include a legal analysis examining the opportunities and limitations under the Finnish Constitution for civil society organisations to participate in strengthening societal resilience.

In addition, the project will assess the economic value of the tasks performed by civil society organisations in connection with the Security Strategy for Society. It will also use system dynamics modelling to anticipate the availability and capacity of these organisations in different crisis and disruption scenarios.

The University of Vaasa researchers involved in the project are Research Director Petri Uusikylä, Postdoctoral Researcher Ville-Pekka Niskanen, Project Manager Urho Lintinen and Adjunct Professor Harriet Lonka. The one-year project began in June 2026 and will conclude in June 2027. It was commissioned by the Prime Minister’s Office.