Development Cooperation Survey 1999

The survey charts Finnish opinion on development cooperation. Knowledge of the objectives, resources, target countries and policies of Finnish development cooperation were studied. Respondents were asked which geographical area of the world should be the main target of Finnish development aid, and why. They also evaluated the importance of development cooperation to Finnish foreign policy. One question covered main information sources on this matter. Respondents were asked to estimate how much Finland spends on development cooperation annually (as per cent of the GNP) and how much should be spent. The survey carried a set of attitudinal statements relating to the goals of development cooperation (e.g. conflict resolution, poverty reduction, promoting democracy). Further questions covered the United Nations and its developmental activities. One question investigated respondent satisfaction with the speed, volume and targets of disaster relief given by the Finnish government. Views were probed on what kind of role voluntary and non-governmental organizations should play in development aid. Knowledge of EU's development cooperation and the Lome agreement (between the EU and 71 African and Caribbean countries) was surveyed. Lastly, respondents were asked where and what kind of development aid they would provide, if they themselves could decide. Background variables included respondents' age group, gender, economic activity, occupational group, education, household gross income, type of the place of residence, region of residence, and whether the respondent had ever visited developing countries.