Extensive project launched to develop regional preparedness for incidents

The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance have launched an extensive project to examine the need for the development of regional preparedness and situation awareness activities. The aim is to introduce as uniform an operating model and practices as possible for managing emergency conditions and various incidents under normal conditions across Finland.

Municipalities, cities, wellbeing services counties, central government operators, regional state administration, businesses critical to security of supply and the third sector play a key role in regional preparedness. In recent years, various crises and changes in the security environment have challenged all operators. Preparedness has become increasingly important as the management of incidents has become more demanding.

The purpose of the project is to assess how regional cooperation, coordination and shared situation awareness in preparedness should be developed. The project will make a proposal for an operating model for regional cooperation, and its guidance.

“Finland has for years done excellent work in ensuring preparedness. Our common goal is for the structures of regional preparedness to support the management of various incidents effectively in the changed security environment,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

The Government Programme aims to bolster comprehensive security, resilience and security of supply. Particular attention is paid to readiness and preparedness.

Aiming for a uniform operating model 

The need to develop regional preparedness has become evident, for example, during the preparation of the reform of regional state administration. Nowadays, areas and sectors have different cooperation structures and practices in place for regional preparedness. The development project includes launching regional pilot projects, and the findings from these projects will be used to define a uniform operating model and to develop central government guidance.

“Regional preparedness requires shared situation awareness, information exchange and coordination between national, regional and local authorities and organisations. In connection with the reform of regional state administration, we will establish more effective practices and structures for cooperation throughout Finland. The aim of the pilot projects is to seek and test cooperation models for new kind of preparedness,” says Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen.

Situation awareness supports command

The project will also examine how situation awareness activities related to incidents and emergency conditions could be organised in the most appropriate manner. Preparedness, incidents and their command always call for a comprehensive situation picture, which in turn requires efficient flow of information and cooperation between a number of different operators. The project will examine, for example, technical systems, communication channels, and practices related to information exchange.

As part of the project, a model will also be drawn up for the regional coordination of crises and the related command responsibilities and for the development of central government guidance.
The final report is due to be completed by 30 August 2025.

Inquiries:

Jussi Korhonen, Director, Civil Emergency Preparedness, firstname.lastname@gov.fi, tel. +358 295 488 289 (Ministry of the Interior)
Ville Autero, Ministerial Adviser, firstname.lastname@gov.fi, tel. +358 295 488 427 (Ministry of the Interior)
Virpi Mustonen, Ministerial Adviser,firstname.lastname@gov.fi, tel. +358 295 530 052 (Ministry of Finance)