Finn Church Aid begins change negotiations

The change negotiations concern employees working at Finn Church Aid’s Helsinki office. The estimated staff reduction is a maximum of twenty-seven full-time equivalent.

FINN CHURCH AID (FCA ) is initiating change negotiations due to a sudden and significant reduction in international funding, as well as FCA’s strategic shift to a more partnership-based operating model. The changes are necessary for FCA to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of its operations, says Executive Director Tomi Järvinen. 

Finn Church Aid is Finland’s largest international aid organisation, engaged in development and humanitarian work in the world’s most fragile countries. The organisation’s funding has grown from €31 million in 2013 to nearly €75 million in 2024, and last year FCA’s programme work reached 840,000 people. 

During 2025, global funding trends changed dramatically. Several countries that have long supported development and humanitarian aid changed their policies and cut their funding, including the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. In particular, the United States’ massive cuts to international aid in the spring of 2025 also directly affected FCA’s funding, resulting in a $7 million reduction from FCA’s education projects in Kenya and Uganda. 

In addition to governments, many UN agencies have reduced their funding to civil society organisations. Among others, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has been a significant source of funding for FCA.  

“We are experiencing the greatest global transition phase in development and humanitarian work. At the same time, the need for international aid is greater than ever. For example, with the collapse of US funding, we have already had to adjust our operations, and the schooling of 209,000 children is now at risk,” says Järvinen.  

In 2024, international donors accounted for 53 per cent of FCA’s funding, and this share was expected to increase to as much as 60 per cent in 2025. However, international cuts in 2025 have reversed FCA’s growth. The sharp decline in international funding has a significant impact on FCA, and according to Järvinen, requires rapid adjustment measures. 

The change negotiations aim to secure the financial basis for FCA’s operations and to ensure that its aid work remains high-quality, effective, and impactful in the future. Among other changes, the process aims to increase partnership-based programming. 

“For our crucial aid work to continue and be effective in the future, we need to evaluate our entire operation. Through these measures, we will ensure that we remain a reliable and effective channel of aid,” says Järvinen. 

“Even though the situation is challenging, we will not give up. We will continue to support the world’s most vulnerable people. We want to ensure that the impact of the change negotiations on both our staff and the people we work with is as minimal as possible.”

For more information, please contact Executive Director Tomi Järvinen, e-mail: tomi.jarvinen@kua.fi, tel. +358 40 641 8209.