Advisory Board on Civil Society Policy (KANE)

The Advisory Board for Civil Society Policy (KANE), set by the Government for a four-year term at a time, operates in connection with the Ministry of Justice. KANE's tasks include promoting the interaction between administration and civil society and enhancing the operating conditions for civil society. 

The advisory board consists of representatives of civil society, research, 
business sector, ministries and other public agencies.  The appointees to the advisory board include 19 members and 19 alternate members, as well as the chair and vice-chair. 

Inquiries: 

Government Decree on the Advisory Board on Civil Society Policy (269/2007) (in Finnish) and Amendment to section 3 (1285/2011) (in Finnish). 

According to the Decree on KANE, registered associations in the following sectors are eligible to apply for membership: 

• fitness and sports organisations
• children's and youth organisations
• educational and cultural organisations
• social and health organisations
• environmental and residents' organisations
• human rights and equality organisations
• minority and migrant organisations
• entrepreneur organisations. 

People may also apply to the advisory board to represent free civic activities (so-called civic fourth-sector activities) and civil society research.

The Government has appointed the Advisory Board on Civil Society Policy (KANE) for a four-year term from 27 January 2022 to 26 January 2026. Applications for the next term can be submitted in 2026. The Ministry of Justice publishes information and instructions regarding the application on this website.

When evaluating applications, special attention is paid to ensuring that the members of the advisory board would represent Finnish civil society in a diverse and extensive manner within the limits set by the decree. Other criteria examined include the scope and versatility of the applicant's networks as well as its possibilities to participate in the advisory board's activities. The members and alternate members may represent different organisations in the same sector. In the selection process, efforts are also made to ensure involving, as far as possible, new actors in the activities of the advisory board.