The City of Helsinki’s ethical partnership principles for grant allocation and cooperation with organisations
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Content and purpose of the principles
The City of Helsinki supports organisations, foundations, associations and activity groups by awarding grants, providing premises for use by operators, and engaging in bilateral cooperation or cooperation in partner networks in order to promote the objectives specified in the City Strategy valid at any given time. The purpose of these ethical principles is to harmonise the manner in which the City of Helsinki partners with organisations, associations, foundations and activity groups. These ethical partnership principles common for the entire City organisation are applied to the City of Helsinki’s partnerships with stakeholders belonging to civil society. Partnership refers to mutual, trust-based cooperation with common goals. These principles also apply to cooperation for which the duration or goals of the cooperation are not precisely agreed on.
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Other principles that regulate partnerships
The various services of the City of Helsinki’s divisions, agencies and unincorporated enterprises may have more specific procedural guidelines for their partners. Guidelines are provided for the City’s grant activities in the general guidelines for grants as well as the more detailed committee-specific guidelines valid at any given time. Guidelines for the use of the City’s premises are provided in the principles of use by residents. The City of Helsinki’s ethical principles are obligatory for City employees and elected officials, and stakeholders must also respect them. The principles of participation of the City of Helsinki include the utilisation of the knowledge and expertise of individuals and communities, enabling independent activities and creating equal opportunities for participation.
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Promotion of inclusion, trust and togetherness
Equality is a human right and a fundamental value of society. Mutual trust and respectful interactions between Helsinki residents lay the foundation for mutual togetherness. Helsinki is everyone’s city. Together, we strengthen Helsinki residents’ inclusion and equity as well as gender equality. The activities comply with the Finnish Non-discrimination Act and Act on Equality between Women and Men and respect human rights. The activities do not allow racism, discrimination, sexual harassment or other inappropriate treatment. In our cooperation, we make use of the knowledge and expertise of individuals and communities and create equal opportunities for participation for different groups. Cooperation and partnerships promote a climate of open discussion in Helsinki. This includes truthful communications that leave no space for hate speech.
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Supporting safety and a sense of security
In our cooperation and partnerships, we promote the physical and psychological safety and sense of security of Helsinki residents. We promote everyone’s ability to participate in activities in a safer space, meaning their ability to feel welcome in activities and express themselves without fear of being discriminated against or being treated inappropriately in another way.
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Promotion of a sustainable future
In our cooperation and partnerships, we promote ecologically, economically, socially and culturally sustainable activities and seek to prevent and reduce environmental impacts.
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Promotion of responsible and open governance
We promote responsible, open and good participatory governance, responsible procurement, and prevention of the grey economy.
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Compliance with the principles and monitoring of compliance
Partnerships are based on trust.
If a partner violates these principles, the City will request an account about the matter.
Partners undertake to comply with these principles and address any deficiencies in an appropriate manner.
The City of Helsinki cannot commit to cooperating with activities that fundamentally contradict these principles.