Rural Policy Council

The Rural Policy Council (MANE) is an advisory body appointed by the Finnish government. It provides strategic leadership for national rural policy and is responsible for its development.

MANE has now been appointed for the term from March 5th 2026 to February 28th 2031. The council is chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry responsible for rural policy, Sari Essayah. The vice-chairs are the Minister of Employment, Matias Marttinen, the Minister of Economic Affairs, Sakari Puisto, and the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Industry in Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Minna-Mari Kaila.

Rural Policy Council brings rural perspectives into decision-making, supports the government in matters concerning rural areas and promotes cross-sectoral cooperation. The Council’s structure and operating practices are described in the most recent Rural Policy Report (Figure). MANE is composed of representatives from different sectors and all levels of society, from the local to the national level. The council consists of 38 members and 4 expert members. MANE convenes approximately four times per year and operates in a network-based manner supported by a secretariat.

The MANE secretariat is composed of representatives from the member organisations of rural policy as well as from other actors involved in the broader rural policy network. The thematic networks operating under MANE support the implementation of the tasks assigned to the council. The thematic networks are MAALLEKO - Network of Rural Livability, Housing and Integration, KERÄ - Network for sustainable rural areas and a just transition and TUUMA27. The contact persons of the thematic networks are members of the secretariat. The activities of the secretariat are coordinated by the Secretary General of the Rural Policy Council at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, supported by civil servants responsible for rural policy matters and assistant secretaries general appointed by MANE.