Evaluation report: Evaluation of the Finnish Development Policy Influencing in the European Union

An independent evaluation concluded that Finland’s process for influencing the European Union (EU) on development cooperation is relevant, coherent, reasonably efficient and runs smoothly. However, institutionalised Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems are almost non-existent.

The evaluation covered the period 2014 to 2021 and it looked a bit deeper at a few key debates on EU development cooperation during those years: The 2019 Finnish Presidency, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) negotiations and Team Europe.

The evaluation concluded that Finland’s process for influencing the EU on development cooperation is relevant, coherent, reasonably efficient and runs smoothly. The MFA’s EU influencing strategies are coherent with its development policy and generally well understood, but they are complex, not always well focused, and prioritised, nor always farsighted enough. Furthermore, institutionalised Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems are almost non-existent.

The evaluation recommends, inter alia, that the Ministry should further expand the strategic use of the EU as a cooperation and influencing channel, through strong leadership and clearer priorities; forward-looking influencing strategies; increased staff skills, presence and engagement; supportive organisational management and coordination set up; collaboration with stakeholders; and organisational learning mechanisms in support of strategizing on EU influencing. 

The evaluation was based on 110 interviews with MFA staff and officials from the EU and a selection of other EU member states as well as on published and internal ministry documents. Partner-country case studies were done on Finnish and EU cooperation in Nepal, Tanzania and Ukraine as well as a survey of EU delegations and Finnish embassy staff in 14 partner countries. A peer review was conducted with six other EU member states (Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Portugal and Sweden).

Evaluation report

Evaluation of the Finnish Development Policy Influencing in the European Union, Volume 1, Main report (PDF, 221 pages, 15.4 MB)

Evaluation of the Finnish Development Policy Influencing in the European Union, Volume 2 (PDF, 136 pages, 5.7 MB)

Summary

An Honest Broker with a Value Agenda – Finnish Development Policy Influencing in the European Union (PDF, 4 pages, 359 KB)

Thematic briefs

Thematic brief – Education (PDF, 4 pages, 305 KB)

Thematic brief – Gender equality (PDF, 5 pages, 314 KB)

Thematic brief – Rights of persons with disabilities (PDF, 4 pages, 338 KB)

Thematic brief – Governance and human rights (PDF, 3 pages, 307 KB)

Thematic brief – Climate change and forestry (PDF, 7 pages, 373 KB)

Presentation of evaluation results

Video greeting: Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner (International Partnerships), European Commission(Link to another website.) (link to MP4 video)

Presentation of evaluation results in webinar 28 October 2022(Link to another website.) (link to MP4 video)

PowerPoint presentation of evaluation results - Webinar 28 October 2022 (PDF, 26 pages, 3.3 MB)