Evaluation: Closer coordination of development cooperation and humanitarian assistance required in refugee situations

Finland's policy coherence in different subareas should be strengthened and there should be closer coordination of development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. The evaluation commends Finland's work to improve the situation of people with disabilities in refugee conditions.

Refugee situations and forced displacement have become more widespread and protracted globally. In 2017, an estimated 68.5 million people were forced to leave their homes. The phenomenon is a challenge to peace and security, human wellbeing and the achievement of the UN’s sustainable development goals.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs commissioned the consulting company Particip GmbH/Indufor to conduct an independent evaluation with the aim of increasing knowledge and understanding of the concept of forced displacement and links between humanitarian assistance and development cooperation objectives, and to help incorporate these concepts into the policies and practices of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The review period covered the years 2012–2018.

The evaluation highlights Finland’s strength in prompting and prioritising the rights of women and girls and people with disabilities. Finland’s work to improve the situation of people with disabilities in refugee conditions has received wide international respect and recognition.

The evaluation also commends Finland for promoting policy coherence. Policy-making and approaches to forced displacement should, however, be better aligned than at present with the objectives of humanitarian assistance, development cooperation and peace-building. More comprehensive policies would be needed for implementing a human rights-based approach in refugee crises, including climate-induced refugee situations.

If success is achieved in better integrating peace-building, the evaluation considers that there is scope for Ministry for Foreign Affairs to become an international frontrunner in its development cooperation programming.

Inquiries: Anu Saxén, Director for Evaluation of Development Cooperation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 350 243

Link to the report Evaluation on Forced Displacement and Finnish Development Policy:
https://um.fi/publications

The Foreign Ministry's email addresses are of the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.