Evaluation capacity development

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

The Finnish government emphasises effectiveness, impact and measurement of results in its development policy. Agenda203 and the SDGs provide an overall framework for development policy and cooperation, and a basis for evaluation. Agenda 2030 requires stronger coherence between policy fields and cooperation between the evaluation functions of different ministries. Capacity development is a means to promote this cooperation. Development evaluation is a fundamental element of the ministry’s results-based management system. High quality evaluations and utilization of their results require capacity from staff and the ministry and embassies as institutions. EVA-11 work programme includes several activities that aim at evaluation capacity development and enhanced use of evaluation results throuhgout the foreign affairs: identification of evaluation capacity development needs, design and implementation of training programmes, updating of guidelines, help desk services on evaluation, development of evaluation practices and communications. Capacity development may also be done through participation in international initiatives or processes. The activities funded within the intervention cover evaluation capacity development of ministry and embassy staff, evaluation capacity development of EVA-11 partners and related international cooperation initiatives, basic and further training of EVA-11 staff, study- and networking missions, training of evaluators and support services for capacity development, advisory services and communications. Annual Evaluation Day and event organized to publish evaluation report enhance learning from and use of evaluation results, due to which those costs are foreseen in this project. Total proposed funding is 300 000 euros for years 2021-2023.