Publications
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Country Programme for Development Cooperation : Ukraine 2025–2028
Finland's Country Programme for Development Cooperation in Ukraine (2025-2028) is a part of Finland's comprehensive approach to its cooperation with Ukraine and it complements Finland's National Plan for Reconstruction of Ukraine. The Country Programme se... -
Review Report: Digital and Development
The Digital and Development Review examines how Finland has supported digitalisation through its development policy and cooperation between 2018 and 2024, and what impact this support has had on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The review provides an overview of achievements, challenges, and future recommendations regarding Finland’s role in international digital development.
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Evaluation Report: Project evaluation of the Technical Assistance to Tanzania Revenue Authority
An external evaluation of VERO’s project in Tanzania concludes that the project represents a successful and innovative model of institutional cooperation (ICI) in public administration reform. The project has laid a solid foundation for long-term improvements in Tanzania’s tax administration (TRA). At the core of the project is a peer-to-peer learning model, and its effectiveness has been reinforced by TRA’s strong commitment to implementation.
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Digital and Development: Review of efforts of Finland’s development policy and cooperation in accelerating inclusive digitalisation
Digitalisaatio ja kehitys -tarkastelu arvioi, miten Suomi on tukenut digitalisaatiota kehityspolitiikassaan ja kehitysyhteistyössään vuosina 2018–2024 ja millaisia vaikutuksia tällä tuella on ollut kestävän kehityksen tavoitteiden edistämiseen. Arviointi ...
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Country Programme for development cooperation : Palestine 2025–2028
Finland's Country Programme for Development Cooperation in Palestine (2025–2028) supports a two-state solution and contributes to regional peace and stability. Finland's activities in Palestine are based on the premise that a functioning democracy, the ru... -
Development policy investment strategy 2025-2027
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has adopted a development policy investment strategy for 2025–2027. The aim of development policy investment is to mobilise private capital for responsible and financially sustainable business activities and investments that advance sustainable development in developing countries.
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Evaluation Reports - Programme support to civil society organisations and foundations
Evaluation reports on programme support to civil society organisations and foundations from the programme periods of 2014-2017, 2018-2021, 2022-2025.
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2024 Annual Report on Evaluation - Selected Highlights
The annual development evaluation report 2024 examines the impacts of organisational changes and development policy priorities in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on development evaluation. It also presents the results of the meta-analysis of the country programmes completed during 2024. The guest article focuses on the evaluation of Norway’s support for Ukraine in the context of crisis.
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Country-led evaluation to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals : A guide for evaluation commissioners, managers and evaluators
This guidebook – co-produced by the Development Evaluation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, The German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), IDEAS, and UNICEF – provides a step-by-step guide on conducting evaluations of the Sustainable De... -
The Cumulative Effects of EU Sustainability Legislation (CEULA) : Impacts on Finnish firms
The CEULA project assesses the cumulative effects of five EU sustainability regulatory instruments on large Finnish firms and their global value chains. It addresses the following issues: the cumulative impacts of the regulations on Finnish firms, firm pr...
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Reconstruction of Ukraine : Finland’s national plan, part two
As stated in Prime Minister Orpo’s Government Programme, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs together with the ministries and stakeholders has drawn up a two-part plan for Finland’s participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine. The first part focuses on fi... -
Evaluation report: Sustainable WASH for All – mid-term evaluation
According to the mid-term evaluation of the Sustainable WASH for All (SUSWA) project - a joint project between Nepal, Finland and the EU - SUSWA has renovated old water supply schemes and built also new ones. The project has been successful in raising municipalities' capacities in the water and sanitation sector as a result of its close cooperation with municipalities. SUSWA started in the province of Karnali at the end of 2021 and operates in the country's most remote regions, supporting municipalities in providing water and sanitation services for municipal residents.
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Evaluation report: Mid-term review of programme against gender-based violence in Kenya
The mid-term review examined the performance and results of the Finland-Kenya programme against gender-based violence (GBV) in Kenya and gave recommendations for the future. Gender-based violence is a serious problem in Kenya, and it increased with the coronavirus pandemic. The aim of the bilateral programme between Finland and Kenya is to prevent and reduce gender-based violence, particularly against women and children, and to improve the quality and availability of services for victims, especially at county level.
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Comprehensive national-level review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to UN Women
Finland's national Beijing 30 report presents the most important achievements and challenges in promoting gender equality in the past five years. The report also examines the future. A large number of authorities and civil society organisations have participated in the preparation of the report.
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Export control of dual-use items: Obligations for companies
These guidelines are intended to help companies understand what dual-use items are and how the legislation concerning dual-use items is applied. The aim is to clarify the provisions and procedures for export companies that have the responsibility to familiarise themselves with the national and EU legislation governing the export of dual-use items.
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Joint Action Plan between China and Finland 2025-2029
The Action Plan describes the areas of cooperation jointly agreed between Finland and China.
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Human Resources Equality Plan 2024–2025
Concrete measures have been taken to advance the previous objectives of the Equality Plan, and their implementation has progressed. At the same time, the objectives require continuous action, and the efforts are ongoing. The achievement of the objectiv... -
Evaluation report: Final evaluation of Kenya water programme
The evaluation assessed the impact of the water sector programme in Kenya co-funded by Finland, Sweden and Kenya a few years after the programme ended. The programme was implemented in six Kenyan counties between 2014 and 2021 when power and responsibilities were devolved from the national government to county governments. The aim of the programme was to increase access to clean water, and improve sanitation and water resources management in rural areas of Kenya.
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Evaluation report: Evaluation of the bilateral Finland-Ukraine energy efficiency and renewable energy trust fund
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned an external final evaluation of the bilateral Finland-Ukraine Trust Fund (FUTF) managed by the Nordic environmental finance company Nefco and the Ukrainian Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving (SAEE).
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Meta-analysis of Country Programmes 2021-2024
How have the Country Programmes guided Finland's development cooperation with partner countries and delivered on intended results? How have they been adapted to evolving country contexts and changing conditions? And what is the value added of Country Programmes when compared to individual interventions?
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Evaluation report: Mid-term Evaluation of Finland’s support to Justice Rapid Response 2021-2024
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland commissioned an external mid-term evaluation of Finland’s support to Justice Rapid Response (JRR). JRR is an independent actor providing rapid professional expertise in the investigation, analysis and documentation of the most serious international crimes and serious human rights violations to States, international organizations and courts as well as civil society actors.
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Report on the reform of the operations and management of the Team Finland network
A working group of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment examined the implementation of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government Programme’s entries on Team Finland’s operations. According to the Programme, t... -
2023 Annual Report on Evaluation - Selected Highlights
What works and where is there room for development in Finland's development policy and cooperation? What kind of results have been achieved and what can we learn from them? The Annual Report summarizes the results of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' centralized evaluations and reviews in 2023.
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Evaluation of Finland’s Education Sector Support in Mozambique in 2014-2022
The evaluation commissioned by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs examines Finland's support for the education sector in Mozambique and the results achieved in cooperation. In 2014-2022, Finland supported education sector in Mozambique mainly through the Education Sector Support Fund (FASE). Finland has also funded COACH (Aprender mais), a World Bank pilot project implemented with the government to improve in-service teacher training and teaching materials. The report also examines the complementary impact of other programmes on the overall objectives of the country Strategy.
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Avenues for disability inclusion in climate and biodiversity action
This study maps the opportunities to advance disability inclusion in climate and biodiversity action. International policy frameworks oblige states to mainstream disability inclusion into development and human rights issues, yet climate and biodiversity g... -
Rights and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities : Finland’s Foreign Policy Approach
Rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities, especially women and girls with disabilities, are a long-standing priority in Finland’s human rights-based foreign and security policy, including in development and humanitarian policies. For decades Finl... -
Working group recommendations on the reform of the Foreign Service
On 30 August 2023, Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen appointed an internal working group at the Minister for Foreign Affairs to prepare a reform of the Foreign Service in accordance with the Government Programme. The deadline was set at 1 Decemb... -
Reconstruction of Ukraine : Finland’s national plan, part one
As stated in Prime Minister Orpo's Government Programme, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Finance and business stakeholders have drawn up a plan for Finland's participation in the ... -
Evaluation report: Finland’s Initiatives Focused on Enhanced Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM)
This evaluation focused on Finland’s initiatives on enhanced domestic resource mobilization (DRM). The aim is to help the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA) enhance the effectiveness of its support in this area.
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Evaluation Report: Mid-term Evaluation of the Community-led Accelerated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project in Ethiopia, Phase IV (COWASH IV)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland commissioned an external mid-term evaluation of the Community-led Accelerated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project in Ethiopia, Phase IV (COWASH IV) in 2023.
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Report on the special status of Åland under international law and on the legal issues related to the Russian Consulate in Mariehamn
The first part of the report discusses the special status of Åland under international law. This status is based on several treaties in force and references in other treaties as well as long-established consistent State practice. Of particular relevance i... -
Debt in developing countries : Expert views from Sub-Saharan Africa
The study presents the views of selected experts from Sub-Saharan Africa on the problems many countries in the region face with debt. The debt burden is a critical macroeconomic challenge in the region, as one third of SSA countries are classified either ...
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Evaluation of Finland’s International Climate Finance 2016-2022
This evaluation assessed the relevance and coherence of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland’s (MFA) climate finance in relation to international objectives and actors, identified results that have been delivered over the period 2016-2022 and made suggestions on how the Action Plan for Finland’s Public International Climate Finance could be enhanced going forward.
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Evaluation report: Finland’s development cooperation in the education sector
This independent evaluation examined how Finland has promoted global development in the education sector from 2019 to 2022 and what role it could play in the future. The evaluation analyzed how well multi-actor cooperation has succeeded and what the direction future actions should be.
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Evaluation report: Human Rights-Based Approach in Finland’s Development Policy and Cooperation
This independent evaluation analysed how human rights and the so-called human rights-based approach (HRBA) has been implemented in Finland’s development policy and cooperation during 2019-2021. The evaluation assessed how human rights appear in the language used in various documents, how effectively the human rights-based approach has been implemented and its value. Lastly, the evaluation assessed its linkages with risk management.
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Results Based Management (RBM) in Finland's Development Policy : Managing for Sustainable Development Results - Guiding Document
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland does not define what school of thought or Results Based Management approach its partners who receive development cooperation funding from the Ministry should utilize. However, it requires a results culture that ... -
Inclusive trade and persons with disabilities
Current debates on inclusive trade pay limited attention to how trade policies can be designed and implemented to reduce barriers affecting persons with disabilities. This report contributes to a disability inclusive trade policy agenda by building an ana... -
Review of the process leading to the formation of the School Meals Coalition (SMC)
School meals are delivered to more children than at any time in human history, making school feeding the most extensive social safety net in the world. School meal programs contain positive spin-off effects in various areas of global development (e.g. gen... -
Synthesis Report: External Review and Evaluation Services of Forestry Programmes in Tanzania
External Review and Evaluation Services of Forestry Programmes in Tanzania (ERET) team was contracted for three years (2020-2023) to conduct annual reviews and Mid-Term Evaluations of three forestry programmes in Tanzania: Forestry and Value Chain Development Programme (FORVAC), Participatory Plantation Forestry Programme phase 2 (PFP2), and Tree Outgrowers Support Programme (TOSP). The synthesis report presents the main findings and recommendations from the previous ERET reviews and provides recommendations for the current programmes as well as for the possible future cooperation in the forestry sector in Tanzania.
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Women, Peace and Security : Finland’s National Action Plan 2023−2027
In 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Its implementation is binding on all UN Member States. The principal aim of the Resolution and the nine additional resolutions is to enhance women’s role an... -
Mid-term Review of the technical assistance related to General Education Quality Improvement Programme for Equity (GEQIP-E)
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Federal Ministry of Education of Ethiopia commissioned a Mid-term Review of the technical assistance related to General Education Quality Improvement Programme for Equity (GEQIP-E).
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Mid-term term review of the second phase of the land management project in Ethiopia (REILA II)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland commissioned an external mid-term term review of the second phase of the land management project in Ethiopia (REILA II) in 2020.
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Norm: Reporting, investigating and communicating suspected misconduct in development cooperation
This norm describes the meaning of misconduct in development cooperation and the procedure to be observed in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the event of suspected misconduct in development cooperation.
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Prevention and elimination of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in development cooperation and humanitarian aid
The Guidance Note provides practical information and guidance on the prevention and elimination of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) in development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. The Code of Conduct outlines key terminology and principles, Finland's international commitments, Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ expectations for partners, risk factors for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), and notifying suspicions.
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Does the message get through? : Development communications amidst global challenges and polarized discussion
Evaluoinnissa analysoitiin ulkoministeriön kehitysviestinnän vaikuttavuutta ja sitä, kuinka hyvin se saavuttaa suomalaisen yleisön ja lisää globaalien kehityskysymysten näkyvyyttä. Tarkastelu kohdistui myös sisällöntuotantoon ja sisäisen ja ulkoisen yhtei... -
Review of the MFA's support to international recruitment
Suomalaisten asiantuntijoiden rekrytointi YK:n ja muiden kansainvälisten järjestöjen palvelukseen on tärkeä osa Suomen ulko-, turvallisuus-, kauppa- ja kehityspolitiikkaa. Tämän tarkastelun tavoite oli luoda kattava kuva ulkoministeriön (UM) tukemista kan... -
Finnish Water Way – International Water Strategy
Finnish Water Way – International Water Strategy Finland aims for responsible and equitable water security. The strategy extends to 2030 and builds on the key concept of the Finnish Water Way, a Finnish approach to sustainable water management based on close cross-sectoral collaboration.
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Supporting Human Rights Defenders Together : Guidelines of the Finnish Foreign Service
Supporting human rights defenders is a key part of the implementation of Finland’s human rights-based foreign policy. The guidelines on supporting human rights defenders are intended especially for Foreign Service employees in the Ministry for Foreign ... -
Action Plan for the Finnish Water Way – International Water Strategy of Finland 2023
The Finnish Water Way – International Water Strategy of Finland (2018-2030) is a joint guiding strategy of five ministries (Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health) that stakeholders can also make use of in their activities. The strategy is built on three pillars (I Water for Sustainable Development, II Water for People and III Water for Peace) and their cross-cutting objectives.
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Participation of Finnish Public Sector Institutions in the Implementation of Development Policy and Cooperation : Opportunities and challenges
This study provides an analytical overview of the role and involvement of Finnish public sector institutions in development policy and cooperation, as well as a strategic assessment of the opportunities and challenges that enable or restrict stronger part...