Evaluations help improve results
The independent evaluation function by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs produces objective information on the achievements and challenges of development policy. The information produced is utilised in planning, results-based management and quality assurance processes in the Ministry. Findings are also recorded in an electronic system where they can be viewed alongside other result data. The completed reports are published on the Ministry's website, and public presentation and discussion events are organised on them.
The evaluations provide recommendations for increasing the impact of development policy and cooperation. They are also used to collect evidence-based information to support decision-making and policy dialogue. Concrete follow-up measures will be taken by the Ministry on the basis of the recommendations.
Nine strategic evaluations, around one hundred project evaluations and other different assessments were implemented in 2019-2021. Strategic information is produced through extensive evaluations of development policy objectives and priorities, cooperation instruments, country programmes and various sector policies. The results of project evaluations are used in the planning and steering of project activities.
According to evaluations, Finland’s development cooperation combines the objectives of Finland and its partners.
According to the evaluation reports from the past three years, Finland's development cooperation has been successful and has produced positive development both in partner countries and internationally. The activities are aligned with the objectives of both our partners and Finland. Challenges have included limited personnel and resources, instability of operating environments and the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the strategic spheres of governance and policies of development cooperation have not been coherent enough.
Evaluations are part of knowledge management
The evaluation of knowledge management carried out in 2019 confirmed that centralised evaluations have produced useful information and had a successful impact on decision-making. Result data has been used at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the development of strategies, policies and projects. According to the evaluation, result data can be used even more effectively, especially in the steering of resources. There was also room for improvement in the further refining of information and its aggregation and accumulation, as well as in the development of structures that promote learning. The report states that overall the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has a strong working environment that supports evaluation.
According to a peer review of the evaluation functions of Finland, Ireland and Switzerland completed in 2021, the evaluation activities of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs were proven to be independent and objective. In particular, there is room for improvement in the usability and readability of evaluations, the management of the scope of evaluation assignments, and the diversification of the information products.
A meta-evaluation completed in spring 2022 found that project-level evaluations have provided practical and meaningful information to guide and develop operations. All in all, project evaluations are considered useful, but the information obtained from them does not spread widely within the organisation.
Finland was the first country to carry out an independent and objective evaluation of its national implementation of the Agenda 2030(Link to another website.). The planning of the evaluation began in spring 2018, and the evaluation itself was completed in February 2019. Finland and the evaluation function of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs garnered extensive international visibility, and Finland promoted the evaluation of sustainable development in international forums.
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An entry is made in connection with new funding decisions based on the targets set on a scale comprising human rights blind, human rights sensitive (taking human rights into account), human rights progressive (promoting human rights) and human rights transformative (addressing human rights challenges) or not specified.
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The entries are made on the basis of target-setting in connection with new funding decisions. The sample contains the funding decisions which have the promotion of gender equality as the principal or significant objective.
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A three-year average of decisions involving funding that supports equality. For example, the figure for 2017 shows the average for 2015-2017.
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Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network.
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OECD DAC Corruption Risk Management Recommendations 2016. https://www.oecd.org/corruption/oecd-recommendation-for-development-cooperation-actors-on-managing-risks-of-corruption.htm
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London Safeguarding Summit 2018 commitments. https://www.gov.uk/ government/collections/safeguarding-summit-commitments
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The Ministry for Foreign Affairs (16 May 2022): Table 4. Development financing payments to Finland’s largest partner countries 2016-2021. https://um.fi/documents/35732/0/Tilastoliite+2021%2C+osa2. pdf/47739300-0dac-50c8-d9ce-706195ee8070?t=1649772600686
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MOPAN (16 May 2022) MOPAN Assessment library https://www. mopanonline.org/assessments/
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MOPAN: 2017-18 ASSESSMENTS, Global Environment Facility (GEF) 2019. https://www.mopanonline.org/assessments/gef2017-18/GEF%20 Report.pdf
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MOPAN: 2017-18 ASSESSMENTS, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 2019.
https://www.mopanonline.org/assessments/unfpa2017-18/UNFPA%20Report.pdf(Link to another website.) - 11
MOPAN: 2017-18 ASSESSMENTS, UN Women 2019. https://www.mopanonline.org/assessments/unwomen2017-18/Final_assessment_UN_Women_2019_02_14.pdf(Link to another website.)
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MOPAN: Assessment Report United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 2021. https://www.mopanonline.org/assessments/unicef2020/MOPAN%20Assessment%20UNICEF%20web%20[for%20download].pdf(Link to another website.)
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Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (2020). Finnish Development Policy Influencing Activities in Multilateral Organisations, Volume 1, Main report. https://um.fi/documents/384998/0/Vol1+_MainReport_Evaluation+of+Finnish+Development+Policy+Influencing+Activities+in+Multilateral+Organisations+%281%29.pdf/2666cd6a-0bb2-1c76-0659-db1ac6fa30bf?t=1591860985653
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A more in-depth examination was conducted by the World Bank Group, UNFPA, UNICEF, the World Food Programme WFP, UN Women, International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD, the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO and the International Trade Centre ITC.
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MOPAN: 2017-18 ASSESSMENTS, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 2019. https://www.mopanonline.org/assessments/ifad2017-18/IFAD%20Report.pdf(Link to another website.)
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African Development Bank Group (2022). Annual Development Effectiveness Review 2022. https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/annual-development-effectiveness-review-2022(Link to another website.)
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European Commission (2021). Global Europe: Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument. https://ec.europa.eu/ info/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/global-europe-neighbourhood-development-and-international-cooperation-instrument_fi
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One of the organisations receiving programme support is Fingo, the members of which include 270 Finnish civil society organisations.
Factors facilitating effectiveness
- a systematic and long-term approach
- close cooperation with different partners and networks
- building on development policy priorities, country strategies and programmes and a comprehensive network of delegations
- an ability to seize new opportunities and adapt to changing situations
- the demand-driven nature of operations and ownership by partners
- good personal relations with international actors and institutional partnership, especially in policy influencing
- correctly selected funding channels and forms of cooperation
- effective use of multilateral channels in both stable and fragile operating environments
- successful local cooperation to achieve policy objectives
- utilisation of bilateral development cooperation in countries that are transitioning from development cooperation to other forms of cooperation between countries
- a motivated personnel and positive attitudes towards the utilisation of result data
Factors hindering effectiveness
- the limited number of personnel and high staff turnover
- interruptions in coordination both within the organisation and with external actors
- the limited utilisation of local competence
- uncertainties in the operating environment, such as the COVID-19 pandemic
- conflicting or unrealistic objectives
- challenging coordination of different areas of responsibility, lack of overall vision between policies, and large and fragmented entities
- lack of some strategic or guiding objectives, such as those concerning the use of private sector financial instruments or transition from development cooperation to other forms of collaboration;
- limited impact of small projects compared with the needs
- inflexible financial structures and procedures
- an organisation culture that avoids risks
- practical difficulties in taking cross-cutting objectives into account and implementing the human rights-based approach