Versatile cooperation between agencies and higher education institutions
The Institutional Cooperation Instrument (ICI) promotes cooperation and peer learning between Finnish state institutions and agencies and state institutions in developing countries. ICI projects enhance the capacities of experts and support organisational reforms. At the same time, the internationalisation, networking and development cooperation competence of Finnish institutions are promoted. ICI projects are typically related to climate change and the sustainable use and management of natural resources. In 2019-2021, this cooperation modality accounted for approximately 2 per cent of the total ODA funding.
According to evaluations, the ICI projects have succeeded in enhancing the capacities of experts in developing countries and improving systems and services provided by the institutions. The best results have been achieved through long-term work which is based on trust and confidential cooperation relationships.
The HEI-ICI programme coordinated by higher education institutions has funded cooperation projects between Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences, and the higher education institutions in developing countries during four-year programme periods. The projects develop the methodological, pedagogical and administrative capabilities of partner institutions. The Finnish National Agency for Education is responsible for the administration of the programme. HEI-ICI projects are planned on the basis of the needs of higher education institutions in developing countries and take into account partner countries' own development goals.
Supporting higher education in developing countries has improved the competence of higher education institutions and the quality of their teaching. The impacts of projects also extend increasingly beyond the higher education system, which is reflected, for example, in an increase in the number of qualified basic education teachers and the creation of new jobs. At the same time, the projects contribute to building a functioning, efficient and equal society, entrepreneurship, sustainable development and to reducing poverty.
One of the significant results of the programme period that ended in 2021 was related to leverage, i.e. attracting external capital. Finland's relatively small initial funding first succeeded in strengthening the competence and administrative capacity of partnering higher education institutions. Then the same educational institutions attracted further, notably higher funding from the World Bank, the EU, Germany and Britain.
Development policy research cooperation will be enhanced through both international and Finnish research institutes and universities. Examples of international research institutes supported by Finland include UNU-WIDER in Helsinki and the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala. Similar Finnish actors include the Academy of Finland and the UniPID network formed by nine universities.
Support allocated for research cooperation has increased the participation of Finnish actors in development cooperation and strengthened cooperation between Finland and developing countries. The projects have improved the ability of developing countries to produce research and innovation. Higher education institutions and research institutes have also been encouraged to utilise the multi-actor model, i.e. cooperation with companies, civil society organisations and other societal actors.
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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.
Research cooperation promotes sustainable development
Finnish actors, on the other hand, are encouraged to produce timely information and to engage in dialogue with actors in developing countries.