Publications

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has implemented a rule of law project funded by Finland in Uzbekistan in 2022-2025. UNDP Uzbekistan worked closely with civil society organisations and government authorities. According to the evaluation, the project supported Uzbekistan's own development objectives and delivered concrete results.

The review assesses the support provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA) to International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) working in the field of human rights between 2022 and 2024. The review focuses on results achieved, progress made, and the added value of the funding portfolio.

Finland participated in the joint evaluation conducted by the COVID‑19 Global Evaluation Coalition. The evaluation examined the international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance response to the COVID‑19 crisis in 2020–2022.

The synthesis report on European Investment Bank Group's (EIB) contribution to the European Union's Multiannual Financial Framework compiles key insights and recommendations from evaluations of EIB Group activities under the current Multiannual Financial Framework (2021–2027).

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is Finland’s main channel for international environmental financing to developing countries, and through GEF Finland fulfills its financial commitments under international climate and environmental agreements. In 2025, a MOPAN (Multilateral Performance Network) assessment of GEF was carried out, portraying GEF as a well-functioning multilateral fund.

The Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Independent Evaluation Office has published the Eighth Overall Performance Study (OPS8), which reviews GEF’s activities during 2022–2025. The report shows that GEF has been a key player in global environmental protection and the promotion of sustainable development. GEF is Finland’s main channel for international environmental financing, and through GEF, Finland fulfills its financial commitments under international climate and environmental agreements.

The first phase (2019–2024) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) project was evaluated. The project was implemented in five African partner countries: Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Madagascar, and Mozambique. Its aim is to promote the implementation of labor rights. Key focus areas include the implementation of ILO’s core conventions, prevention of child labor and forced labor, workplace equality, responsible business practices, and the green economy.

An external review assessed three IUFRO programmes funded by Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs during 2014–2024: the Science-Policy Programme (SciPol), World Forests, Society and Environment (WFSE), and the Special Programme for Development of Capacities (SPDC). The evaluation examined how these initiatives strengthened the role of forest science in international policy, promoted knowledge exchange, and built capacity, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions.

The evaluation highlighted the significance of UNDP’s Tax for SDGs initiative in advancing financing for sustainable development. Work carried out with Finnish funding in 2022-2025 strengthened the mobilization of domestic resources in developing countries.

The “Support of the National Reconciliation and Local Governance in Somalia (MIDEEYE)” project was implemented from 2021-2024 by Finn Church Aid, together with the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. The final evaluation of the MIDEEYE project found that initiative significantly strengthened reconciliation processes, inclusive governance and institutional capacity across Somalia, supporting ongoing state-building efforts and implementation of national frameworks for reconciliation and local governance.

The evaluation of the Realizing Rights for All (ReAll) programme covers the years April 2022–December 2024. The programme aimed to empower marginalized communities to influence economic and environmental policies affecting their rights. It was implemented by Minority Rights Group (MRG), Centre for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), and Global Initiative for Economic Social and Cultura Rights (GI-ESCR) across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

The evaluation of International Alert’s project “Enabling the Business and Human Rights Agenda in Conflict-Affected Settings” covers the period July 2022–March 2025. The project aimed to empower civil society actors to advocate for communities affected by business-related human rights violations and promote conflict-sensitive Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). It was implemented by International Alert in partnership with Transparency International Kenya, KCSON in Uganda, and CEHRO in Ethiopia.

The external evaluation of the Front Line Defenders (FLD) programme covers the years 2022–2025. The programme aims to strengthen international protection for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), focusing on killings, gender-related threats, digital threats, and business-related threats.

Finnish Water Forum (FWF) operates as a domestic network for the water sector. FWF promotes collaboration and expertise among Finnish water sector actors, as well as international activities, development cooperation, and water-related exports. The 2023–2025 program period was evaluated at the end of 2025.

Department for Asia and Oceania commissioned an external evaluation of its support to the Institutional Cooperation (ICI) in Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan), Vietnam, Nepal and Indonesia. The evaluation covered twelve Institutional Cooperation projects implemented by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), and the Natural Resource Institute Finland (LUKE) with their local partner institutions.

The MIDA FinnSom V midterm review shows that the health sector project has improved the quality and availability of sexual and reproductive health-related services through experts engaged for the project. The project was implemented by IOM from 2022-2025 in Somaliland, continuing Finland’s long-standing support for Somalia’s health sector.

The final evaluation of the project “Enhancing the Institutional Capacity of the Immigration and Naturalization Directorate (IND) in Somalia” covers the entire 14-month project period from 2020 to 2021. The IOM-implemented project aimed to strengthen the capacity of Somalia’s Immigration and Naturalization Directorate (IND) to improve security and state legitimacy regarding migration management and border control.

The UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) was evaluated in 2024–2025. Finland has funded the strategy and promoted its inclusion in the UN’s regular budget, as UNDIS is considered a cost-effective way to mainstream disability inclusion across the UN system.

The mid-term evaluation report of the TARABOT programme covers the years 2020–2024. The programme aims to strengthen the transformative resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly in Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Area C. It is managed by UNDP in collaboration with Palestinian authorities and international donors.

The independent evaluation report reviews the operations of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) during the years 2019–2022. The report assesses the implementation of ICHR’s strategic plan, its impact, and the organization’s ability to promote human rights in a challenging political and social context.

PEGASE (Mécanisme Palestino-Européen de Gestion de l’Aide Socio-Économique) is a funding mechanism of the EU and its member states that supports the recurrent expenditures of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The evaluation covers the years 2018–2019 and aimed to assess the impact, efficiency, and relevance of PEGASE in a changing political and economic context.

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

Evaluation reports on programme support to civil society organisations and foundations from the programme periods of 2014-2017, 2018-2021, 2022-2025.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Action Plan describes the areas of cooperation jointly agreed between Finland and China.

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.

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).

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?

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.

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.