New evaluation of Finland’s environmental and natural resources development programs

New evaluation of Finland’s environmental and natural resources development programs

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publication

March 6, 2026

Richard Lemoine-Rodríguez, a member of our Earth Observation Research Cluster (EORC), contributed to the independent evaluation “Joint Efforts for a Green Future: Evaluation of Finland’s Development Cooperation in Environment, Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, and Private Sector Opportunities”, commissioned by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA) and implemented by Particip GmbH. In this collaboration, our colleague applied natural language processing techniques to extract structured insights from previous project evaluations and reports, optimizing the literature review process, and used satellite-based remote sensing to assess forest dynamics associated with Finland’s forestry programmes in Tanzania, providing evidence of positive trends in forest cover and conservation outcomes.

The evaluation examined how Finland’s development cooperation advanced policy objectives and promoted environmental outcomes between 2010 and 2024. It covered four thematic areas: forests, ecosystems and biodiversity; disaster risk reduction and meteorology; clean energy, circular economy, and critical minerals; and water as a natural resource. The study also assessed opportunities and constraints for private sector engagement. Key findings indicate measurable improvements in environmental conditions and sustainable resource use, including reduced deforestation in targeted areas, increased forest cover, and improved access to clean water. Finland’s support strengthened partner countries’ capacities in environmental data, governance, and evidence-based decision-making, with the most durable outcomes emerging where technical expertise was combined with implementation and financing pathways.
The synthesis report, sub-sector reports, and interactive maps showing forest dynamics in Tanzania are available here:

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