At Just Economics we believe that research should be rigorous yet accessible, and support our clients to use evidence to implement progressive change.

Evaluation of Finnfund: The Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation Ltd.

Finnfund is a bilateral development finance institution (DFI) which provides finance to firms in developing countries, to promote social, environmental and economic development. This evaluation of Finnfund was led by Just Economics staff. It was commissioned by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and conducted in partnership with Partcip GmbH.

The goals of this evaluation were to assess Finnfund’s historical performance, the extent to which it has followed its mandate and annual guidance, and the likelihood that the 2018-2025 strategy will achieve its objectives. Phase 1 reviewed Finnfund’s record on development impact, and alignment with its mandate. Phase 2 appraised the future strategy based on fieldwork in three countries in Latin America and Africa.

What we do

Research and policy

We provide a range of research services from literature reviews through to statistical analysis and value for money assessments. Our staff are experienced in qualitative, quantitative and policy-focused research. We use primary, secondary and desk-based approaches, as appropriate to the research questions and needs of the client.

Evaluation and impact assessment

We produce independent evaluations for public, private and voluntary sector clients, including multi-year projects in the UK and internationally. We partner with universities, research consultancies and civil society organisations. Our staff have experience of a range of evaluation approaches, handling large amounts of data, simplifying complex arguments and synthesising key messages.

Training and implementation

Just Economics supports clients to identify barriers and enablers to successful programme or policy implementation. Implementation support has included the development of measurement and social impact tools, and training in their use.

SROI and Value for Money (VFM)

Just Economics is a leading provider of economic analysis and evaluation. We are experienced in the use of a variety of economic methodologies. We work most regularly with Social Cost-Benefit Analysis (SCBA) and Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodologies. Our staff helped create the SROI methodology and have been closely involved with its development ever since.

Digital inclusion, Disability, Health and well-being, Social impact of technology

Living Digitally: an evaluation of CleverCogs

This is a summary report of the evaluation of CleverCogs™ – a digital care and support system - developed by Blackwood Homes and Care. It was designed to increase digital participation in adults receiving care and support packages and enable increased use of Technology Enabled Care. This evaluation, commissioned by Carnegie UK Trust on behalf of the Scottish Government is a mixed methods study that measures changes in outcomes for customers before and after the introduction of the technology. This report sets out the key findings from the evaluation in relation to these outcomes. The full evaluation report is available on request.

Health and well-being

Evaluability Assessment of the Recovery Approach in Mental Health

In most Anglophone countries, many of which also experience high concentrations of mental illness, the concept of recovery has come to underpin mental health policy. Core to the critique of the traditional approach to mental health service provision was the need for a shift from services based on clinical recovery (e.g. symptom reduction) to recovery as defined by the service user’s view of what is needed to live a meaningful life.

This study is an Evaluability Assessment of the approach as expressed through the National Framework for Recovery in Mental Health. The project seeks to assess whether an evaluation of the framework is feasible and desirable, and if not, what else would need to be in place to faciliate this. In line with the Recovery Approach itself, the proposed evaluation activities will involve users in their design adn implementation. The study will also draw on international best practice in recovery measurement and seek to work with the grain of existing public service delivery and evaluation. The study completes in early 2019.

Focus areas

Our client base ranges from local charities to public sector bodies and global corporates. We apply our expertise to key focus areas that our team are passionate about.