Päivi Korhonen

Senior Expert , International development & evaluation consulting

Helsinki, Finland

Senior development and evaluation expert with 20+ years of international consulting experience. Specialized in short-term assignments in capacity building and programme and project evaluation. Strong analytical and facilitation skills, with proven ability to deliver high-quality results efficiently in donor-driven, policy-oriented and multi-stakeholder development contexts.

Contact Päivi Korhonen
Area of Expertise:
  • Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy
  • Fundraising, Business Development, Grants Writer
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research, Analysis
  • Private Sector, Social Enterprise, Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Social, Education, Gender, Youth, Child
Professional Experience:

Senior development, evaluation and capacity-building expert with over 25 years of international professional experience in donor-funded programmes and policy-driven development contexts. Extensive track record in short-term assignments covering programme and project evaluation, monitoring and learning, institutional capacity building, and strategy-based development across public sector institutions, higher education and vocational education systems, NGOs and international organisations.

Core expertise includes development project identification, design, planning, management and evaluation, with strong methodological competence in EU Project Cycle Management (PCM), Logical Framework Approach (LFA), Results-Based Management (RBM) and EU evaluation criteria. Demonstrated ability to assess programme relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability, as well as governance, coordination and institutional performance in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Long-standing experience in capacity building and professional training for ministries, public administrations, donor agencies, universities and development organisations. Has designed and delivered short, targeted training and advisory interventions on monitoring and evaluation systems, proposal preparation, resource mobilisation, programme management and organisational development, combining analytical rigour with participatory and facilitative approaches.

Strong background in strategy consulting, innovation and RDI-related development, including analysis and reporting to support strategic decision-making for public and private sector clients. Experience covers EU-funded and internationally financed programmes (ESF, ERDF, Erasmus+, Tempus, EuropeAid, Interreg, World Bank), including proposal assessment, programme review and external evaluation assignments for the European Commission and other donors.

Earlier senior leadership roles in adult education, vocational education and higher education institutions provide a solid pedagogical and institutional foundation. These roles included curriculum development, organisational management, staff development and educational reform, forming a strong basis for later international evaluation and capacity-building work.

Recognised for strong analytical, communication and facilitation skills, intercultural competence and the ability to deliver high-quality outputs efficiently within tight timelines. Proven ability to operate independently in short-term expert roles as well as within international, multidisciplinary teams, supporting evidence-based decision-making and sustainable institutional development.

Education:

Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland 8/1984-9/1990 M.A, Humanities
National Board of Education10/1991-2/1992 Teacher of socio-cultural adult education
National Board of Education 8/1991-5/1992 Principal of socio-cultural adult education
Ministry of Trade and Industry 9/1991-5/1992 Managing Director Study Programme
Intercultural Communication Institute, Portland,
USA 2003
Intercultural Development Inventory IDI
Qualified administrator and interpreter
SME Foundation, Finland, 11/2004 Registered GUIDELINE consultant (Dynamic
Guidelines for SMEs in Europe to Manage Change in
Turbulent Environment)
University of Eastern Finland, Finland PhD Candidate, Doctoral programme “Social and
Cultural Encounters”
INTRAC; International NGO Training and Reach
Centre; St. Anne’s College, Oxford, UK; 14.-
18.7.2008
Advanced Monitoring and Evaluation
University of Helsinki, 09/2008-09/2009 Solution Focused and Resource Oriented Methods
International Project Management Association
IPMA; Frankfurt, Germany, 12.-14.2.2010
IPMA Project Excellence Assessor, training
and certification
RR & CO. Knowledge Center, Portoroz,Slovenia,
22.-27.9.2013
The International EU Grant Academy©
PDGE & RR & CO. Knowledge Center,Helsinki, 21-
23.4.2015
Practical Workshop for Horizon Grant
Writers
RASTOR Business Advisor Special Degree 11/2017,
accreditation by the National Board of Education,
Finland

Affiliations and Achievements:

Member of the Finnish Evaluation Association and the European Evaluation Society (EES).
Certified Management Consultant (CMC).
IPMA Project Excellence Assessor.
Extensive experience as EU programme and proposal evaluator (European Commission, EACEA, national authorities).

Available for:

  • Consulting assignments
  • Being headhunted – make me an offer

Years of Experience:

More than 20 years

Highest Qualification:

Masters

Languages:

English, Finnish, German, Swedish

Nationality:

Finland