Specialist expertise. From programme design to evidence of impact.
SERVICES
Standley-Johansen Consulting provides independent technical expertise to help organisations develop climate and environmental programmes, prepare funding proposals, measure performance and evaluate results.
From project concepts and funding documentation to monitoring systems, independent evaluations and portfolio-level assessment, SJC provides practical support tailored to each assignment.
Climate Finance & Programme Development
From early-stage ideas to well-developed programmes and funding concepts.
Support for developing climate and environmental programmes, including project concepts, concept notes, project documents (ProDocs), theories of change, results frameworks and technical contributions to Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) funding proposals.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Measure performance, understand contribution and inform better decisions.
Support for designing monitoring and results-management systems, independent evaluations, portfolio and strategic assessment, mixed-methods contribution analysis, transformational change assessment and organisational learning.
Climate finance and programme development
SJC supports organisations developing climate and environmental programmes and projects, helping translate priorities and ideas into structured concepts, project documents and implementation approaches.
Our expertise includes programme origination, project idea notes and concept notes, contextual analysis, theories of change, results frameworks, monitoring and evaluation arrangements, and technical inputs to project design and funding documentation.
We provide specialist contributions to project preparation and proposal development for international climate and environmental finance mechanisms, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF). Our experience includes developing early-stage funding concepts and working with multidisciplinary teams on programme and project design.
Areas of support
Programme and project concept development
Project idea notes, concept notes and ProDocs
GCF/GEF proposal development support
Theories of change and results frameworks
MEL plans and implementation approaches
Technical review and quality assurance
Monitoring, results management and MEL systems
SJC designs and strengthens monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems for programmes, portfolios and organisations. This includes results-based management (RBM) frameworks, theories of change, results frameworks, performance indicators and monitoring methodologies.
We help organisations move beyond tracking activities and outputs to understanding performance, contribution to outcomes and how evidence can inform management decisions.
Our work includes developing and reviewing monitoring and accountability frameworks, organisational performance assessment methodologies, portfolio-level results measurement and learning systems. We also provide technical quality assurance and practical support to help teams use these frameworks effectively.
Relevant experience: Green Climate Fund Monitoring and Accountability Framework review; NDC Partnership Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance; FAO–UNDP SCALA global baseline and MEL framework; C40 Cities and Africa Adaptation Initiative.
Areas of support
MEL strategies and monitoring systems
Results-based management (RBM) frameworks
Theories of change and performance indicators
Monitoring and accountability frameworks
Organisational and portfolio results measurement
Learning systems and adaptive management
Technical quality assurance and embedded MEL support
Independent evaluations and reviews
SJC undertakes independent evaluations, reviews and baseline assessments of climate, environmental and sustainable development programmes. Our work spans global, regional and country-level initiatives, from individual projects to complex, multi-country programmes.
We use theory-based and mixed-methods approaches to assess relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability, drawing on the OECD DAC evaluation criteria as appropriate. Our assessments also consider gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), equity, value for money, contextual factors and the potential for transformational change.
Through document review, stakeholder consultation, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and assessment of theories of change, we develop credible findings and practical recommendations that support accountability, learning and programme improvement.
Relevant experience: World Bank Global Program on Sustainability mid-term and final evaluations, including country and thematic case studies; UNDP–FAO SCALA global baseline; Blue Planet Fund Ghana case study; ARCAN evaluative case study.
Areas of support
Baseline studies and evaluability assessments
Mid-term reviews and final evaluations
Process, thematic and strategic evaluations
Evaluative case studies and evidence synthesis
Theory-based and mixed-methods evaluation
OECD DAC criteria and theory of change assessment
GEDSI, value for money and sustainability assessment
Evaluation quality assurance and peer review
Portfolio evaluation and strategic learning
SJC supports organisations to evaluate complex programmes, portfolios and strategies, examining how different interventions work together and contribute to wider objectives. Our experience includes climate finance, international development, climate diplomacy, institutional partnerships and policy influence.
We bring extensive experience in mixed-methods contribution analysis, drawing on theory-based evaluation, Outcome Harvesting, quantitative and qualitative evidence, stakeholder consultation and consideration of alternative explanations. This helps organisations understand how interventions contribute to change, taking account of evolving contexts, multiple actors and external influences.
Our approaches include assessing portfolio coherence, transformational change, strategic influence and the sustainability of results. We also support developmental evaluation and adaptive learning, helping organisations use emerging evidence to inform decisions as programmes evolve.
Relevant experience: FCDO International Climate Finance MEL; ARCAN; Prosperity Fund and Growth Gateway; evaluations involving climate diplomacy and policy influence, including work in Kenya and for the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF); Laudes Foundation-commissioned evaluation of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Make Fashion Circular initiative.
Areas of support
Portfolio and strategic evaluation
Portfolio coherence and collective contribution
Transformational change assessment
Climate diplomacy and policy influence evaluation
Mixed-methods contribution analysis and Outcome Harvesting
Process tracing and rapid realist reviews
Developmental evaluation, contextual analysis and adaptive learning
Theory of change assessment and evidence synthesis
Climate, environment and sustainability advisory
SJC brings a broad background in climate change, environmental sustainability and sustainable development, combining policy, programme and institutional perspectives.
Our experience spans climate and environmental programme development, climate policy advisory, circular economy and resource efficiency. This includes advisory work in Kenya, regional programme and project pipeline development through UNDP's Istanbul Regional Hub for Europe and the CIS, and earlier experience with AEA Technology supporting UK businesses and public-sector organisations on environmental sustainability.
Areas of support
Climate and environmental programme advisory
Climate policy and institutional analysis
Sustainable development programme design
Circular economy and resource efficiency perspectives
Technical research and evidence synthesis
Strategic review and advisory support
Let's discuss your project
Whether you're developing a new programme, strengthening monitoring systems or commissioning an independent evaluation, SJC can provide specialist support tailored to your needs.