About Juha
Juha Uitto is a distinguished environment and development expert with over three decades of experience in evaluation, research, and international development. He has dedicated his career to enhancing the effectiveness of environmental programs and development initiatives worldwide through independent evaluation and evidence-based approaches.
Currently, he serves as an Independent Environment and Development Advisor, contributing his expertise to international organizations and research institutions. He is also a Visiting Scholar at the Environmental Law Institute, where he focuses on sustainability transitions, climate-induced migration, and policy solutions for small island developing states.
From 2014 to 2024, Juha served as the Director of the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) at the Global Environment Facility (GEF). During his tenure, he led several comprehensive evaluations, providing key insights into the environmental impact, effectiveness, and strategic direction of GEF investments. Under his leadership, the IEO established itself as a global leader in innovative evaluation methodologies and knowledge dissemination, shaping environmental and development strategies at the highest levels. He was instrumental in conducting the Sixth and Seventh Comprehensive Evaluations of the GEF, which served as critical inputs to the GEF’s replenishment negotiations and contributed to the evolution of GEF’s strategic focus on climate change, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability.
Prior to joining the GEF, Juha was the Deputy Director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where he provided intellectual and organizational leadership to strengthen the evaluation function and ensure the credibility and use of evaluations across the organization. His work included the design and management of major country and program evaluations, as well as impact assessments in diverse sectors such as poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and environmental management. He also played a pivotal role in building partnerships with bilateral donors, the OECD/DAC Development Evaluation Network, and regional evaluation associations.
Juha’s earlier roles include serving as a Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at the GEF and as an Academic Program Officer at the United Nations University (UNU). During his time at UNU, he developed and managed innovative research programs on sustainable development and environmental management, collaborating with leading universities and research institutions around the world. He initiated the ‘People, Land Management and Environmental Change’ project, which operated in 12 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and was the first GEF-funded biodiversity project in production landscapes, recognized for its significant policy impact.
In addition to his professional roles, Juha has been a dedicated member of numerous advisory boards and professional networks, including the International Evaluation Academy (IEAc), the Global Evaluation Initiative, and the International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS). He has also been an influential figure in organizing international conferences on environmental evaluation and development, contributing to global dialogue on sustainable development and the role of evaluation in achieving transformative change.
An accomplished scholar, Juha has published extensively on topics related to environment and development. He is the author and editor of over 14 books, including Transformational Change for People and the Planet (2022), Evaluating Climate Change Action for Sustainable Development (2017), and Migrant Health and Resilience: Transnational Competence in Conflict and Climate Displacement Situations (2024). His research has been featured in leading academic journals, and he is a sought-after speaker at international forums and academic institutions.
Juha holds a PhD in Social and Economic Geography from Lund University, Sweden, and an MSc in Geography (Development Studies) from the University of Helsinki, Finland. Fluent in multiple languages, he has served in diverse cultural and professional settings around the world, bringing a unique global perspective to his work. Throughout his career, Juha has been driven by a commitment to advancing sustainable development and building resilient communities through evidence-based approaches, strategic evaluation, and impactful research.
