The Scottish Government commissioned CAG Consultants to deliver an independent evaluation of two Pathfinder Climate Action Hubs, located in the Highlands & Islands and North East Scotland. These hubs were established to catalyse community-led climate action, promote regional collaboration, and support the shift to low-carbon, climate-resilient communities. The evaluation aimed to assess the value these hubs added, their impact to date, and to provide recommendations for the future development of Scotland’s growing climate hub network.
How we delivered the project
CAG employed a theory-based approach to understand how and why the Pathfinder hubs achieved their outcomes, using a bespoke evaluation framework developed in collaboration with the Scottish Government. We combined qualitative and quantitative methods, including document reviews, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and an online survey. Two hybrid focus group workshops were held in Aberdeen and Inverness, engaging a diverse mix of community groups, public sector representatives, SMEs, and other stakeholders.
Throughout the evaluation, we engaged closely with stakeholders via interviews (22 conducted) and survey responses (50 received), ensuring a wide representation of perspectives. Our team also facilitated final workshops to co-develop recommendations for the hubs’ future, and to test findings with stakeholders. We also developed a draft MEL framework and a Theory of Change model to support future assessments across the wider hub programme.
Objectives achieved
Within the scope of the project, CAG delivered a comprehensive and independent evaluation report assessing the impact and effectiveness of the two Pathfinder hubs. Key findings showed that the hubs added significant value by stimulating climate action, building community resilience, and facilitating policy input and access to climate finance. The evaluation highlighted that the hubs played a vital role in fostering community empowerment and forming a link between local communities and government.
CAG also identified opportunities for the hubs to increase impact through improved geographic coverage and stronger partnerships, and provided actionable recommendations for sustaining and scaling hub activities. These included broadening community engagement, enhancing regional collaboration, and addressing funding stability to maintain momentum. The project was delivered within a tight timeframe and has informed strategic planning for the expansion of Scotland’s community climate action infrastructure.
The full evaluation report is available to download from the Scottish Government website: Independent Evaluation of the Scottish Climate Action Hubs
For further information, please contact Derek Morgan dm@cagconsult.co.uk