1. Draft assessment template for evaluation plans: for whom and for what purpose
Daniele Vidoni
European Commission - DG Regional and Urban Policy
Evaluation and European Semester Unit
EVALUATION NETWORK MEETING - Brussels, 18 June 2015
Cohesion Policy

2. My question is: Are we making an impact?

3. (the first piece of) our answer:
the Evaluation plans
Obligatory: Submitted no later than a year after adoption of OP to monitoring committee (approves, reviews, amends: Art. 114, 110)
Elements:
Clear and obvious link to result indicators
Identification of proper evaluation methods (combination of appropriate methods)
Prospective solutions for data collection and linking
Follow up given to evaluation findings (Art.110)

4. What it the plan for evaluation plans?
Evaluation Plans are submitted to the EC via SFC ahead of the Monitoring Committee,
The European Commission Services analyse the plans and produce comments,
The comments are discussed in the Monitoring Committee,
The plan is approved,
The evaluation work starts and the plan is modified and updated through time…

5. What is the current situation?
Only a limited number of plans has been submitted and approved so far,
There are some good practices, but…

6. …the majority of plans are rather formalistic and do not bite into the programmes

7. What is the template? At the moment, it is a draft.
It is a tool that the European Commission services can use to:
analyse the Evaluation Plans submitted, and
Prepare constructive suggestions for the Managing Authorities to further improve the Plans

8. Elements of the Template
Topic: what needs to be covered
E.g.: Results orientation,
Use of available evidence,
Time planning,
Quality management,
Budget,
Evaluation design,
Data availability,
Internal expertise,
Training and development,
Evaluation communication…

9. Elements of the Template
Topic: what needs to be covered
Objective: what needs to be achieved in respect of each topic
Examples of action: examples of the steps to take, or the steps which have been taken, for the plan to achieve the objective concerned
E.g.: Results orientation
E.g.: Expected results are indicated and indicators identified
E.g.: A logic model or theory of change links the intervention rationale of the interventions to be evaluated to the results expected
A set of indicators based on available data is identified and are matched to the specific objective to be achieved

10. On the side of evaluation plans…
You are invited to take part in the competition for the best evaluations of EU Cohesion Policy.
The best contributions will be presented in the conference on "Effectiveness of EU Cohesion Policy".
Submissions:
by 31/12/2015 to
Info: aluating-effects/#1

11. The floor to you: Have you started to work on the evaluation plan?
At this stage, what aspect are less easy to analyse in detail?
Management and planning
Responsibility and coordination
Design and methods
Data availability and data systems
Skills and expertise
Evaluation use and communication
What kind of feedback from the EC would benefit you the most?