1. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Preliminary findings
LSE Enterprise Ltd
Vision & Value
Red2Red Consultores
Expanzió Consulting Ltd
Deutschland Denken! E.V
November 18th 2009,
ESF Evaluation partnership meeting Hotel Crown Plaza, Brussels 1

2. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Contents
Some key Evaluation Theme findings
Theme I: Utilisation of resources and level of intervention
Theme III: Labour Market Policy
Theme IV: Social Inclusion
Theme V: Gender
2. Discussion 2

3. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Theme I:
Utilisation of resources and level of intervention 3

4. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Resources have been mostly allocated on EES Objectives 1 and 7
* Guidelines for the European Employment Strategy (EES), as described in the “Council Decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the MS” 4 4

5. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
The amount of reached recipients differs largely amongst Member States*
* Data for New Membr States refer to the period ’04/’06
** Calculated as total recipients ‘00/’06 on average population for the ESF Programming Period
* Data for New Membr States are currently under analysis and therefore will be added by the 9th November 5 5

6. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Theme III:
Labour Market Policy 6 6

7. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Correlation between ESF and national expenditure on matching and PES tends to be negative
***
Correlations:
Overall 0.06
Southern States -0.73
Central States -0.66
Northern States -0.50
New Members -0.07
Due to the fact that it seems not feasible to contact an adequate number of final recipients we decided to organize panels with members of the ESF-authorities, especially final beneficiaries, and project managers.
* ESF and National expenditures are calculated on an average yearly basis, due to differences in the ESF Programing Period between Old/New Member States
** The allocation refers to PES and other similar bodies, public and private, aimed at implementing policies for “matching supply and demand of labour”
*** One Central State is not in the chart (the % of national expenditure was much higher than the average) 7 7 7

8. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
There is a correlation between ESF weight on National Expenditure and EES performances throughout the ESF Programming Period
Correlations:
Overall 0.68
Southern States 0.90
Central States 0.59
Northern States -0.80
New Members 0.66
Due to the fact that it seems not feasible to contact an adequate number of final recipients we decided to organize panels with members of the ESF-authorities, especially final beneficiaries, and project managers.
* The “EES Performance” shows the difference in performance from 2000 and 2006, for all the EES Objectives; it is based on the available data and indicators, as provided by the EU Employment Committee's “Working Group on Indicators”. 8 8 8

9. Main contributions of ESF Main criticalities remaining
Contribution on “matching” – Preliminary findings emerging from the fieldwork*
We assume that ESF-supported measures have made a greater contribution where Public Employment Services (PES) are more able to differentiate their approach, by recognizing and reacting to the specific needs of different types of clients. We therefore expect that ESF-supported measures have been successful where they have: a) triggered change in PES towards a more differentiated and client-oriented approach; b) measured the outcomes of such changes; c) promoted exchanges of lessons learned (successes/failures) among EU Regions and Member States.
Maximal
Relevant
Partial
Minimal
Main contributions of ESF
Southern Members
Central Members
Northern Members
New Members
Diversification of services/channels
Segmentation of clients/targets
Reorganization of processes/structures
Qualification of staff/personnel
Active dialogue with enterprises
Main criticalities remaining
Southern Members
Central Members
Northern Members
New Members
Diversification of services/channels
Segmentation of clients/targets
Reorganization of processes/structures
Qualification of staff/personnel
Active dialogue with enterprises
* The presented findings are preliminary and have to be reviewed and approved by the entervieweed. Therefore are by no means to be intended as final.
The analysis in Denmark is still at an early stage, while for the other Regions with no data the analysis of gathered information is to be finalised.

10. Main contributions of ESF Main criticalities remaining
Contribution towards the EES – Preliminary findings emerging from the fieldwork*
We assume that the performances towards the EES and the Lisbon Strategy Objectives may vary due to differences in the national policymaking for each Member State (the different “policy regimes” proposed in this evaluation), and different pre-existing economic performances at regional level. We therefore expect that ESF-supported measures have been successful where they have: a) triggered specific and focused pilot policy initiatives, with a strong endorsement from national policy-makers; b) promoted the exchange of experience and capacity among similar regions and Member States throughout the implementation phase of such pilot initiatives.
Maximal
Partial
Relevant
Minimal
Main contributions of ESF
Southern Members
Central Members
Northern Members
New Members
Sector specific reform(s)
Target specific reform(s)
Pilot initiatives
Broad initiatives
Other
Main criticalities remaining
Southern Members
Central Members
Northern Members
New Members
Sector specific reform(s)
Target specific reform(s)
Pilot initiatives
Broad initiatives
Other
* The presented findings are preliminary and have to be reviewed and approved by the entervieweed. Therefore are by no means to be intended as final.
The analysis in Ireland is still at an early stage, while for the other Member States with no data the analysis of gathered information is to be finalised.

11. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Evaluation Theme IV:
Social Inclusion 11 11

12. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Per capita ESF-expenditure on equal opportunities and social cohesion 12 12 12

13. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Main findings
Planning and implementation
Strong legitimacy.
Importance of equal opportunities and social cohesion is accepted in the EU.
Planned for the ‘old normal’.
ESF-measures were designed for a strong and prosperous society with marginal conflicts and challenges.
Models of use.
Some measures are ‘policy innovation’ (Portugal, Norte). Measures in new member states are ‘substitutive’.
Majority have a ‘third model’: complementary use, improving existing Systems and institutions.
Impact
Satisfied final recipients.
Satisfaction with programmes which increased participants’ self-esteem. Harnessing their new human capital
was strongly dependent on:
The absorption capacity of regional labour-markets and
The quality of services provided by the National employment service.
Limited macro-level impact.
Analysis shows ESF-support may have the strongest impact on meso and micro level of member states.
Meso-level impact: modernisation of national employment services.
Micro-level impact: increased employability of less privileged or even excluded persons/social groups. 13 13 13 13

14. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Targeting the cause or the effect?
ESF is a major support to problems of marginalised or excluded. Rarely is the policy focus the improvement of public services to decrease numbers of marginalised and excluded. ESF has already opened towards education and vocational training but OPs are still organised around employment.
Flovoland case: Optimal micro-level impact.
Combination of (a) mainstreaming approach for all disadvantaged clients, (b) providing personalised services, (c) motivated employers (d) a social policy context with strong incentives to get employed. 14 14 14 14

15. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Evaluation theme V:
Gender equality 15 15 15

16. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Findings on National level
A political priority issue
Acknowledged importance in social policy debate
Tutorial and mentoring role of ESF
Differential degree of translation into social policy decisions (social policy mainstreaming)
Differential degree of translation into multi-sectoral policy decisions (generalized mainstreaming)
Acknowledged shortage of ad hoc specialized skills
Acknowledged burden of legal/administrative constraints
Differential but improving capacity of formulation of OPs (content quality)
Differential but improving capacity of implementation of OPs (positive learning curve)
Commitment to further strengthen gender inequality activities 16 16 16

17. EX POST EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (2000 – 2006)
Findings on Regional level
Great increase in awareness in obj. 1 regions
Consolidation of awareness in obj.3 regions
Significant complexity of ESF mandated bureaucratic process
Differential but improving capacity of formulation of OPs (content quality)
Novelty of issue limited social policy mainstreaming
Novelty of issue limited further generalized mainstreaming
Differential but improving capacity of implementation of OPs (positive learning curve)
Overall modest employment impact
Inadequate tracking and follow up systems
Significance of employment impact of innovative projects
Empowerment of women
Commitment to further strengthen gender inequality activities 17 17 17