1. Experiences so far in Wales
Ex Ante Evaluations
Experiences so far in Wales
Kathryn Helliwell

2. Contracting Arrangements
ONE contract for 4 Structural Funds Programmes in Wales + Rural Development Plan. Also includes:
Strategic Environmental Assessments
Equality Impact Assessments
Ex Ante Assessments for Financial Instruments
BUT split into Work Packages…
I thought that before we moved on to the presentation I would remind you, particularly those who have been involved with EU projects for many years, of how the process has changed.
My session will focus on the management needs of an EU funded project as defined by WEFO and the European Commission regulations..
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol
Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich dyfodol
Europe & Wales: Investing in your future

3. Work Packages Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich DyfodolWP
Involves
Status
WP1
Ex ante evaluation of four SF Programmes to include:
SEA: screening of all, full for ERDF OPs
EIA
FEIs assessment for ERDF OPs
Certain
WP2
Ex ante evaluation of RDP to include SEA
WP3
Full SEA for 2 ESF OPs
Unlikely
WP4
FEI assessment for 2 ESF OPs
Possible
WP5
FEI assessment for RDP
WP6
Ex ante evaluation for EFP Programme
I thought that before we moved on to the presentation I would remind you, particularly those who have been involved with EU projects for many years, of how the process has changed.
My session will focus on the management needs of an EU funded project as defined by WEFO and the European Commission regulations..
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol
Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich dyfodol
Europe & Wales: Investing in your future

4. Contractor Team Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol
Old Bell 3 - Overall project management; For WP1: programme strategy; monitoring & evaluation; financial allocations; contribution to EU2020
Bangor University - SEAs (inc. work on Sustainable Development as CCT)
Cardiff University - Socio-economic analysis; Indicators
Mott MacDonald - EIAs (inc. work on Equal Opportunities as CCT)
Regeneris - Review of previous programmes; All work on FEIs
Wavehill - For WP2: programme strategy; monitoring and evaluation; financial allocations; contribution to Europe 2020
I thought that before we moved on to the presentation I would remind you, particularly those who have been involved with EU projects for many years, of how the process has changed.
My session will focus on the management needs of an EU funded project as defined by WEFO and the European Commission regulations..
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol
Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich dyfodol
Europe & Wales: Investing in your future

5. Methodology Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol
Literature Review
EU Regulatory context
UK, Wales & EU policy context
Socio-Economic data
Evaluations of & Programmes
Other evaluations of what works in specific interventions – starting point for SFs: WEFO Research Summaries
Research/data on demand for & supply of venture capital in Wales – for FIs
Evaluation of JEREMIE in Wales – for FIs
Discussion groups with programme authors & stakeholders
Observation of key partnership groups
I thought that before we moved on to the presentation I would remind you, particularly those who have been involved with EU projects for many years, of how the process has changed.
My session will focus on the management needs of an EU funded project as defined by WEFO and the European Commission regulations..
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol
Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich dyfodol
Europe & Wales: Investing in your future

6. Progress to Date Appraisal of socio-economic analysis (ESF & ERDF)
Appraisal of draft Priorities (ESF & ERDF)
Planning meetings held for EIAs, SEAs & Ex Ante Assessments for FIs
I thought that before we moved on to the presentation I would remind you, particularly those who have been involved with EU projects for many years, of how the process has changed.
My session will focus on the management needs of an EU funded project as defined by WEFO and the European Commission regulations..
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol
Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich dyfodol
Europe & Wales: Investing in your future

7. Issues Version control of Programme drafts
Absence of financial allocations
Timescales
Changing regulatory context
Maintaining evidence-based approach
I thought that before we moved on to the presentation I would remind you, particularly those who have been involved with EU projects for many years, of how the process has changed.
My session will focus on the management needs of an EU funded project as defined by WEFO and the European Commission regulations..
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol
Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich dyfodol
Europe & Wales: Investing in your future

8. ESF Ex-ante evaluation: Experiences so far in England
Ex-ante evaluation team:
Bruce Byrne – statistician
Ellenor Brooks – social researcher
Jo Daniels – operational researcher

9. Differences in the programmes for England and Wales
Closely aligned with ERDF
Contracting out ex-ante evaluation
“Less developed” regions large
England
Different Department and set up from ERDF
In-house ex-ante evaluation
“Less developed” regions small

10. Convergence areas in Wales
Convergence areas in England

11. Ex-ante evaluation Working Group
Evaluation Team
Managing Authority
BIS (Department of Business, Innovation and Skills)
Other Government Departments (education; local government): policy and analysts
Delivery agencies (Skills Funding Agency; National Offender Management Information Service; Department for Work and Pensions)
European Commission

12. Early work
Held the initial Working Group meeting in October. Booked the next one for February.
Agreed roles and responsibilities within the ESF Evaluation Team.
Completed our initial labour market assessment.
Set out how we will split up the different areas of work and considered for each of them what else we can be doing now on these.
Been through the draft regulation, the guidance and what we did for the programme.

13. Next Steps
Familiarise ourselves better with the Europe 2020 strategy and
National Reform Programme;
European Semester;
Country-specific Recommendations;
Commission Position Paper etc.
Gather and assess the work done so far for the Partnership Agreement and in consultations on ESF.
Familiarise ourselves with what was done for the and programmes and what is good practice.
Make others aware that we will be commissioning input from them.

14. Issues Timing: Negotiations on regulations still being worked on;
Ministers need to agree the proposals for the delivery architecture, followed by a public consultation, before real development of the OP can begin.
Think creatively about areas we can work on now and which will have to wait
2. Maintaining independence:
Structural separation within the Department;
Build in peer review of relevant sections.
What the evaluation is:
Both a process and a report