Target group
Officials from central, regional and local government, programme officers and managers, as well as project managers and developers involved with the implementation of Structural Funds projects and programmes in either 2007-2013 or 2014-2020. The seminar is also open to economic and social partners occupied in the Structural Funds process, such as NGOs, higher education establishments, and consultants.

Description
This two-stage seminar consists of illustrated presentations, group discussions and workshops:
Stage 1 (Day 1) will deal with the Evaluation Cycle and evaluation terminology, as well as looking at the basic methods used for conducting ex ante programme evaluations, evaluations during the programming period, and ex post impact assessments of projects and programmes. It will consider the subject of quantifying programmes by generating indicators and look at how to set targets and budgets for priorities using cost-effectiveness benchmarks. It will cover the Europe 2020 context and the new conceptual framework for evaluation and indicators. A regional perspective on this new framework will also be provided, as well as a result-focused approach to operations.
Stage 2 (Days 2 and 3) assumes that participants have the background knowledge of methods and concepts covered in Stage 1. Keynote speeches will be given by expert consultants in the field and European Commission officials. The latter will describe their new monitoring and evaluation framework and what they see as the particular challenges for Member States in the current and the next programming period. Other areas of focus will be on:
• key issues for ex ante, ongoing and ex post evaluations;
• the practical application of technical concepts;
• ex ante project appraisal techniques (with basic introduction to cost-benefit analysis);
• favoured best practice techniques in evaluation, including theory-based and counterfactual evaluations;
• key monitoring tasks and the need for evaluation fieldwork.
We will discuss the question of measuring job creation, the difference between gross and net jobs, deadweight, displacement, and multipliers. There will be an exercise on using benchmarks for setting targets and financial allocations for priorities.

Learning methodology
A series of presentations will be given by regional practitioners, expert consultants and EC officials. Discussions and exchanges of experience are encouraged. Mini-workshops and exercises are used both to develop simulations of essential elements of evaluation and monitoring to provide a clear view of good practice in the key disciplines involved.

Objectives
At the end of the seminar the participants should have a clear understanding of all the basic evaluation and monitoring requirements associated with EU cohesion policy. Participants should also have a quick general tool kit for undertaking programme and project appraisal, theory-based and counterfactual evaluations and the process of generating indicators and measuring performance.