EU Structural and Cohesion Funds programmes will spend €350 billion in the 2014-2020 period. But will these Funds deliver Value for Money? Can we expect programmes to achieve their many objectives? How do we measure and understand the impacts? Will the key economic and social development problems have been tackled?

This two-stage seminar examines these questions and others relating to the evaluation and monitoring of the Structural and Cohesion Funds in 2014-2020:

• Stage 1 (Day 1) will deal with monitoring tasks, indicators and the Performance Framework. We will look at whether milestones are going to be reached by the end of 2018? We will ask whether OPs are being amended. We will review other monitoring requirements, the Annual Implementation Reports, and the overall quantification of programmes and operations using result and output indicators. The Czech Ministry of Regional Development will provide insight into progress in their programmes.
• Stage 2 (Days 2 & 3) examines how to conduct “evaluations during the programming period”. We will look at the EU evaluation requirements and how Evaluation Plans are evolving, as well as key evaluation concepts and methods. Senior evaluation consultant-economists with vast programme experience will focus on the two recommended evaluation methods – theory-based and counterfactual evaluations – and the challenges for programme evaluations on the ground. We will also describe how to complete an ex post cost-benefit analysis (ex post CBA) for infrastructure and other large projects.
• You will also learn how to manage evaluation studies, including aspects of fieldwork, and be aware of the typical live issues for your current / planned evaluations

How will it help you?
At the end of the seminar, participants should have a clear understanding of all the urgent evaluation and monitoring requirements associated with current programmes. Participants should also have a quick general tool kit for undertaking impact evaluations for projects and programmes. 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.

Who will benefit most?
Officials from central, regional and local government, programme officers and managers, as well as project managers and developers involved with the implementation and evaluation of Structural and Cohesion Fund projects and programmes in 2014-2020. The seminar is also open to economic and social partners involved in Structural Funds and evaluation activities, such as NGOs, higher education establishments, and consultants.