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Better Regulation: Impact Assessments, Evaluations, and Related Tools
Evaluation for Busy People: What is Evaluation and Why Should I Care?
This two-day course provides a practical introduction to evaluation and its importance for public policy, public programmes, and decision-making. The course explains what evaluation is, why it matters, and how it can be used to improve public services, policy effectiveness, and value for money.
This two-day course provides a practical introduction to evaluation and its importance for public policy, public programmes, and decision-making. The course explains what evaluation is, why it matters, and how it can be used to improve public services, policy effectiveness, and value for money.
Participants will explore the main types of evaluation, including impact evaluation, process evaluation, and economic evaluation, and will learn how evaluation supports evidence-based policymaking, accountability, and efficient use of public resources.
Through practical examples and group exercises, participants will develop an understanding of how evaluation can be used in real policy and programme contexts, and how commissioners and evaluators can work together effectively.
What will you learn
At the end of this course, you will understand what evaluation is, why it matters for public policy and programmes, and how it supports better decision-making. You will be able to distinguish between key types of evaluation – impact, process, and economic – and know how they are applied in practice.
You will also learn how evaluation contributes to evidence-based policymaking, accountability, and efficient use of resources, and gain practical insight into applying evaluation and working effectively with evaluators and commissioners.
Course methodology
This in-person course combines conceptual input with practical examples and interactive discussions:
- Expert presentations on evaluation concepts and methods;
- Practical examples of impact and process evaluation;
- Group exercises and discussions;
- Case studies from public policy and programmes;
- Discussion on value for money and cost-effectiveness;
- Exchange of experience between participants.
The participants will gain access to the EIPA Moodle platform, where they will have all the presentations used during the course and additional reading materials.
You will be better equipped to design, understand, and use evaluations to inform their work. You will be able to choose appropriate evaluation approaches, interpret findings with confidence, and apply results to improve policies and programmes.
The course will help you make more evidence-based decisions, use resources more efficiently, and strengthen accountability in your roles. You will also be able to work more effectively with evaluators and commissioners, ensuring evaluations are relevant, well-designed, and useful in practice.
At the end of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance. You will have access to the slides as well as additional learning material for a duration of six months after the course.
This course is intended for public officials, policy officers, programme managers, analysts, and professionals involved in public policy design, implementation, monitoring, or evaluation. It is particularly relevant for those working with public programmes, public services, EU funds, or policy evaluation.
Project number: 2630812
Course venue
Grupotel Gran Via 678
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 678
Eixample, 08010 Barcelona (ES)
Project Management Officer
Ms Belinda Vetter
Tel: +31 43 3296382
b.vetter@eipa.eu
Fee
The fee includes documentation, refreshments, and lunches. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.
Discounts
EIPA member fee
EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.
Who are the supporting countries?
Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden.
For all other participants, the regular fee applies.
Early bird discount
EIPA offers 10% off on registrations made eight weeks or more before the start of a course. The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.
Loyalty coupon
As a token of appreciation we offer all our participants a loyalty coupon for one of our future courses. The offer can be shared with colleagues and relevant networks. The coupon will expire one year after its release. This discount is not cumulative with other discounts, except for the EIPA member fee.
Meals
Dietary preferences can be indicated on the registration form.
Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.
Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation.
Cancellation policy
For administrative reasons you will be charged €150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.
EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 2 weeks before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, accommodation, etc.).
A few days before the start of the course you will receive the log-in details for accessing the course materials. You can log in here.
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Our experts
Programme
| 09.00 | Welcome, introduction of participants and overview of the course Gracia Vara Arribas, Project Leader, Lead Expert Public Procurement, EIPA Maastricht (NL) |
| 10.00 | Group exercise (ice breaker) A group exercise on an evaluation-related question will set the scene for the day. |
| 10.30 | Coffee break |
| 11.00 | Session 1: What is evaluation and why is it important? Evaluation is the systematic use of social science methods to answer questions on the design, implementation and effectiveness of public policies and programmes.The session will cover key questions evaluation can answer, such as:
This session also presents the ethical and policy case for evaluation as a tool for decision-making, accountability and making the best use of public resources. |
| 13.00 | Lunch |
| 14.00 | Session 2: Impact evaluation and counterfactuals – knowing what works Introduction to counterfactual impact evaluation and its uses, including:
|
| 15.00 | Coffee break |
| 15.30 | Session 3: Processes and theories – the how and why Because knowing if something worked is not enough, this session introduces theory-based and process evaluation, including:
|
| 16.30 | End of day 1 |
| 09.30 | Group exercise Revisiting the group exercise with an evaluative mindset. |
| 10.00 | Coffee break |
| 10.30 | Session 4: Impact evaluation in practice Introduction to the two broad categories of counterfactual impact evaluation and how they work in practice:
Non-randomised impact evaluations
|
| 12.30 | Lunch |
| 13.30 | Session 5: Commissioners and practitioners The relationship between commissioners and practitioners of evaluation is essential but often challenging. This session focuses on the perspectives of both groups and how to work together effectively, from the design of terms of reference to the final report and dissemination of results. |
| 14.30 | Coffee break |
| 15.00 | Session 6: Costs and value for money With resources increasingly constrained, evaluation helps identify costs and determine value for money:
|
| 16.00 | End of the course |