About this online course
Member States continue to conduct evaluations of their 2014-2020 EU Structural and Cohesion Funds projects and programmes. Have they collected the best monitoring data and do they know how to measure impacts? Which evaluation method should be used – theory-based or counter-factual? As new programmes for 2021-2027 are now being agreed and implemented, are we clear about what the New Regulations say about monitoring and evaluation requirements?
This is a webinar over 5 days (mornings and afternoons):
- Days 1 & 2 deal with monitoring tasks, indicators and the Performance Framework. A Czech Ministry official will assess the lessons learnt from 2014-2020 and the implications of the new requirements for 2021-2027.
- Days 2-5: we examine how to conduct “evaluations during the programming period”. A leading evaluation consultant-economist will focus on the two broad recommended evaluation methods – theory-based and counterfactual evaluations – and the choices for project / 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 larger projects.
A European Commission official will describe what progress has been made on impact evaluations in 2014-2020 and explain what is expected in the 2021-2027 EU Structural and Cohesion Funds programmes.
You will also learn how to manage evaluation studies, including preparation of the Terms of Reference, aspects of fieldwork, and 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 evaluation and monitoring requirements for current and future programmes; and
- a quick general tool kit for undertaking impact evaluations of projects and programmes
Break-out groups, mini-workshops, exercises and videos will be used to develop simulations of essential elements of evaluation and monitoring to provide a clear view of good practice in the key disciplines involved.
A modest element of home-learning will be included in the seminar, to take place between the teaching days: links to exciting technical videos will be provided, which participants can watch in their own time.
Target group
- officials from central, regional and local government, programme officers and managers, involved with the implementation and evaluation of Structural and Cohesion Fund projects and programmes
- project managers and developers
- economic and social partners involved in Structural Funds and evaluation activities, such as NGOs, higher education establishments, and consultants.

Helena Viktorie Barbořáková
Practical information
Online Course
For this online course we make use of Zoom
Remote simultaneous interpretation
Remote simultaneous interpretation can be offered in Spanish, French and Italian on request. Contact the Programme Organiser for more information and conditions
Programme Organiser
Ms Nancy Vermeulen
Tel: +31 43 32 96 212
n.vermeulen@eipa.eu
Discounts
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, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.
For all other participants, the regular fee applies.
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 € 50 for cancellations received within 7 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.
EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 1 week before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed.
I have a question
The programme
- Wednesday, 5 May 2021 (A.M.)
- Thursday, 6 May 2021 (P.M.)
- Friday, 7 May 2021 (A.M.)
- Tuesday, 11 May 2021 (A.M.)
- Wednesday, 12 May 2021 (A.M.)
DAY 1 | |
Monitoring, indicators and the Performance Framework | |
08.45 | Opening of ZOOM platform and gathering of participants |
09.00 | Opening of the seminar and meeting the participants: introduction to the objectives and methodology of the seminar
Marco Lopriore, Expert, EIPA, Maastricht, Netherlands |
09.25 | Meeting each other: Tour de Table |
09.40 | Monitoring and reporting project and programme progress in 2014-2020 and 2021-2027
Robin Smail, Visiting Expert EIPA and Consultant (UK) (former National Expert EC, and former Senior Executive within Evaluation Division, Scottish Enterprise) |
10.30 | Virtual Coffee Break |
10.50 | Monitoring and reporting project and programme progress in 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 (continued)
Robin Smail |
11.10 | Workshop break-out groups and feedback: indicators by sector
Robin Smail |
11.50 | Short break |
12.00 | Management Challenges for Monitoring and Data collection/usage
Ing. Helena Viktorie Barbořáková, Managing Authority, Operational Programme – Research, Development and Education, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Czech Republic |
13.00 | Q&A |
13.15 | End of first day |
DAY 2 | |
12.45 | Opening ZOOM platform |
13.00 | Review of day 1 |
13.10 | Can ESF achieve the best results? What is required in 2021-2027?
Marco Lopriore |
13.45 | Short break |
Evaluations during the programming period | |
13.50 | Evaluation and measuring impact, 2014-2020
Robin Smail |
14.35 | Virtual Coffee break and meeting our Evaluation Expert |
15.00 | Breakout groups – exercise – evaluation questions |
15.35 | Evaluation in the context of Programme Management
Dr. Vladimir Kváča, former Director-General, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Prague (CZ), and former President of the Czech Evaluation Society |
16.35 | Short break |
16.40 | Workshop: Managing evaluation studies, part 1:
Vladimir Kváča |
17.20 | End of Day 2 |
DAY 3 | |
08.45 | Opening of ZOOM platform |
09.00 | Evaluation questions
Vladimir Kváča |
09.30 | Workshop: Managing evaluation studies, part 2:
Vladimir Kváča |
10.00 | Short break and meeting our guest speaker |
10.15 | Impact Evaluations in 2014-2020 and proposed changes for 2021-2027
David Alba, Evaluation Unit, DG Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission |
11.15 | Short break |
11.25 | Choice of methods and techniques: theory-based and counter-factual evaluations
Vladimir Kváča |
12.25 | Short Break |
12.35 | Workshop break-out groups: Managing evaluation studies, part 3:
Vladimir Kváča |
13.20 | End of day 3 |
DAY 4 | |
08.45 | Opening of ZOOM platform |
09.00 | Counterfactual Evaluations
Vladimír Kváča |
10.00 | Short break |
10.10 | Counterfactual Evaluations (contd.) |
10.35 | Workshop break-out groups: Counterfactual Evaluations
Vladimír Kváča |
11.05 | Virtual coffee break |
11.20 | Workshop break-out groups: Counterfactual Evaluations
|
11.50 | Exercises with revenue-generating projects
Robin Smail |
12.15 | Short break |
12.25 | Break-out groups and feedback: the grant calculation |
12.45 | Review of Evaluation methods
Vladimír Kváča |
13.15 | End of day 4 |
DAY 5 | |
Evaluation Studies; Ex post Cost-Benefit Analysis | |
08.45 | Opening of ZOOM platform |
09.00 | Ex post cost-benefit analysis, major projects, revenue-generating projects
Robin Smail |
10.00 | Workshop: spreadsheet and discounting |
10.20 | Short break |
10.30 | Preparing for and Managing Evaluation Studies
Vladimir Kváča |
11.20 | Virtual Coffee break |
11.40 | Break-out groups: Preparing for and Managing Evaluation Studies
Vladimir Kváča |
12.25 | Ex post cost-benefit analysis, major projects (continued)
Robin Smail |
13.10 | Seminar conclusions, evaluation feedback |
13.20 | Close of seminar |
What people say
“'Ex post CBA, major projects, revenue-generating projects: Part 1, very useful!'”
Previous seminar participant
“'Excellent on participants’ engagement and contact with participants, sincere care given to knowledge transfer, some points very challenging, but that depends on the participants’ experience; in any case very useful and well thought, thank you!'”
Previous seminar participant
“Intensive, very relevant and useful to my area”
Former participant
“Very good organisation and content”
Former participant
“Thanks a lot to the entire team from EIPA! it has been a unique moment to discuss about the future challenges and acquire insights about methods and tools for an effective monitoring and evaluation of the cohesion policies!”
Michele Giove