We recently analyzed the dimension of project evaluation-an indispensable step to see our proposals funded and implemented. But what about, more generally, the very concept of evaluation ?
Evaluating a project proposal is one application of a broader activity that is carried out at the level of projects, programs and policies, through technical specifications and at different stages of their implementation. In fact, as already specified, the evaluation of a project proposal is closely linked to the consideration of its broader impact at the level of European programs and policies.
Knowing the assumptions and tools proper to evaluation activities provides useful insights to improve the quality of our proposals and the operational implementation of our projects. In addition, activities typical of the evaluation process (interviews, data collection and analysis, etc.) are a typical component of many European projects.
So let us launch into the discovery of some interesting documents in the field of project evaluation through this brief review.
Do you know of others, perhaps better than these? Report them to us through our Facebook page!
- DG REGIO ‘s guide to monitoring and evaluation for the 2014-2020 programming period provides excellent concise and comprehensive insights, with some practical examples of indicators and ways to verify them, designed for the specific areas of intervention of the ERDF and Cohesion Fund;
- DG REGIO also makes available an online guide to evaluation in economic and social development(EVALSED), which is broader, more technical and detailed than the previous one and supplemented (for those who wish to delve further) by anadditional guide devoted to evaluation methods and techniques;
- DG BUDGET has published a (already somewhat dated, but still valid) guide dedicated to the evaluation of EU activities and designed specifically for European Commission departments;
- As part of CIVITAS, a European Union initiative dedicated to urban mobility, a guide dedicated to evaluation has been produced which, although with examples dedicated to the specific sector, provides a very clear, comprehensive and general treatment of the topic of project and program evaluation;
- Other non-EU-related organizations have produced similar interesting guides, such as these produced by U.S. research centers, which have a very practical slant: “user friendly” manual for project evaluation; practical guide for evaluating your own programs.
Happy reading!
