Evaluation and Monitoring of EU Structural Funds

For more information about the activity, please contact:

Target Group:
Officials from central, regional and local government, programme officers and managers, as well as project managers and developers involved in the implementation of Structural Funds projects and programmes. The seminar is also open to economic and social partners involved in the Structural Funds process, such as NGOs, higher education establishments, and employers’ representatives.

Description:
This two-part seminar consists of illustrated presentations, group discussions and workshops. The seminar covers:

• the Evaluation Cycle
• the essentials of ex ante, ongoing and ex post programme evaluation
• good practice in evaluation, with case studies
• ex-ante project appraisal techniques (with basic introduction to cost-benefit analysis)
• the development of project and programme indicators
• quantifying programmes
• programme and project monitoring systems

It also details the requirements laid down in the official regulations and reviews the support tools provided by the Commission and other bodies.

Method:
There will be a series of presentations by regional practitioners, expert consultants, EU officials and EIPA lecturers. Discussions and exchanges of experience will be encouraged. Miniworkshops and exercises are used both to develop simulations of essential elements of monitoring and evaluation and 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 monitoring and evaluation requirements associated with EU regional and cohesion policy. Participants should also have a quick general tool kit for strategy development, project appraisal, system monitoring and impact assessment.

Programme & Walking Tour of Maastricht
The Basic Introduction session will commence on Wednesday 25 November at 10.00. The Practitioners Seminar will commence on Thursday 26 November at 09.15 and finish on Friday 27 November at 16.15. A guided walking tour in the historic centre of Maastricht is foreseen for those interested on Friday at 16.30. The tour takes about 1.5 hours.

Seminar venue
The seminar will take place at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), O.L. Vrouweplein 22, NL-6211 HE Maastricht, tel.: +31.43.3296.222, fax: +31.43.3296.296.

Working language
The seminar will be conducted in English.

Fee
€ 875: Participation in the seminar on 26-27 November (2 days)
€ 1075: Participation in the seminar on 25-27 November (3 days)
The participation fee includes participation in the seminar, documentation, lunches, buffet meal (on introduction day), reception, refreshments and the guided walking tour. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.
EIPA offers its members a reduction of 10% of the registration fee. This reduction is available to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s member countries (i.e. AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, ES, SE, UK) as well as civil servants working for an EU institution or agency. If you are eligible for a discount, please tick the box in the registration form. Please note that reductions cannot be accumulated. For more information, please visit EIPA’s website: www. eipa.eu (FAQ-special discounts).
The registration fee also includes a copy of the publication “Managing Structural Funds: A Step-by-Step Practical Handbook” (retail price € 70) published by EIPA in 2008.
Hotel reservations The European Institute of Public Administration will be pleased to make reservations for you at a hotel in Maastricht. We have made a block booking at:
Hotel Résidence Beaumont****
(www.beaumont.nl) at a rate of € 99,77 p.p.p.n. Hotel Mabi ****
(www.hotelmabi.nl) at a rate of € 98,27 p.p.p.n. (these prices include breakfast and tourist tax).
Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate the dates of arrival and departure on the registration form. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out. Please note that if you register after the closing date, hotel reservations cannot be guaranteed.

Meals
All meals will be served at the Institute’s restaurant. Should you require a special menu (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic), please inform the Programme Organiser so this can be arranged.

Registration
Kindly complete the registration form and return it before 4 November 2009 to Ms Mariëlle Beckers, Programme Organiser, European Institute of Public Administration, P.O. Box 1229, NL-6201 BE Maastricht, tel.: +31.43.3296.237, fax: +31.43.3296.296, e-mail: m.beckers@eipa.eu. You can also submit the online registration form which can be found on EIPA’s web site: http://www.eipa.eu (Training and Research).
Your name and address will be part of EIPA’s database for our mailing purpose only. If you do not want to be included in our mailing database, please tick the box in the registration form.

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation. Please indicate the method of payment on the registration form. In any case, the participant or his/her administration will receive an invoice for the payment of the registration fee. 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.

Cancellation policy
EIPA reserves the right to cancel the seminar up to 2 weeks before the starting date. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, hotel, etc.). For EIPA’s cancellation policy, please visit our website www.eipa.eu (legal notice).