2010
Evaluation of EU Cohesion Policy 2007-2013
We are part of an expert evaluation network delivering policy analysis on the performance of Cohesion Policy 2007-2013. The objective of this network of experts is to synthesise evidence on the performance of EU Cohesion Policy in the 2007-2013 period by looking at the physical and financial performance of the operational programmes. It will also analyse evidence coming from evaluations undertaken in EU Member States and identify examples of good practice in evaluation (interesting methods, good data, etc.). The studies that may be useful and interesting for other Member States will be available in the REGIO on-line library. The Evaluation Unit has started to publish the approved country reports on achievements of Cohesion Policy on the DG Regio website. These can be found by clicking here.
National Evaluation of Participatory Budgeting in England
CEA are leading the cost-impact dimension of the national evaluation of Participatory Budgeting in England. Overall the evaluation aims to develop and provide evidence on different types of Participatory Budgeting approaches/models; track the processes and experiences of Participatory Budgeting, exploring how and why different types of Participatory Budgeting have an impact in different environments. The cost-impact dimension aims to build understanding of how to maximise the beneficial impacts and cost effectiveness of Participatory Budgeting. The work has been undertaken through eight case study areas and a number of self-evaluation areas. It has involved the collation of data on the financial and non-financial (time, in-kind expenditure) costs associated with setting up and running Participatory Budgeting exercises, alongside a consideration of the additional process, project and service benefits that Participatory Budgeting approaches have brought about. Following a preliminary scoping stage, an interim evaluation has just been completed and the evaluation will move into an impact assessment stage during Phase 2 in 2010.
Valuing the benefits of regeneration
CEA has recently completed a major study for the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) to examine how the benefits of regeneration and economic development might be valued. The research, which was undertaken in association with eftec, CRESR (Sheffield Hallam University) and Anne Green at the University of Warwick, provides an analytical framework that will underpin a programme of research on the value of the benefits from regeneration and how they compare with the relevant costs. The study assembled the available evidence base, identified potential challenges and provided constructive suggestions on how these could be overcome. It also calculates high level estimates for benefit cost ratios and value for money both generally and for specific types of scheme. The main report can be downloaded here. Volume 2 (Logic chains and literature review) is available here. For the Technical Report on environmental quality and amenity click here.