Cohesion policy is one of the most evaluated policies in the world. As the ex post evaluations of the 2014-2020 evaluations were completed, the Regional and Urban Policy Directorate General of the European Commission organised the 10th Conference on the Evaluation of EU Cohesion Policy ‘Policy Learning for Cohesion and Growth’. Bringing together policymakers, evaluators and academics from across the EU and beyond, the conference provided a valuable opportunity for learning and exchange.

#CAPIS Director Professor Laura Polverari was an invited speaker in a panel on place-based policies. Professor Polverari focussed on the role of local administrative capacity in designing, implementing and evaluating cohesion policy, highlighting that: (i) local capacities matter for policy success; (ii) cohesion policy has been a vehicle for learning, but not everywhere to the same extent; (iii) the relationship between involvement in policy implementation and capacity building is non linear; (iv) there is an administrative capacity paradox; (v) ‘administrative throughput’ makes the difference when it comes to performance, (vi) administrative strengthening initiatives must be tailor-made; (vii) evaluations should be pluralistic and participative.

More detail on the conference can be found here.