Delivering a masterclass on the role of indicators & data in programme monitoring & evaluation

In March 2017, Interact commissioned Simon Pringle, Director of Steer Economic Development, to deliver a high-profile all-day masterclass on the role of indicators and data in programme monitoring and evaluation. Simon delivered a similar masterclass for Interact on the role of logic chains in evaluation in June 2016.

Interact is a European Union programme charged with driving best practices in designing, delivering, and evaluating cross-border, transnational and interregional programmes. Interact has over 80 programmes under its purview. These include, among others, the North Sea Programme, Atlantic Space, and the North West Europe Programme.

The event attracted over 70 programme managers from across Europe’s Interreg programmes. With Simon co-presenting alongside DG Regio’s Evaluation Lead, through interactive presentation and discussion, the workshop covered:

• the roles and purposes of indicators and contextual data in monitoring and evaluation:

• techniques for defining indicators to characterise activities, outputs, and results; and 

• tips and tricks in ensuring high-quality monitoring processes and evaluation studies. 

Colleagues from Interreg programs also provided their hands-on experience of monitoring and evaluation challenges.

The workshop was formalised subsequently in two key outputs: an ‘Indicators and Data Collection’ manual, providing ‘how-to guides’ on the key tests in effective monitoring and evaluation; and a series of speaker videos recorded on the day.

The manual is available on the Interact website.