1. Pilot Projects to carry out ESF related Counterfactual Impact Evaluations
Alina Ungureanu, Impact Assessment and Evaluation Unit

2. Objectives of the calls
To provide robust evidence on the net effects (impacts) of the ESF interventions being evaluated through the chosen pilot projects
To further raise awareness on counterfactual impact evaluations and on the use of their findings
To enhance MS capacity to effectively implement CIEs

3. First call for proposals
Launched on 17 April 2013
Dead-line for applications: 21 June 2013
Total amount allocated: €1 million
3 projects selected by the Evaluation Committee: from Italy, Hungary and Spain
First pre-financing granted to the three beneficiaries; implementation has started

4. On going projects: Italy
Title: Post-secondary vocational training courses: are they effective for Italian unemployed youth with a high school diploma?
Grant awarded: €120,000.00
Method: PSM
Duration: 14 months
Data sources: administrative data coming from five Italian regions, each representing a separate ESF Managing Authority

5. On going projects: Hungary
Title: Counterfactual Impact Evaluation of an ESF-funded Active Labour-market Intervention in Hungary
Grant awarded: €100,080.00
Method: PSM and DiD
Duration: 13 months
Data sources: administrative data

6. On going projects: Spain
Title: Evaluation of ESF training interventions for employment in Castile-la-Mancha
Grant awarded: €108,953.18
Duration: 12 months
Method: PSM + DiD, complementary qualitative methodologies
Data sources: administrative data + surveys to fill in data gaps

7. Second call for proposals
A survey was sent to all members of ESF Evaluation Partnership on 25 June 2013
The questions focused on:
main reasons for not applying in the first call
interest in applying if a similar call launched
if yes, on what particular ESF intervention
Replies have been received from 18 MS
Second call was launched on 7 October 2013
Total amount allocated: €650,000
Dead-line for applications 29 November

8. Main changes to facilitate applications: Eligibility criteria
To be eligible, applicants must be either an authority in a Member State which is in charge of ESF evaluation or a research/academic body in consortium with the aforementioned authority
Proposals can be submitted by a single applicant or by a group of several applicants (consortium) composed of a lead applicant and co-applicants.

9. Widened thematic scope and no minimum ceiling
The applicants can carry out evaluations of any suitable ESF funded intervention in their Member State
There is no minimum ceiling for the requested grant, to enable applications of Member States that rely heavily on administrative data and/or internal human resources for their evaluations

10. Increased co-financing rate
The grant will not exceed 95% of the total eligible costs of the pilot project
The applicant has to guarantee the co-financing of the remaining 5%
This 5% cannot be funded under other EU funds – including Technical Assistance Priority Axes of the ESF Operational Programmes

11. DG EMPL guidance on CIEs published in EN, FR and DE
The EN version is currently under:
The FR version
The DE version

12. Thank you for your attention!
Link to the text of the second call for proposals (dead-line 29 November)
Thank you for your attention!