[{"bbox": [141, 152, 1136, 313], "category": "Text", "text": "More specifically, M&E will assess gender equality results, an impact on the rights of groups living in the most vulnerable situations, and the implementation of the rights-based approach working principles (applying all human rights for all; meaningful and inclusive participation and access to decision-making; non-discrimination and equality; accountability and rule of law for all; and transparency and access to information supported by disaggregated data). Monitoring and evaluation will be based on indicators that are disaggregated by sex, age, and disability, when applicable."}, {"bbox": [130, 338, 312, 368], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 5.2 Evaluation"}, {"bbox": [141, 384, 1136, 466], "category": "Text", "text": "Considering the importance of the action, a mid-term and/or a final evaluation will be carried out for this action or its components via independent consultants contracted by the commission and/or via an implementing partner and/or jointly with contributing member states."}, {"bbox": [141, 476, 1136, 532], "category": "Text", "text": "This evaluation will be carried out for problem-solving and learning purposes, with a particular focus on the coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness of the action and the multiple partnerships."}, {"bbox": [141, 542, 1136, 650], "category": "Text", "text": "The commission shall inform the implementing partner at least 30 days in advance of the dates envisaged for the evaluation missions. The implementing partner shall collaborate efficiently and effectively with the evaluation experts, and inter alia provide them with all necessary information and documentation, as well as access to the project premises and activities."}, {"bbox": [141, 663, 1136, 751], "category": "Text", "text": "All evaluation shall assess to what extent the action is taking into account the human rights-based approach as well as how it contributes to gender equality and women's empowerment. Expertise on human rights and gender equality will be ensured in the evaluation teams."}, {"bbox": [141, 778, 1136, 859], "category": "Text", "text": "The evaluation reports may be shared with the partners and other key stakeholders following best practices of evaluation dissemination¹⁷. The implementing partner and the commission shall analyse the conclusions and recommendations of the evaluations and, where appropriate, apply the necessary adjustments."}, {"bbox": [141, 870, 761, 898], "category": "Text", "text": "Evaluation services may be contracted under a framework contract."}, {"bbox": [130, 923, 450, 952], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 5.3 Audit and Verifications"}, {"bbox": [141, 970, 1136, 1051], "category": "Text", "text": "Without prejudice to the obligations applicable to contracts concluded for this action's implementation, the commission may, on the basis of risk assessment, contract independent audit or verification assignments for one or several contracts or agreements."}, {"bbox": [130, 1090, 1072, 1125], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 6 STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY"}, {"bbox": [141, 1157, 1136, 1212], "category": "Text", "text": "The 2021-2027 programming cycle will adopt a new approach to pooling, programming, and deploying strategic communication and public diplomacy resources."}, {"bbox": [141, 1222, 1136, 1276], "category": "Text", "text": "All entities that implement EU-funded external actions are under contractual obligation to display the EU emblem and a short funding statement on all communication materials related to these actions."}, {"bbox": [141, 1287, 1136, 1369], "category": "Text", "text": "This obligation will be applied uniformly, regardless of whether these actions are implemented by the commission, partner countries, service providers, and grant beneficiaries, or if they are entrusted or delegated by entities such as UN agencies or international financial institutions and agencies of EU member states."}, {"bbox": [141, 1380, 1136, 1512], "category": "Text", "text": "However, action documents for specific sector programmes are, in principle, no longer required to include a provision for communication and visibility actions promoting the programmes concerned. These resources will instead-be consolidated in cooperation facilities established by support measure action documents. This will allow delegations to plan and execute multi-annual strategic communication and public diplomacy actions with sufficient critical mass to be effective on a national scale."}, {"bbox": [130, 1620, 527, 1646], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁷ See best practice of evaluation dissemination"}, {"bbox": [1027, 1680, 1145, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 31 of 33"}]