[{"bbox": [87, 121, 250, 147], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 5.2. Evaluation"}, {"bbox": [83, 165, 1145, 218], "category": "Text", "text": "Having regard to the importance of the action, a mid-term and a final evaluation will be carried out for this action or its components via independent consultant contracted by the Commission."}, {"bbox": [83, 230, 1145, 283], "category": "Text", "text": "The mid-term evaluation will be carried out for problem solving, learning purposes in particular with respect to possible adjustments of the strategies in order to achieve the expected results."}, {"bbox": [83, 296, 1145, 373], "category": "Text", "text": "A final evaluation will be carried out for accountability and learning purposes at various levels (including for policy revision), taking into account in particular the fact that the action will address sensitive issues in politically charged context."}, {"bbox": [83, 388, 1145, 441], "category": "Text", "text": "These will be carried out for learning purposes, in particular with respect to the effectiveness and possible adjustments of the strategies in order to achieve the expected results."}, {"bbox": [83, 453, 1145, 560], "category": "Text", "text": "The Commission shall inform the implementing partner at least six months 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": [83, 573, 1145, 705], "category": "Text", "text": "The evaluation reports shall be shared with the partner country and other key stakeholders following the best practice of evaluation dissemination⁵. The implementing partner and the Commission shall analyse the conclusions and recommendations of the evaluations and, where appropriate, in agreement with the partner country, jointly decide on the follow-up actions to be taken and any adjustments necessary, including, if indicated, the reorientation of the project. Evaluation services may be contracted under a framework contract."}, {"bbox": [87, 745, 387, 771], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 5.3. Audit and Verifications"}, {"bbox": [83, 800, 1145, 880], "category": "Text", "text": "Without prejudice to the obligations applicable to contracts concluded for the implementation of this action, the Commission may, on the basis of a risk assessment, contract independent audit or verification assignments for one or several contracts or agreements."}, {"bbox": [72, 920, 994, 953], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 6. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY"}, {"bbox": [83, 983, 1145, 1037], "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": [83, 1050, 1145, 1208], "category": "Text", "text": "It will remain a contractual obligation for all entities implementing EU-funded external actions to inform the relevant audiences of the Union's support for their work by displaying the EU emblem and a short funding statement as appropriate on all communication materials related to the actions concerned. This obligation will continue to apply equally, regardless of whether the actions concerned are implemented by the Commission, partner countries, service providers, grant beneficiaries or entrusted or delegated entities such as UN agencies, international financial institutions and agencies of EU member states."}, {"bbox": [83, 1221, 1145, 1352], "category": "Text", "text": "However, action documents for specific sector programmes are 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, allowing Delegations to plan and execute multiannual strategic communication and public diplomacy actions with sufficient critical mass to be effective on a national scale."}, {"bbox": [72, 1395, 578, 1426], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# APPENDIX 1 REPORTING IN OPSYS"}, {"bbox": [72, 1454, 1158, 1510], "category": "Text", "text": "An Intervention⁶ (also generally called project/programme) is the operational entity associated to a coherent set of activities and results structured in a logical framework aiming at delivering development change or progress."}, {"bbox": [72, 1536, 459, 1561], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ See best practice of evaluation dissemination"}, {"bbox": [72, 1561, 1132, 1662], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁶ ARES (2021)4204912 - For the purpose of consistency between terms in OPSYS, DG INTPA, DG NEAR and FPI have harmonised 5 key terms, including 'action' and 'Intervention' where an 'action' is the content (or part of the content) of a Commission Financing Decision and 'Intervention' is a coherent set of activities and results which constitutes an effective level for the operational follow-up by the EC of its operations on the ground. See more on the concept of intervention."}, {"bbox": [1041, 1662, 1158, 1685], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 19 of 20"}]