[{"bbox": [142, 153, 1135, 206], "category": "Text", "text": "Monitoring and reporting shall assess how the Action under each component is being implemented both at regional and central levels and its performance/contribution for the achievement of results."}, {"bbox": [130, 222, 307, 248], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 5.2 Evaluation"}, {"bbox": [142, 280, 1135, 492], "category": "Text", "text": "Having regard to the importance of the Action, mid-term and final evaluations may be carried out for this Action or its components by independent consultants contracted by the Commission. A mid-term evaluation will be carried out for problem solving and learning purposes, in particular with respect to determining the degree to which the Action is on track (and where adaptation may be required) and whether or not activities need to be redesigned or budget reallocated to ensure that outputs and outcomes will be met. 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 need to verify to which degree the Action may continue to be supported under any potential further phase."}, {"bbox": [142, 505, 1135, 611], "category": "Text", "text": "The Commission shall inform the implementing partners at least two (2) months in advance of the dates envisaged for the evaluation missions. The implementing partners 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": [142, 623, 1135, 703], "category": "Text", "text": "All evaluations 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 and disability inclusion. Expertise on human rights, disability and gender equality will be ensured in the evaluation teams."}, {"bbox": [142, 716, 1135, 796], "category": "Text", "text": "The evaluation reports may be shared with the partners and other key stakeholders following the best practice of evaluation dissemination¹⁹. The implementing partners and the Commission shall analyse the conclusions and recommendations of the evaluations and, where appropriate, apply the necessary adjustments."}, {"bbox": [142, 811, 757, 836], "category": "Text", "text": "Evaluation services may be contracted under a framework contract."}, {"bbox": [130, 851, 446, 878], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 5.3 Audit and Verifications"}, {"bbox": [142, 898, 1105, 976], "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": [130, 1005, 1067, 1037], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 6 STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY"}, {"bbox": [142, 1071, 1135, 1124], "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": [142, 1150, 1135, 1336], "category": "Text", "text": "In line with the 2022 \"Communicating and Raising EU Visibility: Guidance for External Actions\", 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": [142, 1363, 1135, 1493], "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, 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": [130, 1621, 530, 1646], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁹ See best [practice of evaluation dissemination](#)."}, {"bbox": [1023, 1680, 1144, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 25 of 26"}]