External action and international development – European institutions

We work with European institutions and bodies to monitor and evaluate progress and achievement of their priorities in relation to external cooperation, facing of global challenges, and contribution to peace and prosperity in the world.

We design and implement monitoring and evaluation systems that enable continuous improvement and quality assurance of the EU’s foreign-policy instruments and support actions globally. This also includes the design and provision of training activities, ad-hoc coaching sessions, online helpdesks, and knowledge sharing platforms to assist implementers with their own monitoring, reporting and dissemination activities.

Project highlights

Evaluating EU Info Centres in enlargement and neighbourhood regions

In 2016, the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) adopted a joint Commission/EEAS Action Plan on Strategic Communication in the Western Balkans and Turkey.

We assessed the performance, coherence and coordination of the EU’s communication activities in the enlargement and neighbourhood regions. Our team’s recommendations enabled EEAS and DG NEAR to better coordinate communication activities with Member States and other partners on the ground, particularly with international financial institutions and international organisations.


Mid-term evaluation of the Partnership Instrument

The Partnership Instrument for Cooperation with Third Countries was the EU’s first instrument specifically designed to promote the Union’s strategic interests worldwide, by reinforcing its external strategies, policies, and actions.

We carried out the mid-term evaluation of the Partnership Instrument for the European Commission’s Foreign Policy Instruments Service. Being the EU’s core instrument in the field of foreign policy, it allowed the European Commission to leverage on mutual interests between the EU and its partners. It also helped promote the EU’s agenda regarding environmentally and climate-friendly development, gender mainstreaming and the promotion of social equality and fundamental rights.