Developing impact pathways to demonstrate the added value of Interreg

Programme evaluation and indicators

This online meeting is organised as a follow-up to the pilot exercise “Harmonised approach to capture and highlight the added value of Interreg.” It is open to all Interreg programmes interested in the topic and aims to provide a clear overview of the work carried out so far, the main methodological steps taken, the tools and products developed, and the next steps foreseen.

The event will explain the overall process of the pilot and present how participating programmes have worked together to develop a common approach to impact evaluation. In particular, it will introduce the main methodological elements discussed so far, including the development of impact pathways, the formulation of evaluation questions, and the role these elements can play in preparing impact evaluations and related terms of reference.

A key part of the meeting will be to explain in practical terms how impact pathways can be developed and used. This will include presenting examples from Interreg programmes, showing how pathways can help clarify the links between activities, outputs, outcomes, and longer-term impacts, and how they can support a more strategic and structured evaluation design.

The event will also provide an overview of the main outputs produced in the context of the pilot, such as background materials, methodological reflections, draft impact pathways, and examples of evaluation questions. It will conclude with a presentation of the next steps and possible ways for interested Interreg programmes to make use of the results in their own work.

Throughout the online event, Thomas Delahais from the European Commission Evaluation Helpdesk for Cohesion Policy will actively support and contribute to the discussions and exercises