Policy evaluation in programming and managing public expenditure

This project was conducted across two countries, responding to requests from the Belgian Service public federal Stratégie et Appui (SPF BOSA) and the Italian Ministry of Finance, Ragioneria Generale dello Stato (RGS). Their aim was to enhance policy evaluation to optimize public spending efficiency.

Both Belgium and Italy sought to bolster the connection between policy evaluation and the budgetary process. Through coordinated support from the OECD in this multi-country initiative, Belgium and Italy experienced mutual benefits and harnessed synergies. Additionally, each country received tailored assessments of their evaluation capacities, along with recommendations finely tuned to their unique contexts.

Context

This project aimed to foster socially inclusive, green, and digital transitions while addressing specific country recommendations and adhering to Union law. By leveraging EU best practices, the project focused on enhancing policy evaluation to optimize public spending efficiency. It targeted strengthening the nexus between policy evaluation, spending reviews, and budget processes, while empowering national administrations to coordinate evaluations and engage line Ministries effectively. Ultimately, it aimed to bolster government-wide capacity to conduct and implement policy evaluations, integrating evidence seamlessly into budgetary procedures.

Support delivered

The support measures encompassed offering recommendations for establishing robust policy evaluation systems at the federal level in Belgium and Italy, drawing upon international best practices. Outputs included recommendation papers tailored to each country, highlighting strategies for fostering sound evaluation systems based on capacity assessments and gap analyses.

Furthermore, a report showcasing exemplary practices for integrating policy evaluation into budgetary processes was developed, alongside capacity-building initiatives. The project facilitated exchanges with other EU Member States, enabling shared learning experiences in coordinating and conducting policy evaluations, thus enriching Belgium's and Italy's national contexts with valuable insights from across the EU.

Results achieved

This component provided customized recommendations to both the Belgian and Italian administrations, with a particular focus on establishing robust policy evaluation systems. The efforts to integrate policy evaluation into the budgetary processes are anticipated to enhance evidence-informed decision-making. While acknowledging the influence of various contributing factors, the tasks and outputs of the project are poised to substantially contribute to the long-term impact of strengthening the effectiveness of public finances for the beneficiary authorities.

More about the project

You can read the documents related to the project here: