Thematic global evaluation of the Commission support to decentralisation processes : Final Report ; Volume 1

This Final Report presents the outcome of the “Thematic global evaluation of the Commission support to decentralisation processes”. The Evaluation was commissioned by the DG DEVCO Evaluation Unit and was implemented between January 2010 and February 2012. The purpose of the evaluation is to identify key relevant lessons and to provide recommendations to help ensure opportune and timely support to decentralisation processes.The evaluation covers EC aid delivery over the period 2000-2009 (within the context of the programmes managed by DG DEVCO). The evaluation aims to assess to what extent the EC assistance has been relevant, coherent, effective, efficient and sustainable in providing the expected impacts in the support of decentralisation processes, along with the EU added value. Moreover, it aims to analyse the coherence with the relevant EU policies and the partner governments' priorities and activities. In terms of geographical scope, the evaluation covers all regions where EC cooperation has been implemented − including countries where the partnership between the government and the EU has been difficult − but does not include regions and countries under the mandate of DG Enlargement, the OECD countries, and activities that fall under the responsibility of the EC Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department.