Interim evaluation of the implementation of the EU aid volunteers initiative : final report

The objective of this interim evaluation was to assess the relevance, coherence, EU added value, effectiveness, and efficiency of the implementation of the Regulation establishing the EU Aid Volunteers initiative (EUAV). This evaluation covers the period from mid-2014 to mid-2017. The overall relevance of EUAV measured against its objectives is high. The effectiveness is varied: adequate where it relates to implementation management and supporting services (e.g. training of volunteers, management of grants), but weaker concerning "outreach" components such as attracting enough sending organisations to reach the deployment targets. Capacity Building and Technical Assistance are highly appreciated by the benefiting organisations in the EU and in third countries, and are judged to be effective. The processes established by the Commission, particularly the implementation framework which includes the monitoring framework, can be called efficient. Due to the implementation situation at the time of the evaluation (all projects are still ongoing), no further conclusions can yet be drawn on project efficiency. A clear need for more participation at the level of EU sending organisations was identified. The evaluation provides a set of strategic recommendations (strengthening the coherence and the communication of EUAV) and operational ones (correcting processes or improving the way they work).