Synthesis report on the call 'Pilot projects to carry out ESF related counterfactual impact evaluations'

In order to measure the causal effect of a policy, a specific approach called 'counterfactual impact evaluation' is needed. This report highlights that data access, networking, capacity building and taking evaluation requirements into account during the policy implementation are key for shifting to a culture of causal evaluation of policies. These results derive from eight pilot projects funded by DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion to foster the measurement of causal effects of European Social Fund policies.