This GUIDE, is intended for those involved in the evaluation of socio-economic development in Europe. It is a successor to the MEANS collection (methods for evaluating structural policies). Whilst the GUIDE has a specific focus on evaluation within European Structural Funds, it is not confined to the evaluation of these interventions. Socio economic development is, after all, strongly featured in many national and regional programmes that are not funded by the EU. In most countries in Europe, as elsewhere in the world, improving regional and local economies that have fallen behind, re-integrating marginalized groups, and adjusting to the challenges of global competition and technical change are priorities. Given the scarcity of resources and the often innovative strategies that socio-economic development requires, the demand for evaluation has expanded alongside the development of policies and complex interventions themselves.
