We advise and support EU policy making through ex-post causal evaluation and data-driven microeconomic analysis.
The general objective of the Evaluation Ready Initiative is to perform Counterfactual Impact Evaluation (CIE) of ESF+-funded policies implemented by ESF+ Managing Authorities.
Centre for Research on Impact Evaluation (CRIE)
Under the Evaluation Ready initiative, CRIE launches occasional open calls where ESF Managing Authorities can apply for JRC researchers to do a CIE on an ESF+-funded interventions.
To date, four evaluations from the 2024 and 2025 calls are ongoing, while seven evaluations have been completed.
📢 The 2026 Evaluation Ready call is now open! See the call for more info
The policy interventions that are currently being evaluated under the 2024 and 2025 Evaluation Ready calls are the following.
School and Social Inclusion Actions (DRASE) (2024 call – Results expected in 2026)
The ‘Actions for School and Social Inclusion+ (DRA.S.E.+)’ programme aims to support students with an immigrant background, at high risk of becoming functionally illiterate or dropping out of school, and facing problems of social exclusion. The programme includes various measures, from remedial teaching (including for Greek as second language) to alternative education to psychosocial support.
Data Privacy statement of the evaluation
Public Employment Services (PES) vocational guidance services for unemployed (2024 call – Results expected in 2026)
This policy provides career guidance counselling services to unemployed people in Latvia, to improve employability and integration into the labour market. The consultations provide assistance in career planning, guidance on training opportunities, skills acquisition and job searching. The evaluation investigates potential impacts on increasing participation in other active labour market policies, reducing unemployment duration, and increasing the overall employability of participants.
Reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion (2025 call – Results expected in 2027)
The intervention aims at reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion in Romania with a specific focus on Roma population. The support included various services related to education, employment, socio-medical services, activities for combating discrimination and promoting multiculturalism.
Personalised employment integration itineraries for Roma people under the Acceder Programme (2025 call – Results expected in 2027)
This intervention aims at increasing the number of Roma people with employment in Spain and foster their social integration. The support is based on the development of personalized employment integration itineraries including social and competence assessment, face-to-face and online interviews, alliances with companies, and socio-family interventions, among others.
The following evaluations were carried out under previous editions of the Evaluation Ready call. Links to the related publications are reported below.
Work Experience for Young Persons (WIJ) 📄Report 📄Journal article
This study evaluates the ‘Work Experience for Young Persons’ (WIJ) programme in Flanders. The WIJ programme targets unqualified, young, and unemployed people with the aim of facilitating their entry into the labour market. It involves a trajectory of intensive guidance covering labour market orientation and coaching, and competence strengthening activities.
Intervention to support school inclusion and to enhance pupils’ key competencies 📄Report
The evaluation examines the EU funded ‘Support to schools in simplified reporting projects’ programme (2014 2020) in Czechia. Using propensity score matching on administrative and survey data, it compares participating and non participating schools on maths and language test scores and climate indicators. Results show no clear impact on achievement and only limited, inconsistent effects on school climate, likely due to the short follow up period.
Work Experience for Graduates (“Work experience Laureati e Laureate – WELL) 📄Report 📄Journal article
This study evaluated the WELL (Work Experience for Graduates) programme implemented in 2013 in Umbria, Italy, with ESF funding. The programme aimed to improve the employability of unemployed graduates through on-the-job training placements and wage subsidies to firms that hired trainees. Using propensity score matching on administrative data, the evaluation shows that participants were significantly more likely to be employed within the region.
JobsPlus programme 📄Report
This study evaluated JobsPlus, an Irish employment subsidy scheme launched in 2013 targeting the long-term unemployed. The programme offered employers €7,500 for hiring someone unemployed for one to two years, and €10,000 for those unemployed over two years. Using propensity score matching on administrative data, the study finds a positive impact: participants were significantly less likely to receive unemployment benefits and more likely to earn more and work longer after the programme.
Vocational training under the Youth Guarantee programme 📄Report 📄Journal article
This study evaluates a vocational training programme for unemployed youth (aged 15–29) in Latvia, implemented in 2014 under the EU Youth Guarantee scheme. The programme offered classroom-based courses delivered via a voucher system, targeting those with low or outdated qualifications. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design exploiting a priority rule for under-25s, the study finds that the programme had positive but statistically non-significant effects on employment and earnings.
Higher education grant system for less privileged students 📄Report 📄Journal article
This study examines the impact of receiving need-based aid, which includes a fee waiver and additional cash support, on students’ university matriculation and academic performance among aid applicants accepted to university in Portugal.
Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) 📄Report
This study evaluates the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) in Portugal, an ESF-funded programme targeting NEETs in regions with youth unemployment above 25%. Using counterfactual impact evaluation methods applied to Portuguese administrative data from the Public Employment Service and Social Security registers, the study finds that participation in internships or hiring support schemes had a positive and lasting effect on participants' labour market outcomes, with effects varying by type of intervention and population subgroup.
05 Dec 2024 | 05 Jun 2026
