By evaluation we mean analysis of the value of public policy or a part thereof, with a view of improving the policy or its certain part and accounting for it. During evaluation, various activities of public authorities (state governance, provision of public services, regulation of economic activities) are systemically monitored, measured, examined and interpreted, in order to determine their suitability, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability. Most frequently, results of our evaluations are used for the improvement of public policies, programmes or institutions’ performance. Evaluations are also used for reporting results of activities to EU institutions, other foreign donors, the legislative branch or the citizens for.
Evaluation is normally coordinated with the cycle of a public policy or programme. Depending on the stages of these cycles, we perform all types of evaluation: ex ante, on-going, interim (or mid-term) and ex post. We also carry out thematic evaluations in various areas of public policy and at various stages of the policy cycle. Importantly, we also assist public administration in regulatory impact assessment by carrying out background research, feasibility studies and similar.

In order to improve governance or to report results, our evaluations provide relevant objective results, obtained using various methods of social science. During evaluation, we apply both qualitative and quantitative methods, and various management tools which are useful in the pursuance of established goals and tasks of evaluation.

Finally, during evaluations, we try to involve interested groups and encourage their learning, so that various participants of the evaluation process acquire necessary knowledge or even reach an agreement on the content or implementation of a certain policy or its part.
The Institute evaluates investment programmes (including those co-financed by the EU), strategic plans or budget programmes of institutions, as well as performance of public institutions. The Institute has completed a large number of various evaluations both for Lithuanian and for international institutions (first of all, the European Commission).
The quality of these evaluations was positively assessed both at the Lithuanian and at the EU level. Some evaluation reports of the Institute were published in Lithuania as separate publications. For example, PHARE interim evaluation reports, prepared by the Institute, were acknowledged by the DG Enlargement of the European Commission as good practice examples for other new Member States of the EU.

More information on evaluation projects, carried out by the Institute – see section Projects.

Last but not least, the Institute also assists Lithuanian public institutions in strengthening their evaluation capabilities by preparing various methodological tools of evaluation and providing training in the evaluation field.