Evaluation of the Programme on Statistics with Eurostat in the Eastern Partnership

The Statistics Through Eastern Partnership (STEP) programme is a European Union funded regional programme managed by Eurostat. Its overall objective is to strengthen the statistical evidence base through more and better quality official statistics, produced by the national statistical systems (NSS) of the Eastern Partnership countries, in line with the European Statistics Code of Practice and the goals of the Eastern Partnership. Both availability and better quality statistics are essential for improved regional and country-level policy-making.

We have been selected by the European Commission to conduct the Final Evaluation of the Regional Programme on Statistics with Eurostat in the Eastern Partnership – Statistics Through Eastern Partnership (STEP).

The purpose of the programme is to:

• improve the production and dissemination of good quality statistics in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine,
• increase the level of harmonisation of methodology both between the countries, and with the EU,
• strengthen the institutional capacity of the national statistical institutes (NSIs) of the region along the principles set out in the European Statistical Code of Practice,
• support evidence-based policy-making, ensuring that statistical evidence substantiates policy choices, through improved cooperation and coordination between the national statistical institutes, policy-makers and line institutions.

The programme had a duration of three years and came to an end in July 2022. Our evaluation team will now evaluate its performance and provide the EUD with lessons learned, conclusions and recommendations to feed into future planning and programme.

For more information, please contact Ignacio García, Senior Project Manager.