Evaluation of ETF country-level actions in Human Capital Development

The project entails a strategic and operational evaluation of country-level actions implemented by the European Training Foundation's (ETF) between 2021 and 2025, focusing on ETF contribution to Human Capital Development (HCD) in partner countries.

ETF's mission is to help transition and developing countries, primarily those bordering the EU, strengthen their education, vocational training, and labour market systems to improve human capital development.

The evaluation assesses the added value, strategic relevance and effects of ETF interventions across key areas such as vocational education and training (VET), skills policies, labour market governance and cooperation with national and EU stakeholders.

The study applies a mixed-methods approach, combining desk research, interviews, qualitative surveys and country case studies, with strong emphasis on evidence triangulation and a forward-looking perspective.

The evaluation aims to:

• assess the results and effects of ETF country-level actions over the period 2021–2025;
• examine the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance and EU added value of ETF interventions, in line with the ETF Strategy 2027;
• identify success factors, challenges and lessons learned in the implementation of ETF’s country engagement model across different contexts;
• provide operational and strategic "forward-looking" recommendations, to strengthen ETF support to partner countries and alignment with EU priorities.

As lead partner of the project, FGB is responsible for its overall coordination, acting as the main interface with ETF and overseeing all phases of the evaluation (including methodological design, evidence collection and analysis, formulation of recommendations and validation activities with stakeholders).

Project deliverables:

• Inception Report (March 2026)
• Draft Final Report (summer 2026)
• Final Report (September 2026)
• Summary Paper