Evidence and Evaluation Forum (EEF)

The European Evaluation Society (EES) is excited to share a new initiative designed to strengthen the use of evidence and evaluation in European public policy making: the Evidence and Evaluation Forum.

About the Forum:

The Forum aims to consolidate the evidence already available to policy-makers, identify what knowledge gaps need to be filled, and how to apply this knowledge in policy-making. It will highlight existing evidence, especially from evaluations and also from research. It will inform a briefing note to be made publicly available. This briefing paper is intended to assist decision-makers in Europe in policy development. It may also identify specific areas of focus where further evidence and possible evaluations are needed.

The Forum reflects the EES’s commitment to strengthening the use of evidence and amplifying the value of evidence and evaluations in the development and monitoring of European public policy.

The ultimate audience for the Forum is decision-makers, and responsible actors in European institutions, industry, member states, trade unions and patient and public representatives.

This Forum brings together evaluators, researchers, policy-makers and interested parties to:

• Identify and share evidence
• Identify knowledge gaps
• Co-create insights to guide better policy-making

First EEF Series:

Theme: Evidence for Policy-Making – Addressing the Health Sector Productivity Challenge in Europe

Partner: RAND Europe

Format: Two online sessions (completed) + one hybrid event (upcoming)

This pilot series focuses on a critical issue for European public policy: increasing productivity in the health sector, with attention to innovation and workforce systems. Each session is grounded in a policy briefing prepared by RAND Europe, highlighting key challenges and synthesizing available evidence.

🔜 Upcoming Session

Final Hybrid Event – Brussels & Online

📅 8 October 2025

In-person:

Time: 14:30–18:00 (CEST)
Venue: BIP Meeting Center, Rue Royale 2-4, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium – Brussels Info Place (BIP)
Price: Free to attend
Language: English

Online via Zoom:

Time: 15:00–17:00 (CEST) / 14:00–16:00 (BST)
Price: Free to attend
Language: English

This final session will bring together decision-makers and stakeholders to reflect on the evidence presented so far, explore its policy implications, and close the first series with key takeaways.

🎤 Confirmed Speakers (all engaged in European health sector policy-making):

Mr. Dirk van den Steen Acting Head of Unit at DG SANTE at European Commission
Dr. Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems at WHO
Ms. Francesca Colombo, Head of the Health Division at OECD

📄 Help Shape the Briefing Note

Addressing the Health Sector Productivity Challenge in Europe

We are compiling a publicly available briefing note that builds on the evidence and insights shared throughout this series. Your input is welcome:

🔹 Do share with us any research or evaluation evidence on promoting innovation or boosting workforce productivity in the health sector.

📩 Send to:

Tom Ling – Tling@randeurope.org
Hampton Toole – htoole@randeurope.org

🔖 Full event details and how to book

For further details and to book your space, click here.

🎬 Recent Sessions – Now Available to Watch

The first two sessions were held in July 2025, marking the launch of the Forum.

Session 1 – Promoting Innovation to Strengthen Productivity

📅 15 July 2025
🎤 Speakers:

Professor Anita Charlesworth, CBE, co-chair of the Health Foundation’s Commission on NHS productivity and acting chair of North-West London NHS Integrated Care Board and
Karen Taylor. IPFA, OBE, Director Deloitte Centre for Health Solutions
🗣️ Discussant:
Riccardo Polastro, Chief Evaluation Officer at World Health Organization WHO

📺 Click here to watch the recording

Session 2 – Boosting Workforce Productivity