Euréval provides assistance in strategic planning, policy-making and programme design in the period immediately prior to decision-making. In European Union development programmes this mission is known as "ex ante evaluation".

This assistance is intended to answer questions such as : What objectives should be set? For which territories and groups ? Are they consistent with those of other public institutions ? Can they be achieved ? With what methods ?

The mission concerns either a policy (e.g. economic development of a territory; response to a social need; treatment of an environmental problem) or a public service (e.g. public transport; domestic waste management).

This mission consists of all or some of the following steps :

• Defining objectives
  We help planners to formalise and articulate their objectives at different levels, from the most strategic to those concerning specific measures or tools.

  At this stage the work consists of step-by-step adjustments with phases of strategic or political choices by the legitimate officials, and more technical phases in which we help to :

   - clarify the displayed guidelines and objectives
   - ensure the consistency of the different objectives
   - identify objectives by territory and/or target group.

• Incorporating other objectives
  We help designers to get to know and to incorporate the objectives and priorities of the other public or para-state institutions concerned by the decision to be made.

  At this stage our work comprises documentary analysis, interviews and/or leadership of task forces.

  The mission aims to include concerns such as effects on employment, the environment and equal opportunities, in the decision.

• Feasibility studies
  These are assessments of the realistic and/or ambitious nature of the objectives, especially as regards the tools and resources to be used.

  At this stage we are likely to mobilise all available and relevant knowledge such as expert assessments, former evaluations, and studies on similar policies.

  Our assistance may focus on a reasoned quantification of the objectives.

France - Agence de l’eau Rhône-Méditerranée-Corse : support for the design of the 9th programme of the Agency. This support for the design of the 9th programme of the Agency RMC was based on the results of the evaluation of the 8th program as well as regulations and national guidelines. Euréval conducted a series of interviews with interlocutors of the headquarters of the Agency and in delegations, led 7 case studies on specific territories and contracts, and led working groups.

France - Nord-Pas de Calais (Regional Prefecture) : European Regional Development Programme.
This mission, undertaken in 2000, was intended to assist regional authorities in designing a pluri-annual development programme financed by the European Union (Objective 2 - 2000/2006).
Most of our recommendations were incorporated in the planned programme and were endorsed in the final decision. Our clarification and quantification of objectives in particular was highly rated. It was subsequently presented at a conference organised in Edinburgh by the European Commission.