Evaluating the governance of structural funds programmes: the case of community economic development in South Yorkshire

ARMSTRONG, H. W. and WELLS, P. (2006). Evaluating the governance of structural funds programmes: the case of community economic development in South Yorkshire. European planning studies, 14 (6), 855-876.

Full text not available from this repository.
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1080/09654310500496198

Abstract

Methods for evaluating regional and urban policies have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years. However, this paper argues that the evaluation of Structural Funds programmes has systematically underplayed the effect of governance on both programme design and implementation. This paper uses the role of voluntary and community sector organizations in promoting community economic development initiatives within the European Union's Structural Funds programmes in South Yorkshire as a case study. An argument is made for extending evaluation methods, especially theory-based evaluation, through using multi-level governance as a “theory of change”. A key finding is that to explain how programmes work, evaluators need to consider formal partnership and management arrangements, their traditional focus, but also wider governance structures and the importance of informal policy networks. Such a focus allows for a consideration of issues such as resource mobilization and power.

Item Type: Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research
Sheffield Business School Research Institute > Ethical Organisations
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1080/09654310500496198
Page Range: 855-876
Depositing User: Ann Betterton
Date Deposited: 19 May 2009
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 21:31
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/794

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics