Western Balkans Peer Learning Webinar Strengthens Policy Design and Monitoring Capacities

Skopje, 29 September 2025

 The Foundation for Management and industrial research (MIR foundation), in cooperation with the Agency for innovation, scientific and technological development and entrepreneurship (INOVA), successfully organized a Peer learning webinar on Policy design, coordination, and monitoring & evaluation (M&E). The event was conducted under the framework of the POLICY ANSWERS project, funded by the European Commission through Horizon Europe.

The objective was to enhance institutional capacities in Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) as key components for evidence-based policy design and implementation.

The session was moderated by Sanja Popovic, WP3 Leader, who highlighted the importance of strengthening cross-sectoral capacities in policy development. Gabriela Kostovska Bogoeska (MIR foundation) presented the main achievements of the regional training programme on developing relevant indicators, monitoring frameworks, and evaluation mechanisms. Andrijana Tasevska (INOVA) delivered insights from the recent evaluation of the Innovation Voucher scheme, showcasing its contribution to fostering innovation through structured monitoring and feedback processes.

The webinar concluded with a discussion session involving participants and partners, reflecting on lessons learned and exploring opportunities for improved policy coordination and monitoring practices across the region.

The peer learning exercise reinforced several critical aspects of effective monitoring and evaluation:

• Clear distinction between monitoring (ongoing progress tracking) and evaluation (systematic assessment of effectiveness and impact).
• The use of SMART indicators (Specific, Measurable, Available, Relevant, Time-bound) to ensure accurate performance measurement.
• Strengthened skills in applying the results chain approach (inputs → outputs → outcomes → impact) to policy design and implementation.

Through this initiative, POLICY ANSWERS continues to build regional capacity for evidence-based policymaking in the Western Balkans. By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among institutions, the project supports the creation of more effective, transparent, and impactful policies across the fields of research, innovation, education, culture, youth, and sports.

Many institutions in the Western Balkans are undergoing reforms, aligning with EU norms and agendas (e.g. European Research Area, EU innovation policy, etc.). However, there are gaps in experience with policy design (from formulation, stakeholder inclusion, to budget alignment) and monitoring (defining indicators, data collection, evaluation). These webinars provide space to learn good practices & avoid pitfalls. Instead of just top-down training, peer learning allows countries / regions to share what has worked (or not) in their own context. Western Balkans countries have some common structural challenges, but also specific national contexts. Sharing allows faster learning, adaptation of good models, and mutual support.