The Interreg V-A CBC Italy-Croatia Programme 2014-2020 was an EU initiative aimed at promoting prosperity and blue growth in the region by encouraging cross-border partnerships that brought about real change. The aim of the Programme was to help regional and local actors in Italy and Croatia to share knowledge, develop pilot projects, test new policies and products, and support investments.

The Programme focused on areas in Italy and Croatia with access to the Mediterranean Sea, the common border between the two countries. The Programme focused on four main priorities:

1. Blue Innovation – Strengthening innovation in the blue economy

2. Security and resilience – Improving climate change monitoring and adaptation planning

3. Environment and cultural heritage – Exploiting natural and cultural assets for sustainable development

4. Maritime transport – Improving the quality, safety and sustainability of maritime transport

t33 was selected to conduct an additional impact evaluation for the period 2014-2020 to assess the effectiveness and results of the Programme after its completion. The evaluation aimed to provide a detailed understanding of the results, challenges, and overall impact of the Programme in Italy and Croatia.

The impact assessment provided: 1) a framework and methodology for the evaluation; 2) an analysis of the Programme results, focusing on standard and strategic projects, highlighting contributions to regional development, collaboration and sustainability; and 3) two dissemination products which included a document entitled ‘Insights for Impact’, summarising key findings (for the policy makers) and a video entitled ‘Bridging Borders’, explaining the programme's impact (for the public).

Several methods were used to ensure a comprehensive evaluation, including document reviews, surveys, interviews, case studies, and data analysis.

The evaluation work culminated in the delivery of the impact evaluation report.
Following an innovative approach, this evaluation exercise also included the preparation of a policy brief aimed at conveying key messages from the ex post evaluations to policymakers. This output is particularly relevant, as it reflects the growing expectation that evaluation should generate evidence to inform and support subsequent programming processes.

Finally, the main findings of the evaluation were disseminated through the full video Ex-post impact evaluation of the Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme 2014-2020, as well as through three short thematic videos (‘video pills’): Interreg IT-HR Programme 2014-2020: Impact generated, Interreg IT-HR Programme 2014-2020: Key outputs, Interreg IT-HR Programme 2014-2020: Enhancing cooperation for sustainable growth.

This evaluation service represented a valuable opportunity for t33 to strengthen its capacity to disseminate evaluation findings to diverse target groups through a variety of communication channels.