Evaluating the ESF Social Inclusion Thematic Objective in Hungary

The Budapest Institute supported the evaluation of programmes aiming to increase social inclusion from the European Social Fund (ESF) between 2015-2019. We conducted a number of interviews with key experts, next to analysing data from implementation reports. 

While most of these programmes were relevant, we could hardly discern whether they were effective, given that the implementation of many of the programmes were delayed.

We also studied the programmes aiming to decrease housing segregation in a case study. While these programmes contained many very useful elements, they were also hampered by (unforeseen) difficulties of during their implementation. This case study also confirmed some of the long-standing issues where limited progress was made: the lack of basic services in segregated areas and the shortage of social workers.

The results of our investigations were summarised in a country report for EU DG EMPL.     

BI senior researcher Márton Csillag was contracted as a country expert by the ICF.