The Austrian experience with the Coordination and Work Platform Evaluation – KAP-EVA shows how evaluation capacity building itself could be connected with organisational learning processes.

KAP-EVA was establised following the Austrian accession to the EU, as a response to the evaluation requirements connected to the Structural Funds. It comprised various evaluation stakeholders (Federal Ministries, ÖROK Office, regional and local authorities, evaluators, research institutions and DG REGIO) and aimed to coordinate and cooperate on evaluation projects.

One of its fundamental roles was also to trigger a learning process which should be informed by evaluation work. This learning process could be analysed at three levels:

1.        Technical and instrumental learning – the objective being to improve the existing monitoring and statistical databases

2.        Methodical and theoretical learning – development and harmonisation of evaluation methodologies across the different institutions

3.        Systematic learning - integration of competition and cooperation in a systemic action-setting, resulting in synergetic effects for all participants – reflection on responsibilities at different levels (national/ regional/ local).

The involvement of all important stakeholders enhanced the credibility of this platform and facilitated the dissemination of its results.

The experience of KAP-EVA showed that, even though learning processes in the sense of systemic learning did take place in the national and regional administrations involved, they mainly set in motion a slow process of disseminating innovation and increasing openness rather than causing direct changes in administration cultures.