EuroHealthNet Evaluation Report · CIRI, for the purposes of this report the term ‘members’ will be adopted when referring to all those who have joined EuroHealthNet across the

Version: 03

Ref No: P635

Date: December 2015

Author: Geoff Wykurz

Commissioner: EuroHealthNet

EuroHealthNet Evaluation Report January 2016

“If they were not there, there would be no impact for sure.” (CIRI partner)

“To be a member of EuroHealthNet means not standing alone.” (HPE Member)

TableofContents

1. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................1

2. PROCESS......................................................................................................................................................1

3. ANALYSISANDSYNTHESIS-EMERGENTTHEMES..........................................................................................2

3.1 GOVERNANCEANDMEMBERSHIP..................................................................................................................................33.2 INVOLVEMENTINTHENETWORK...................................................................................................................................33.3 FORMINGPARTNERSHIPS.............................................................................................................................................43.4 IDENTITYANDVISIBILITY..............................................................................................................................................53.5 KEEPINGINEQUALITIESONTHEAGENDA..........................................................................................................................53.6 IMPACT-MAKINGADIFFERENCE...................................................................................................................................63.7 CHALLENGES............................................................................................................................................................83.8 EXPECTATIONSBY2017..............................................................................................................................................83.9 IDENTIFYINGEVIDENCEOFIMPACT.................................................................................................................................93.10 ADDITIONALIDEAS....................................................................................................................................................9

4. AREASFORCONSIDERATION.....................................................................................................................104.1 GOVERNANCEANDMEMBERSHIP................................................................................................................................104.2 IDENTITY,VISIBILITYANDBRAND.................................................................................................................................114.3 CHAMPIONINGHEALTHEQUITYANDKEEPINGINEQUALITIESONTHEAGENDA.........................................................................114.4 PARTNERSHIPWORKING............................................................................................................................................124.5 CAPACITYBUILDING.................................................................................................................................................134.6 ENGAGINGSTAKEHOLDERS.........................................................................................................................................13

5. PROGRESSINGTHEEVALUATION–PROPOSALSFORTHENEXTPHASE(2016)............................................145.1 FOLLOWUPOFNEWMEMBERS...................................................................................................................................145.2 CONSULTINGTHEREADERSOFHEALTHHIGHLIGHTS.........................................................................................................145.3 TRACKINGREFERENCESTOEUROHEALTHNET.................................................................................................................145.4 STUDYVISITS..........................................................................................................................................................145.5 KEYRESPONDENTS...................................................................................................................................................155.6 HPESURVEY..........................................................................................................................................................155.7 CASESTUDIES.........................................................................................................................................................155.8 IMPACTONMEMBERORGANISATIONS.........................................................................................................................155.9 OTHERSTAKEHOLDERS..............................................................................................................................................155.10 NEXTSTEPS...........................................................................................................................................................16

6. CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................................16

APPENDIXA.....................................................................................................................................................17

APPENDIXB......................................................................................................................................................21

APPENDIXC......................................................................................................................................................28

APPENDIXD.....................................................................................................................................................34

EuroHealthNetEvaluationReport-December2015

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1. Introduction

ThisreporthasbeenpreparedforconsiderationbytheExecutiveBoardofEuroHealthNetatitsmeetinginNovember2015.ItprovidesananalysisandsynthesisofdatacollectedthroughaseriesofcomponentsthatformthefirstphaseoftheindependentevaluationandimpactassessmentofEuroHealthNet’sprogrammes,activitiesandtheorganisationaswhole.

Following an outline of the components of the evaluation, emergent issues are summarised and areasidentified forconsiderationby theExecutiveBoard. Proposals forcomponents for thenextphaseof theevaluationarealsoincluded.

Questionsunderpinningtheevaluation

TheTermsofReferencefortheevaluationidentifiedseveralbroadquestionstobeaddressed:

• HaveEuroHealthNetinitiativesandprojectssofarresultedinitbeingbetterpositionedandequippedtochampionhealthandaddresssocialdeterminantsofhealthinEurope?

• HavepartnershipstopromotehealthbeenstrengthenedandhowhavethesepartnershipscontributedtoadvancetheEuropeanhealthandsocialdeterminantsofhealthagenda?

• HastherebeenanincreaseintheparticipationofmemberstatehealthagenciesandinstitutesintheEuropeanSemesterprocessandSIP?

• HavestakeholdersbeenactivelyandmeaningfullyinvolvedinprogrammesandinitiativesundertakenbyEuroHealthNet?

• TowhatextenthascapacitybuildingandtrainingprovidedbyEuroHealthNetresultedinimprovedoperationsatregionalandnationallevelforachievinghealthequity?

• WhatarethelessonslearnedandrecommendationsforguidingfutureEuroHealthNetpolicies,initiativesandstrategyinthecomingyears?

2. Process

FollowingapprovaloftheevaluationandimpactassessmentplanbytheExecutiveBoardinApril2015theManagingDirectorwasconsultedontheformat,contentandtimingofeachcomponent.AssistancefromtheManaging Assistant was invaluable in mailing questionnaires and inviting members and partners ofEuroHealthNettoparticipateintheevaluationprocess.

For2015theevaluationincludedseveralcomponents:

• ConversationswithparticipantsatGeneralCouncilandAnnualGeneralMeeting-(AppendixA)• HPEsurvey-(AppendixB)• CIRIinterviews-(AppendixC)• InterviewswithKeyRespondents-(AppendixD)• Partnerships


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TheExecutiveBoardhasalreadyreceivedadetailedreportsynthesisingtheadhocinterviewswithpeoplewhoattendedEuroHealthNet’sGeneralMeetinginNewcastleinJune2015.Thereport,‘Conversationsonthe Value of EuroHealthNet’ was discussed by the Executive Board by teleconference in July 2015 andsubsequently sentby theManagingDirector tokeyECofficials for information.The final sectionson theOverview,observationsandImplicationsfortheEvaluationandImpactAssessmentareincludedinAppendixA.

Theprocessofgatheringdataforeachcomponentisstatedwithintheintroductionsoftheappendicestothisreport. Aseparateappendixhasnotbeincludedforthecomponentonpartnerships. TheManagingDirectoridentifiedtwonetworkswithwhichEuroHealthNethassoughttodevelopapartnership.Onlyonereplied,so theircommentshavebeen integrated into themainbodyof this reportwithin thesectiononpartnerships.

CommissionersfromDGSANTEandDGEMPLwereinvitedtoparticipateintheevaluationbutdeclined.TheHeadofUnitforProgrammeManagementandDiseaseswithinDGSANTEconsideredthatitwouldnotbeappropriatetotakepartintheevaluationexercisegivenhisresponsibilityfortheEUHealthprogrammeasEuroHealthNethasbeeninvolvedinanumberofitsprojects.

TheHeadof theSocialProtectionUnitwithinDGEMPLdidnot feelsufficiently familiarwith theworkofEuroHealthNettorespondtothequestionsproposedforthe interview. Nonetheless,heconsideredthattheywere ‘highly relevant’ and suggested that theyweremore suitable for a direct discussionwith theEuroHealthNet team. He indicated interest in arranging such a discussion after the completion of theevaluation.

Thoseinvitedtoparticipateineachcomponentoftheevaluationwereassuredthatnocommentswouldbeattributedtoanamedindividual,organisation,network,regionormemberstate.

Theevaluatorisgratefultoallthosewhokindlygavetheirviewsandtimeincompletingquestionnairesandbeinginterviewed.Severalintervieweesrequestedacopyoftheevaluationreport.

AlthoughEuroHealthNetmakesadistinctionbetween‘members’ofHPEand‘partners’ofbothPHASEandCIRI,forthepurposesofthisreporttheterm‘members’willbeadoptedwhenreferringtoallthosewhohavejoinedEuroHealthNetacrossthethreepillars.

3. AnalysisandSynthesis-EmergentThemes

Thefindingsfromeachcomponentarepresentedinseparateappendicestothisreportwhichhavebeensynthesisedwithinseveralkeyemergentthemes:

• Governanceandmembership• Involvementinthenetwork• Formingpartnerships• Identityandvisibility• Keepinginequalitiesontheagenda• Impact-makingadifference• Challenges• Expectationsofwhatmightbeachievedby2017• Identifyingevidenceofimpact


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3.1 Governanceandmembership

Followingtheintroductionofthenewnetworkstructurememberswereinvitedtocommentonthecreationofthreepillars.Inaddition,thisphaseoftheevaluationfocusedontheexperienceofnewpartnersjoiningthenetworkthroughCIRI.

Overall, respondentswelcomed the new structurewhich has enabled awider range of organisations toparticipateinthenetworkwithoutlosingEuroHealthNet’sdistinctivefocusonaddressinghealthandsocialinequalities.

Pointsraised

• Notallrespondentswereawareofthedistinctionbetweenthethreepillars.Somewerenotsureoftheirown‘categoryofmembership’.

• APHASEpartnerstressedtheimportanceofEuroHealthNethavingadistinctiveidentitywithdifferentroutesthroughwhichorganisationscanlinkwiththenetwork.

• CIRIpartnershavefoundthecreationofaspecificrouteforresearchorganisationstojointhenetworkcrucialtoconvincingtheirinstitutionsofthemeritsofjoiningthenetwork.

• ThelowerjoiningfeeforPHASEandCIRIpartnershasalsohelpedjustifyjoiningEuroHealthNetandisseentobeagoodinvestmentthatwillopenupnewopportunitiesforcollaborationsandaccessingEuropeanfunding.

• Mostintervieweesusedtheterm‘member’irrespectiveoftheirrelationshiptothenetworkandgenerallyfelttherewasnorestrictioninaccessingsupportorbeinginvolvedinEuroHealthNet’sactivities.

• BecomingaCIRIpartnerisseenasapossibleinterimstagetobecomingafullmember.• Smallorganisationsfacedthechallengeofhowmuchtimetheycancontributetotheworkofthe

network,whichmayonlybeattendingonemeetingayear.• TheTWIGSareseenasaninnovativemeansbywhichmembersacrossthethreepillarscanengage

witheachothertoshareknowledge,practiceandidentifyactions.Theyareseenasapositivemechanismforstrengthening‘horizontal’linkswithinthenetworkandprovidingapotential‘vertical’linkintotheExecutiveBoard.

• AnObservervaluedtheirassociationwiththenetworkandtheopportunitytoseekadvicefromtheManagingDirector.Itwasunclearwhethertheyhadaccesstothesameinformationasfullmembers.

• RecentdevelopmentsinthegovernanceofEuroHealthNetareseentoconveyastrongsystematicapproachtoorganisationandengagementwithotherorganisations.

• TheEuroHealthNetOfficeappearstorepresentbothahubandfacilitatorfornetworkingbothinternallywithinthenetworkandexternallywithotherorganisations.

3.2 Involvementinthenetwork

ThecomponentsoftheevaluationexploredthewaysinwhichmembersareencouragedtogetinvolvedinthenetworkandwhatcontributiontheyconsidertheycouldmaketotheworkofEuroHealthNet.Membersreferredtoattendingmeetings,participatinginstudyvisitsandrespondingtocallstocontributetobidsforEUfunding.Theyalsoconsideredthatsharingtheirknowledge,skills,perspectivesandtheexamplesfromtheirpracticeareallvaluablecontributionstheycanmaketothenetwork.TWIGSwereidentifiedasakeyvehicleforincreasingparticipationofmemberorganisations.


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Pointsraised

• TheTWIGSareseenasacreativeandrelevantwayformemberstoactivelycontributetotheworkofEuroHealthNet,butthedegreeofcommitmentfrommembersisdependentuponthesizeoftheorganisationandtheavailabilityofstaff.

• MemberswelcomedtherelevanceandrangeofTWIGS,enablingorganisationstoselectthosemostrelevanttotheirwork.

• LargerinstitutionsareabletocirculateinformationtoalltheirstaffandassignindividualstospecificTWIGS.

• TheTWIGonsustainabilitywasconsideredtobetoobroadbyonerespondent,butitwasanticipatedthatmembersofthegroupwouldnarrowdownareasfordiscussion.

• Byvirtueofthewayinwhichanissueneededtobeaddressed,someTWIGSwereseentobemorerelevanttoorganisationswithanationalremitthanregionalgroups(e.g.Tobacco).

3.3 Formingpartnerships

Interviewees interpreted the development of partnerships in a variety of ways; partnerships betweenmembers of EuroHealthNet, partnerships betweenEuroHealthNet andother networks andwithnationalorganisationsthatshareacommoninterest.

In addition to including a question on developing partnerships in interviews, the evaluation sought todiscovertheviewsoftwonetworkswithwhichEuroHealthNethassoughttobuildaformalpartnership.Onlyonenetworkrespondedandgavebriefcomments.Thesehavebeenblended intothesummaryofpointsraisedunderthistheme.

Pointsraised

• TheEuroHealthNetOfficeisregardedasavaluablesourceofknowledgeofpotentialcontactstofindpartnersinothermemberstateswithwhichtocollaborate.

• EuroHealthNet’smeetingsandstudyvisitsareseenasopportunitiestonetworkandconnectwithpeoplewithwhompartnershipscouldbedevelopedbothwithinandbetweenmemberstates.

• Memberswelcometheopportunitythatbidsandprojectsco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNetprovidetoworkinpartnershipwithorganisationsfromothercountries.

• DRIVERSandGRADIENTweregivenasexamplesofprojectsco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNetthathaveenabledmemberstosubsequentlyforgenewnationalcollaborations.

• WorkingwithEuroHealthNetprovidesanadditionalforumtoraiseawarenessofanissuewithawideraudience.

• Membersofeachnetworkhavetheopportunitytoattendeachother’sevents.• ItwassuggestedthatEuroHealthNetcoulddevelopacloserpartnershipwiththeUCLInstituteof

HealthEquity.• DevelopingpartnershipswiththeNationalInstituteforHealthandCareExcellence(NICE)andthe

BelgianHealthCareKnowledgeCentre(KCE)wasalsosuggested.• Creating‘looselycoupled’linksbetweennetworksisseentooffermutualbenefitswhereeach

networkcanbenefitfromknowledgesharingandsupporttofurthereachother’sgoals.• TheTWIGonmentalhealthwasidentifiedasevidenceofEuroHealthNet’scommitmenttoengage

inapositivecollaborationwithamemberlinkedtoanallianceoforganisationsseekingtoraiseawarenessofmentalhealthissuesinEurope.

• OneofthestrengthsofthewayinwhichEuroHealthNetworksisitsopennesstoexplorecollaborationswhichareseentobeofmutualbenefit.


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3.4 Identityandvisibility

EuroHealthNetisseenbothasanetworkwhichoffersameansofcontactingotherorganisationsandalsoasavaluedsourceofinformationandadvicethroughtheEuroHealthNetOffice.Intervieweesreferredtotheirengagementwithspecificindividualsasthe‘faceofEuroHealthNet’,theManagingDirector,theDirectorofPolicyandAdvocacy,staffintheEuroHealthNetOfficeandmembersoftheExecutiveBoard.ViewswerealsoexpressedaboutthenetworkasawholeandtheimageofEuroHealthNetasa‘brand’.

Pointsraised

• WhileinvitingabroadermembershipitisimportantthatEuroHealthNetdoesnotdiluteitsprofileandshouldmaintainitsprimarygoalofaddressinghealthandsocialinequalitieswithafocusonpromotinghealthequity.

• TherelationshipbetweentheExecutiveBoardandtheEuroHealthNetOfficeisseenas‘consistent’.• TheimportanceofEuroHealthNet’spresenceatmeetings,conferencesandothereventsorganised

attheEuropeanlevelwasstressed.Byorganisingstallsatconferences,givingpresentationsorfacilitatingworkshopsgreaterattentionisgiventotheissueofaddressingheathinequalitiesandbooststhemoraleofmembersattendingsuchevents.

• ItisevidentthatEuroHealthNetisahighlyrespectedorganisationwithareputationforhighstandards,qualityworkandprofessionalism.

• ItisimportanttomaintainandenhanceEuroHealthNet’svisibilityamongpublichealthinstitutes,ministriesandpoliticiansacrosstheEU.

• EuroHealthNetiswellknownbymanyinstitutesofpublicheath,butmaynothavethesameprofileandstatuswithalldepartmentsofhealthinEurope.

• Identifyingindividualswhohaveaccesstoseniorofficialsintheministriesofmemberstatesshouldbeaprioritytoestablishrelationshipswithkeypersonnel.

• EuroHealthNetshouldconsiderinvestingmoreinpromotingits‘brand’toincreaseawarenessandrecognitionofthesignificanceofitsroleandwork.

• ItwassuggestedthatEuroHealthNetprepareadevelopmentstrategyandappointa‘developmentmanager’,oridentifyindividualswiththerelevantskills(possiblyfromtheExecutiveBoard),tocomplementtheactivitiesoftheDirectorofPolicyandAdvocacy,whowouldvisitministriesofmemberstatestoestablishface-to-facecontacts.

• EnhancingtheprofileofEuroHealthNetwasseentobekeytoitslong-termsurvivalandsuccess.

3.5 Keepinginequalitiesontheagenda

Alliedtomaintainingitsprofile,EuroHealthNetisseenasplayingacrucialroleinkeepingheathinequalitiesontheagendabothattheEuropeanlevelandwithmemberstates. Itwasacknowledgedthatthebiggerchallengeistoelevateitspositiononthepoliticalagenda.Intervieweesgenerallyfeltunabletocommentonthe network’s success in achieving this goal, but emphasised the crucial importance of EuroHealthNet’spresenceandefforts.

WhenoneintervieweewasaskedabouttheevidenceofEuroHealthNet’simpactattheEuropeanlevel,afteralongpausetherewasanemphaticreply,

“Iftheywerenotthere,therewouldbenoimpactforsure”(CIRI1)

Thecommenthighlightsanimportantquestionfortheevaluationwhichwouldbe,‘WhatwouldbethestatusofconsiderationofhealthequityifEuroHealthNetdidnotexist?”Itwouldnotbefeasibletoassessthisandno doubt represents a situation organisations committed to addressing health and social inequalities inEuropewouldnotwishtocontemplate.


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Pointsraised

• MembersseeEuroHealthNetastheircollectivevoiceattheEuropeantable.Thenetworkisseenasa‘linktoEurope’providingachannelthroughwhichmemberscanpromoteissuesofnationalconcernattheEuropeanlevel.

• EuroHealthNetisseenasanimportantstakeholderattheEuropeanlevel,withasignificantroleinbuildingtheevidencebaseforpublichealthinterventionstolevelupthesocialgradient.

• OneCIRIpartnerstatedthattheissuestheyworkonrequireapan-Europeanapproachwhichtheywerenotinapositiontopromote.EuroHealthNet’saccesstokeyofficersoftheECandattendanceatmeetingsattheEuropeanlevelprovidesopportunitiesforissuestoberaised.

• Ingenuityisrequiredtore-presenttheissueinfreshways.Newwaysofpresentingtheissuesarerequiredtostimulateinterest,encourageparticipationandattractcommitmentfromofficialsandpoliticians.

• TherecommendationsoftheDRIVERSprojectareconsideredtobevaluable,butEuroHealthNet’sroleintranslatingthegeneralrecommendationstobemorecountry-specificwouldbewelcome.

• EuroHealthNetcouldactasanimportantcatalystatanationalleveltofacilitatediscussionswithinmemberstatestoworktowardsmoreconcreteoutcomesonissues(e.g.socialprotection).Comparisonwasmadewithinitiativestodevelopnationalplansthrough‘Europlan’(TheEuropeanProjectforRareDiseasesNationalPlansDevelopment).

• ToincreaseitsinfluenceinEuropeitwassuggestedthatEuroHealthNetcouldworkwithMembersoftheEuropeanParliamenttoestablishan‘InterestGroup’thatfocussedonaddressinghealthinequalitiesandthepromotionofhealthequity.Suchagroupcouldencouragediscussionanddebateandformulatepropositions.

3.6 Impact-makingadifference

AnaspectofEuroHealthNet’s‘impact’isthedifferenceitmakestotheorganisationsthataremembersofthe network. Comments indicate that it enhances the expertise and experience of thosewhowork formemberorganisationsand improves theeffectivenessofmembers to influencepolicymakersandeffectchangeatthelocal,regionalandnationallevels.ParticipantsattheGeneralMeetinginJune2015identifiedarangeofbenefitsthatderivefromtheirassociationwithnetwork.Thesearecomplementedbyadditionalcommentsfromothercomponentsoftheevaluation.

HPEmembers were asked how involvement in EuroHealthNet has been of benefit to thework of theirorganisation;howithasassistedtheminbeingmoreeffectiveinaddressinghealthandsocialinequalities;andwhetherithasmadeadifferencetotheirabilitytoexertinfluenceondecisionmakers.Similarquestionswerealsoraisedininterviews.Theircommentsaresummarisedbelowandelaboratedintheaccompanyingappendices.EuroHealthNetplaysasignificantenablingroleformembersinanumberofways:

Providinginformationandadvice

• Providingknowledgeofcurrentdevelopments,announcementsanddirectivesinEurope.• HealthHighlightsisanauthoritativesourceofinformationthatisclearandconciseandinaformat

thatiseasytodigestandforwardtocolleagueswhovaluetheinformation.• Offeringnetworkopportunitiestoexchangeknowledgeandexpertise.• Recommendationsofsourcesofexpertisethroughcontactswithexperts.• InformationfromEuroHealthNetabouttheWHOReport‘TheCaseforInvestinginPublicHealth’

wasusedasthebasisforadiscussionwithalocalministryandaskeylearningresourceforatrainingprogramme.

• TheManagingDirectorandstaffintheEuroHealthNetOfficeareexperiencedasapproachable,helpful,friendlyandefficient.


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Facilitatinginternationalcollaboration

• Bringinginstitutionstogethertofacilitatejointinitiatives.• Attendingandhostingstudyvisitsfacilitatesmutuallearning.• Makinglinkswithorganisationsbeyondpublichealth.Wideninglinkswithsocial,educationaland

laboursectorsareseenasimportant.• Enablingorganisationstoengageinaninternationalexchangeofknowledgethatenhancesits

statusasanexpertbody.

Co-ordinatingbidsforEU-fundedprojects

• Theprofessionalismandskillinco-ordinatingbidsforfundingishighlyregarded.• OneHPEmemberstated,

“Thesupport,adviceandactualworkbystaffindevelopingbidsisalsopriceless.”(HPE6)

Raisingtheprofileoforganisations

• CIRIpartnershighlightedEuroHealthNet’sroleinenablingthemtobuildtheirEuropeanprofilethroughinvitationstobeinvolvedinEUfundedprojects.TheopportunitiestobeapartnerorcontributeacasestudyareseenascrucialstepstodevelopexperienceofworkinginaEuropeancontext.

• SecuringEuropeanfundingthroughprojectsco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNethaselevatedthestatusofresearchgroupswithinaninstitutionandtheprofileoftheinstitution.

• BeingapartnerinthesuccessfulHorizon20:20bidhasbroughtnationalmediaattentionforaCIRIpartner.

• ContributingacasestudytotheDRIVERSprojectisseentobethefirststepforamoreambitiousroleinprojectsinthefutureforanotherCIRIpartner.

Enhancingeffectiveness

• EuroHeathNetprovidesalifelinetoorganisationsthatfeelisolatedintheirowncountry.• Providesopportunitiesfororganisationstokeepintouchformutualsupport.• ExperiencegainedthroughparticipatinginEUfundedprojectscanenhanceknowledgeandskills.• Createsopportunitiestoshareandcompareexamplesofinterventionsandexploretheir

applicationinothersettings.• Theopportunitytoattendmeetings,participateinprojectsandbecomeaworkpackageleadcan

offervaluableinternationalexperienceforstaffthatcanenhancetheirconfidenceandrecognisetheyarepartofabiggerenterprise.

• KnowledgeandexperiencegainedfromEuroHealthNetisusedtopreparereportsforministries.• PresentationsattheEuroHealthNetGeneralMeetingwasusedtobrieflocalNGOsattendingEU

meetings.• Enablestheexchangeanddisseminationofmemberswork.

Supporttoinfluencenationalpolicy

• HPEmembersseetheirroleasinformingnotinfluencingpolicymakers.• InformationandadviceprovidedbyEuroHealthNetcontributestothedevelopmentand

implementationofpolicies.• Experiencegainedonstudyvisitshavebeenrelevanttodevelopinglocalhealthplans.• EuroHealthNet’srecommendationscanassistnationaldecisionmakersinministriesintheir

relationshipwiththeEU.


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• EuroHealthNet’sworkonHealthinallPoliciesandHealthforallPolicieshasdirectlyinfluencedpolicyinatleastoneregion.

• ThereportontheDRIVERSprojecthasbeenquotedinthereportsbymemberstobesenttogovernment.

• Inaddition,itisalsoconsideredimportanttoinfluence‘implementers’notonlypolicymakers.

3.7 Challenges

IntervieweeswereaskedwhattheythoughtwouldbethemostsignificantchallengesfacingEuroHealthNetinthecomingyear(s).SomeoftheircommentsechoedissuesraisedattheGeneralMeeting.

Securingfunding

• TheneedtoexpandandbroadenthemembershipwhilemaintainingEuroHealthNet’scoreidentify.Thenewframeworkisseentobeasoundbasisforbuildingastrongmembershipbase.

• ContinuewiththesuccessfulstrategyofsecuringEUfundedprojects.

ImplicationsofEU’seconomicpolicy

• TherecentemphasisoneconomicpolicywithintheEUisseentohaveimplicationforkeepinghealthandsocialinequalitiesontheEU’sagendaandwillrequireafreshandinnovativeapproach.

• TheDRIVERSprojectwasconsideredtobearelevantandimportantprojectforthisissue.• Regionalprogrammestendedtofocusonsupporttobusiness,butattentionneededtobegivento

theneedsoftheworkforceandthoseexcludedfromthelabourmarket.

Involvingseniorpolicymakers

• Organisationstendtosendjuniorstaffmemberstomeetingstogainexperience,butthereisaneedtoencourageseniorpolicymakerstoattendmeetingsco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNet.Thismayrequirereframingmeetings.

3.8 Expectationsby2017

HPEmemberswereaskedwhattheyhopedtheirassociationwithEuroHealthNetwouldhelpthemachievebytheendof2017.ThiscoverstheperiodoftheEaSigrantandtheevaluation.Theirexpectationsappearedmodest,generallyquitebroadbutwithinEuroHealthNet’scapacitytosupport:

• EnhancedcollaborationtofulfilEuroHealthNet’smissionandthegoalsoftheHPEmember’snationalaimtoimprovehealthandwellbeing.

• ContinuedupdateondevelopmentsofEuropeanpublichealth.• Promotionofcountry-specificissuesrelatedtohealthinequalitiesattheEUlevel.• ActiveinvolvementintheTWIGStoenhanceinternationalcollaboration.• SupporttoengageinmoresuccessfulEUprojectstofurtherworkonhealthinequalities.• DevelopandexpandtheHPEmember’spartnership.• OrganisationofwebinarsonissuesandtraininginareaswhereEuroHealthNethasexpertise.• FinancialandtechnicalsupportfortheEuropeanPublicHealthConferenceinStockholm2017.


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KeyrespondentswereaskedwhatEuroHealthNetmightachieveby2017.

• Continuetochampionissuesonsocialinequalitiesandactionagainstpoverty(especiallychildpoverty)andlobbypoliticianstokeeptheissueontheagenda.

• Continuetostrengthenlinkswithsectorsbeyondhealthtoincludeeducationandthelabourmarket.

• TaketheleadinEuropeonsmokingpreventionandhelpprovideconcreteevidenceofhowsmokingimpactsonhealthinequalities.

• Continueitsworkonenvironmentalissues.• ForEuroHealthNet“tosurvive,thriveandprosper”withinthecurrentpoliticalclimatewas

consideredanotunreasonableachievement

3.9 Identifyingevidenceofimpact

Interviewees were asked for their views on what would be reasonable evidence to demonstrateEuroHealthNet’simpact.Thiswasrecognisedtobeachallengingissue.

Viewsexpressed

• Structuralmeasuresmaynotbeasimportantasfocussingonsmallpeople-orientedmeasures• Outputmeasureshadlimitations• IdentifyingwheretheECorEUpoliticianshaveacceptedEuroHeralthNet’srecommendations• TrackreferencestoEuroHealthNetanditsreportsinpublicationsofmembersofthenetwork,

nationalministries,theEUandotherstakeholders.• WhereEuroHealthNethasadvocatedforaspecificactiononatopic,(e.g.healthyeatingorsmoking

prevention)itmaybeeasiertotrackitsinfluenceandimpactthroughtheactivitiesoforganisationsandministriesatregionalandnationallevel.

• RecordingthedevelopmentoftheTWIGS-theirmembership,numberofmeetings,topicsdiscussedandactionstaken.

Inresponsetothequestion,oneCIRIpartnergavealistofevidenceoftheimpactoftheirassociationwithEuroHealthNetsincetheyjoined:

• Thenumberofcontacts,organisationsandcountrieswithwhichtheCIRIpartnernowworks• TheamountoffundingfromEuropeithasattractedasaresultofbeingapartnerinprojectsco-

ordinatedbyEuroHealthNet• ThesubsequentsuccessoftheabilityoftheCIRIpartnertosecureadditionalEuropeanfunding

AllrespondentsagreedthattrackingtheimpactofaninitiativebyEuroHealthNetonpopulationsandlocalcommunitieswouldnotbefeasible.

3.10 Additionalideas

Exchangeprogramme

One interviewee suggested that EuroHealthNet could consider developing an exchange programme forpublichealthofficialsacrossEuropetosupportyoungprofessionalstogainexperienceofworkingindifferentcountries.Theirexperiencecouldprovidenewperspectivesthatcouldinformandenrichtheirworkintheirhomecountry.IfEuroHealthNetactedasanagentforsuchaprogrammeparticipantsshouldbeencouragedtosubmitareportreflectingontheirexperiences.


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4. AreasforConsideration

TheviewsofrespondentsexpressedinthesurveyandthroughinterviewssuggestthattheremaybeareasthattheExecutiveBoardmaywishtoconsiderfurther:

4.1 Governanceandmembership

Itwasonlywhenanintervieweewhohadrecentlyjoinedthenetworkremarkedonthe‘continuity’betweenthe Executive Board and the EuroHealthNet Office that the absence of any critical comment fromrespondentsbecamesignificant. Sometimestheeffortandenergyinvestedinseekingimprovementsriskoverlookingwhathasbeenachieved.ItistoEuroHealthNet’screditthatmembersregardtheorganisationanditsworkashighlyprofessional,effectiveanditsstaffasapproachable.Nonetheless,itisrecognisedthatthereisnoroomforcomplacency,formaintainingthequalityofitsendeavourrequiresconstantattention.

Theintroductionofthenewframeworkwithitsthreepillarsappearswellreceived.ThreeCIRImembersandonePHASEpartnerwereinterviewedfortheevaluationandtheirenthusiasmabouttheopportunitiesthenewframeworkofferstoengagewithEuroHealthNetwasclear.

EachorganisationnotonlysawbenefitsfortheirorganisationbyjoiningEuroHealthNetandthepotentialforenhancingtheirwork,butalsowantedtoactivelycontributetothenetwork.Eachstatedthattheyhadbeenactivelywelcomedintothenetworkandthattheirviewsandperspectiveasorganisationsoutsidethepublichealth fieldwerevalued.Twoalreadyhada linkwithEuroHealthNetbefore joining,anotherhadactivelysearched for a network to build a European profile. Joining EuroHealthNet was seen as opening upopportunities,butsurprisewasexpressedatthespeedwithwhichthesewererealisedthroughinvitationstojoinbidsforEUfundedprojectsandachievesuccess.

Theseparate‘categories’ofmembershipandrelativelylowcostofjoiningEuroHealthNetthroughCIRIandPHASEareappreciatedandclearlyenableindividualstoconvincetheirseniormanagementofthemeritsofjoiningthenetwork.SomeintervieweeswereveryclearontheirpositionasaPHASEorCIRIpartnerandsawthedistinctionhelpful,otherswerenotsurethroughwhichroutetheirorganisationhadjoined.Whatevertheir‘categoryofmembership’allconveyedasenseofbeingfullyincludedinthenetworkandthedifferentpillars did not represent a barrier to engaging in activities of EuroHealthNet or collaboratingwith otherorganisationsinthenetwork.

Respondentsgenerallyusedtheterm‘member’todescribetheirrelationshipwithEuroHealthNet.WhilethedistinctionsbetweenHPE,CIRIandPHASEareregardedasconstructivethedistinctionbetweentheterms‘member’and‘partner’maynotbehelpful.

TheTWIGSareseenasacreativewayofbringing togethermembers to focusonspecific issues toshareexpertise and consider actions. They also are seen to be a potentialmechanism for building ‘horizontal’strengthwithin the network. Some considered that they have been slow to start following the GeneralMeeting,butvaluetheopportunitytheyoffertofocusonspecific issues. Their introductionalsohasthepotentialtowidenparticipationinthenetworkwherelargeorganisationsencouragetheirstafftojoinTWIGS.

Observations at the General Meeting indicated that member organisations tend to use the event as anetworkingopportunityfortheirstafftomeetcolleaguesfromcountries.WhilethisisusefulformembersitmaynotfulfilallofEuroHealthNet’sobjectivesfortheevent.Thereforetheremaybevalueinencouragingmemberorganisationstobriefstaffas ‘delegates’torepresenttheviewsoftheirorganisation.ThiscouldenrichdiscussionsofEuroHealthNet’sannualreportandfutureplans.


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Pointsforconsideration

Ø Thenewframeworkisregardedpositively,witharecognitionthatHPErepresentsthecore.The3Pillarsprovideacleardistinctionofdifferent‘categoriesofmembership’whichorganisationswhohavejoinedEuroHealhNetconsiderhelpfulandappropriate.However,fewusetheterm‘partner’torefertoorganisationsassociatedwithCIRIandPHASE.Mostrespondentsreferredtothemselvesas‘members’ofEuroHealthNet.Woulditbeappropriatetoreviewtheterm‘partner’anduseanalternativeterm,suchas‘AssociateMember’tomakethedistinctionclear?

Ø MemberorganisationscouldbecontactedbeforeaGeneralMeetingtoencouragethemtobriefstaffasdelegatestooptimisetheirparticipationindiscussionsonEuroHealthNet’spoliciesandplans.

Ø GrowtheTWIGSbeforeconsideringadditionalinitiativestostrengthenlinksbetweenmembers.Ø Activelypromotethenetworktoexpandandbroadenthemembershipbase.Thiscouldstrengthenthe

statusofEuroHealthNetasamorewidelyrepresentativenetworkwhilealsoattractingmorefunds.

4.2 Identity,visibilityandbrand

Respondents clearly see EuroHealthNet as a highly respected organisationwith a clear focus that has areputation for quality and success. It is these characteristics that have attracted organisations to joinEuroHealthNet and to choose to prioritise invitations from the network over other organisations toparticipateinbidsandprojectsco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNet.

EuroHealthNet’spresenceatEuropeaneventsnotonlyensuresthatinequalitiesinhealthandhealthequityaregivenattention,itactsasarallyingpointthatstrengthensthemoraleofindividualsandorganisationsthatmayfeelalonevoiceintheirmemberstates.MembersalsovaluetheopportunitytoengagewiththeManagingDirectorandstafffromtheEuroHealthNetOfficeatsuchevents.

WhileEuroHealthNetiswellregardedbymanyinstitutionsacrossEurope,somerespondentsconsidereditcouldhaveahigherprofilewithministries.ItwassuggestedthatmoreactivityshouldbeinvestedinmakingcontactwiththosewhocouldintroducerepresentativesofEuroHealthNettoseniorofficialstopromoteitsroleandwork.


Ø EuroHealthNetshouldconsiderhowtoelevateitsprofilewithministriesacrossEuropebytakingamoreproactiveapproachtopromoteits‘brand’.Thiswillrequireastrategythatfocusesonseniorofficialswithintheseministries,particularlydepartmentsofhealth.

Ø Ifonedoesnotalreadyexist,therecouldbemeritsinpreparingadevelopmentstrategyandidentifythosewithinthenetworkwhocouldtakeontheroleofvisitingministriestopromotetherole,aimsandgoalsofEuroHealthNet.

Ø OneintervieweementionedthataprofessionalcommunicationsorganisationhadbeenincludedasapartnerinanEUfundedprojectco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNet.Thiswastoensureeffectivedisseminationofthefindingsfromtheproject.WouldtherebemeritinconsultingaprofessionalorganisationonhowEuroHealthNetcouldpromoteits‘brandmoreeffectively?

4.3 Championinghealthequityandkeepinginequalitiesontheagenda

EuroHealthNetisseentoberespectedbyDGswithintheECwithaccesstokeyofficers.ItseffortstokeephealthandsocialinequalitiesontheagendaoftheEUandmemberstatesishighlyvalued.MembersseeEuroHealthNetasprovidingacollectivevoiceatmeetingstowhichtheywouldnototherwisehaveaccess.


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ThetaskofensuringattentionisgiventoaddressingissuesofhealthequityattheEuropeanlevelandraisingitspositionisrecognisedtobechallenging.ThenewemphasisoneconomicpolicywithintheEUisconsideredtoaddtothechallengingcontext.RespondentswishtoencourageEuroHealthNet’stomaintainitstenacity.


Ø Theneedforingenuitytore-presentissuesinnewand‘fresh’waysisseentobeacontinualchallenge,butessentialtogainattention,stimulateinterest,encourageparticipationandattractcommitmentfromdecision-makers.Howthiscanbeachievedwasnotclear,butEuroHealthNetisseentobeinstrongpositiontolead.

Ø ThereportontheDRIVERSprojectwasgivenasanexampleofavaluabledocumentthatprovidedgeneralrecommendationsthatrequiredtranslationtobemorecountryspecific.EuroHealthNetisseenasarespectedorganisationthatcouldfacilitatemeetingswithinmemberstatestodevelopplanswithgenerateconcreteoutcomesnotonlyfortheDRIVERSprojectsbutalsoreportsfromotherinstitutionsthatmakebroadrecommendations.

Ø ItwassuggestedthatEuroHealthNetcouldworkwithMembersoftheEuropeanParliamenttoestablishingan‘InterestGroup’tobringattentiontohealthequity.Suchagroupcouldgeneratepropositionstoencouragedebateonhealthandsocialinequalities.Theappropriatenessandfeasibilityofsuchaninitiativemaybeworthconsideration.

4.4 Partnershipworking

EuroHeathNethassoughttodevelopcloserrelationshipswithothernetworkstofostersharedlearningandexploreopportunities tobroaden the reachof thenetworks tomutualbenefit. During thisphaseof theevaluationtwopartnershipswere identified,but itwasdisappointingthatonlyonerepliedandthattheircommentswerebrief.ThismaybeindicativeofthecapacityoftheothernetworksratherthantheirregardforEuroHealthNet.

One intervieweewaseager toestablisha formal relationshipbetweenEuroHealthNetandanallianceonmentalhealth.TheTWIGonmentalhealthisseenasacreativeandmeaningfulwayofsharingknowledgeandcontactstostrengthencollaborationonexploringthelinksbetweenmentalhealthandpublichealth.

AnotherintervieweewaseagertoseeEuroHealthNettakeamoreleadingroleinco-ordinatinganetworkoforganisationsconcernedtoreducesmoking.ThisimpliedthattheexistingEuropeannetworkcouldbemoreeffectiveand thatEuroHeathNethada reputationofbeingwellorganisedwith theskills to leadanothernetwork.However,theresourcesavailabletoEuroHealthNetmaynotstretchtotakeonsucharole.


Ø Workinginpartnershipwithothernetworksmayhavesignificantresourceimplicationstosustainanddeveloptherelationship.Itwouldappearimportantthatapartnershipshouldnotonlyreflectacommitmenttocommonvaluesandmutualrespectofeachother’sgoals,butthatthereshouldbesomeequityofeffortandinvestmentoftimeandresources.Suchfactorsmaybeimportantcriteriawhenconsideringestablishingapartnership.

Ø Theconceptofa‘looselycoupledsystem’fromthefieldoforganisationalanalysismaybeusefulwhenconsideringdevelopingpartnerships.Thetermrepresentsacollaborationwherebothpartiesretaintheiridentitiesandseparatenesswhilebenefittingfromadegreeofinter-dependency.

Ø IfthereisanunequalrelationshipbetweenEuroHealthNetandaprospectivepartnertheremaybeariskthatEuroHealthNetisexpectedtoinvestadisproportionateeffortinsustainingtherelationshipwhichrisksdeflectingitfromotherpriorities.Theremaybevalueinagreeingspecificsharedactivitieswithintherelationshipeachyear,withanexplicitunderstandingofwhatcanbereasonablyexpectedfrombothparties.


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Ø ThecreationofaTWIGaroundasharedconcernmaybeausefulwayofexploringmutualinterestwithapotentialpartnerwhichcouldinvolvemembersofbothnetworks.

4.5 CapacityBuilding

ConversationswithparticipantsattheGeneralMeetinginJune2015andtheviewsexpressedbyrespondentstotheHPEquestionnaireandthroughinterviewsdemonstratethatEuroHeathNethasasignificantimpactonstaffdevelopmentwithinmemberorganisations.

RespondentscommentedonhowmuchtheyvaluedthelearningandnetworkopportunitiesofferedthroughattendingtheGeneralMeeting;takingpartinstudyvisits;involvementinbidsforEUfunding;beingapartnerinprojectsco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNetandthepotentialrepresentedbyparticipatingintheTWIGS.Formanyindividualssuchactivitiesareanempoweringexperience.

AssociationwithEuroHealthNetalsoenhancesthecapacityoforganisationsandraisestheirprofilewithintheirnationandattheEuropeanlevel.ItisnoexaggerationtosaythatEuroHealthNetplaysacriticalroleinenablingmanyorganisationstobuildtheirEuropeanprofilewhichcanenhancerecognitionoftheirexpertiseandcontributiontoaddressinghealthinequalitiesinaninternationalcontext.


Ø RespondentsmadenoreferencetoformaltrainingofferedbyEuroHealthNet,butthedevelopmentofknowledgeandskillsthroughparticipatinginactivitiesandprojectsorganisedandco-ordinatedbythenetworkclearlyhavesignificantimpact.ShouldEuroHealthNet’sroleinthisareabemademoreexplicittosecurerecognitionofitsimpact?

Ø ItwassuggestedbyoneintervieweethatEuroHeathNetcouldplayaroleincreatingandco-ordinatinganexchangeprogrammeforyoungprofessionalsinpublichealthorganisationstofacilitatethedevelopmentofdeeperunderstandingofhowdifferentcountriesaddressissuesofhealthandsocialinequalities.

4.6 Engagingstakeholders

AmappingexerciseofEuroHealthNet’sstakeholdershasnotbeenundertakenforthisevaluation,butitisevidentthatthenetwork’sreachiswideinvolvingarangeoforganisationsandcontactwithindividualsatvariouslevelswithinmembersstatesandintheEU.Inevitably,anorganisationwillhavestrongerlinksinsomeareasthanothers.


Ø ItmaybeausefulexerciseforEuroHealthNettodevelopastrategythatidentifiesandprioritiestheindividuals,organisationsandstructuresitwishestoinfluenceinpursuitofitscoreaims.Whoandwhereattentionshouldbefocussedmayvaryinrelationtodifferentinitiativesandfromyeartoyear.

Ø TargetingseniorofficialsinministriestopromoteEuroHealthNet’s‘brand’hasalreadybeenmentioned.

Ø Theremaybevalueincontactingthemostseniorpersonineachmemberorganisationonceayeartosimplyhaveaconversationabouttheorganisation’srelationshipwithEuroHeathNet.ThiscouldbeusedtoreinforcetheirstatusasamemberofanetworkandexploresharedconcernswhichmayalsocontributetotheeffectivenessofparticipationinGeneralMeetings.


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5. Progressingtheevaluation–proposalsforthenextphase(2016)

The first phase of the evaluation has generated information covering a range of areas primarily frommembersofEuroHealthNet.Itisproposedtocontinuetheprocessofgatheringcommentsfromthosecloselyinvolvedwiththenetwork,butalsotoextendtheevaluationtodiscovertheviewsofotherswithinanoutercircle of EuroHealthNet’s ‘sphere of influence’ to discover the extent of the organisation’s influence adimpact.

Newcomponentsareproposedforthesecondphaseoftheevaluationduring2016,butconsistentwiththeaction researchmodeladopted for thisproject, theExecutiveBoardandManagingDirectormaywish toexploreadditionalordifferentelements.However,whateverisconsideredneedstobeachievablewithintheresourcesavailablefortheevaluationproject.

5.1 Followupofnewmembers

TheprogrammeforthiselementoftheevaluationagreedwiththeManagingDirectorincludesaperiodicsurveyofaclusterofnewmembers twelvemonthsafter theyhave joined thenetwork. ThreenewCIRIpartnerswereinterviewedforthisphase.AgroupofnewHPEandPHASEmemberswillbecontactedforthenextphase.

5.2 ConsultingthereadersofHealthHighlights

It is proposed to design a short, concise questionnaire to be sent to the readers of EuroHealthNet’snewsletter,HealthHighlights todiscoverhowpeopleuse the information theyaccessand thedegree towhich they cite EuroHealthNet as the sourceof the information theyuse. The exercisewill not seek toevaluatethenewsletterperse,buttoexploretheextentofEuroHealthNet’sreachandimpactthroughthisvaluedcommunication.

TheManagingDirectorandcoordinatorofHealthHighlightswillbeconsultedonthetiming,method,formatandspecificquestionsofthesurvey.Theintentionwillbetocreateaquestionnairethatcanbecompletedquickly,butwitharequestforpermissiontofollowupifresponsessuggestthiswouldbeproductive.Thepurpose would be to secure more detailed evidence of internal documents (e.g. business plans) andpublicationsoftheorganisationswhereEuroHealthNetismentionedorquoted.

5.3 TrackingreferencestoEuroHealthNet

The EuroHealthNet Office may already have a mechanism for tracking references to the network inpublicationsandwebsites.Ifnot,thiswouldseemtobeausefultoolforgatheringinformationasanindicatorof its impact. Such extensive and detailed data gathering is beyond the scope of the evaluator, butinformationfromtheproposedHealthHighlightscomponentwouldcomplementsuchanexercise.

5.4 Studyvisits

It is propose to follow up participants of recent study visits to complement any internal evaluationundertakenbythehostsorEuroHealthNettodiscoverwhatwaslearnedfromtheirexperienceandhowitisbeingapplied.

Itisunderstoodthatastudyvisiton‘HealthandSocialEquity-knowledge,capabilityandcommitment’tookplaceinGothenberginOctober2015andanotheron‘HealthPromotionOffices’(?)isplannedforHungaryinNovember2015.PreviousstudyvisitsthattookplaceinFlorenceandHelsinkiin2014couldalsobefollowedup.


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5.5 Keyrespondents

Itisproposedtocontactagroupof‘keyrespondents’againinSeptember/October2016.ThosetobeincludedwillbedecidedinconsultationwiththeManagingDirector,butitisexpectedthattherewillbeanoverlapwiththoseinterviewedin2015.

5.6 HPESurvey

ThesurveyofHPEmembersin2015coveredapproximatelyhalfthemembership.Itisproposedtorepeatthesurveyin2016andsendquestionnairestothosewhohaveyethadtheopportunitytocontributetotheevaluation,excludingthosewhohavebeeninterviewedasmembersofthe‘keyrespondents’group.

5.7 CaseStudies

InformationderivedfromconversationsattheGeneralMeeting(inJune2015)andsubsequentinterviews(inOctober2015)withsomeofthesamepeoplesuggestthattherecouldbevalueinincludingcasestudiesinthefinalevaluationthatfollowthroughtheexperienceofnewmembersofEuroHealthNettoprovideanarrativeoftheimpactoftheirassociationwiththenetwork.

TwoCIRIpartnersandonePHASEpartnerwouldappeartobevaluablecandidatesastheevaluatorholdsdatafromconversationsattheGeneralMeetingandrecentinterviews.Othersmightalsobeconsideredinduecourse. Astheywouldneedtobenamedinanyfuturereportthewayinwhichthe‘casestudy’waswrittenupwouldneedtobecheckedandagreedwiththeorganisationsconcerned.

5.8 ImpactonMemberOrganisations

During the current phase of the evaluation members were asked what evidence would demonstrateEuroHealthNet’s impact. One interviewee referred to evidence of the impact on the work of theirorganisationwhichincludedcontactswithneworganisationsandcountriesinEuropewithwhichtheynowhadaconnectionandtheadditional funding theyreceivedasa resultofbeingapartnerofaprojectco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNet.

It is therefore proposed to contact a select group of organisations who are members/partners ofEuroHealthNettodiscovertheevidencetheyusetojustifytheirmembershipofEuroHealthNettotheirseniormanagement.ThiscouldprovideusefulevidenceofEuroHealthNet’simpact.Inaddition,organisationsmaybeaskedabouttheevidenceonwhichtheyjudgethemselvestohavebeensuccessfulandaskwhethertheirassociationwithEuroHealthNethascontributedtothisandhow.

Thisisacomponentthatrequiresfurtherconsideration.

5.9 Otherstakeholders

The components of the evaluation so far have focused on members/partners of EuroHealthNet. Asmentionedintheintroductiontothissectionitisconsideredappropriatetoseektheviewsofpeoplebeyondmembersandpartnerstodiscovertheirviewsontherole,workandimpactofEuroHealthNet.Who,whenand the most appropriate means of gathering information from these stakeholders will require furtherconsideration.TheviewsoftheExecutiveBoardandtheManagingDirectorwouldbewelcome.


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5.10 NextSteps

Followingdiscussionsat theExecutiveBoard the components tobe included in the secondphaseof theevaluationfor2016willbefinalisedwithatimetablefordatacollection.

It is proposed that following the collection and analysis of data another reportwill be presented to theExecutive Board inNovember 2016. In themeantime theManagingDirectorwill be kept informed andconsultedonallelementsoftheimplementationoftheevaluationproject.ProgresswiththeevaluationcouldalsobediscussedatthemeetingoftheExecutiveBoardinApril2016.

Endpiece

AstatementfromanHPEmemberinresponsetoarequestforcommentsabouttheirexperienceofbeingamemberofEuroHealthNet:

“Anetworkisatreasuretroveofcreativeandcommittedpeople,inspiration,expertiseandopportunities.Formepersonallythepastfiveyearshavebeengreatintermsoflearning,sharingandbeingabletocontributetomoreequitablehealth.IthashelpedmealotinmyownworkandIknowithasmadearealcontributiontotheinstituteIserve.”(HPE6)

6. Conclusion

It is evident that EuroHealthNet’s new governance framework has beenwell received bymembers andpartners.ThenetworkiswellregardedasanorganisationthatchampionsthedevelopmentofpoliciesandprogrammestoaddresshealthinequalitiesinEurope.EuroHealthNet’ssuccessindevelopingpartnershipstoadvancehealthandthesocialdeterminantsofhealthagendarequiresfurtherexploration.Membersandpartners value highly their association with EuroHealthNet and the opportunities this offers to shareknowledgeandpracticebetweenorganisationsindifferentmemberstates.

Participationinarangeofactivitiesco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNethasasignificantimpactoncapacitybuildinginorganisations,withtheimpactofelevatingtheirprofileandstatuswithintheirmemberstates.TherewouldbevalueininvestingtimeandefforttopromoteEuroHealthNet’sbrandandbuildstrongerlinkswithministriesacrossEUmemberstates.Therecouldbevalueindiscoveringtheviewsofawidergroupofstakeholders(inadditiontomembers/partners)ontheworkandimpactofEuroHealthNet

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Appendix A

ConversationswithparticipantsatGeneralCouncilandAnnualGeneralMeeting(June2015)ExtractfromreportsubmittedtoExecutiveBoardinJuly2015(usingoriginalnumbering)

5.Overview

5.1 ConversationswithparticipantsduringtheGeneralCouncilandAnnualMeetingisanelementinevaluatingtheimpactofEuroHealthNet’sworkandactivities.InvolvementinEuroHealthNetwasvaluedforavarietyofreasonsbyparticipants,includingnetworking,creatingcollaborations,securingresourcesfromtheEU,sharingknowledgeandgoodpractice,learningabouttheEU’sstructuresandsystems,gainingsupportforadvocacy,enhancingpersonalempowermentandcapacitybuildingwithinorganisations.

5.2 FormanyoftheindividualsinterviewedbytheevaluatorduringtheAnnualMeetingitwastheirfirstexperienceofaEuroHealthNeteventeveniftheirorganisationhadbeenalong-standingmember.Theirpresencewasindicativeofthewaymemberorganisationsusetheeventtoenablestafftoengageininternationalnetworking.Itwasevidentthatparticipantsvaluedtheopportunitytoshareexperiencesandgainnewknowledgefromthepresentationsandparticipationinthebreakoutsessions.

5.3 Thepresenceofrepresentativesfromanassociationofmentalhealthandaddictioncare(anewPHASEpartner)andaresearchgroupfocussingonsocial-psychologicalresearch(anewCIRIpartner)isindicativeofEuroHeathNet’ssuccessinattractingorganisationsfromoutsidepublichealth.ThefactthatthelatterdiscoveredEuroHealthNetbysearchingontheinternetdemonstratesthesuccessofitswebsiteinindicatingthatbothlargeandsmallorganisationsfromarangeofsectorsarewelcometoapplytojoin.

5.4 Participantsvaluedtheopen,welcoming,informalandfriendlyatmosphereoftheAnnualMeetingThisalsocharacterisestheirviewsoftheoverallrelationshipwithEuroHealthNetwhichtheyfindtobeverysupportiveandinclusive.Aconsistentthemeofconversationswithparticipantswasthattherewasstrongemphasisonthepracticalapplicationofknowledgegained,whetherthiswasthroughthediscoveryofnewideas,sharinggoodpracticeorformingnewcollaborations.

5.5 ParticipantsseeEuroHealthNetasahubforsharinganddisseminatingknowledgeandgoodpracticeinaddressinghealthandsocialinequalitiesfromasocialdeterminantsperspective.HealthHighlightsisviewedasavaluableresourceforthispurposeandthestudyvisitsprovideanopportunitytobuildrelationshipsandacquirenewideaswithpracticalapplication.

5.6 ItwasstrikinghowinvolvementinEuroHealthNetisanempoweringexperienceformany,buildingtheconfidenceandcompetenceofindividualstoengageinEuropeancollaborations.Italsoattractsgreaterrespectwithintheirorganisationsandnetworksathome.Involvementbreakstheisolationthatsomefeelbyprovidinga‘home’wheretheycanmeetotherswhoshareacommitmenttohealthpromotionandaddressinghealthinequalities.InvolvementinEuroHealthNetalsostrengthensthecapacityofmanyorganisationstoworkataninternationallevel.


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5.7 Atatimewhenresourcesforresearchcanbelimitedatanationallevel,manyseeEuroHealthNetasavehicletoenablethemtobeinvolvedincollaborationstoapplyforfundingfromtheEU.Theknowledge,expertiseandexperienceofEuroHealthNetinidentifyingpotentialsourcesoffundingandco-ordinatingbidsforprojectsishighlyregarded.

5.8 ThecreationoftheTWIGShasinspiredmanyparticipantstoseeanopportunitytoworkwithcolleaguesfromothernationstodiscusstopicswithafocusonpracticalaction.InformingcolleaguesintheirinstitutionsandgroupsoftheworkoftheTWIGSandencouragingtheiractiveparticipationprovidedatangible,practicalactionthatparticipantscouldtakethatwouldnotonlyenabletheircolleaguestousetheirexpertiseinaninternationalforum,butalsowidenparticipationintheworkofEuroHealthNet.

5.9 ManyparticipantsseeEuroHealthNetasanorganisationthatishighlyrespectedbytheECwiththeabilitytoaccesskeycontactsindifferentDGs.ItsabilitytosievethroughthestreamofinformationfromtheEUtodistilinformationthatismostrelevanttomembersisvalued.Itisseenasaskilledprojectco-ordinatorwiththeexpertise,experienceandagilitytonavigatethroughthelabyrinthoftheEuropeanCommissionsstructures,systemsandregulations.Thisbodyofknowledgeandskillssurpasseswhatindividualorganisationsconsidertheycanachieveontheirown.

5.10 AssociationwithEuroHealthNetgivessupportandstatustoorganisationsthatcanenhancetheirprofileintheirowncountrytopromoteactiononissues,butalsogivesthemaplatformandvoiceontheEuropeanstage.

6.ObservationsandImplicationsfortheEvaluationandImpactAssessment

Identityandrole

6.1 Anissuethatemergedfromconversationswithparticipantswashow‘EuroHealthNet’isperceivedbyindividualswithinandoutsidethe‘partnershipoforganisations’.Organisationsjoinaseithermembersorpartners,buttherelationshipwithEuroHealthNetisthroughindividuals.TheidentityandroleofEuoHealthNetmaybeperceivedindifferentwaysbyindividualsandfulfildifferentneeds.Althoughthiswasnotexplicitlydiscussedwithparticipants,thewayinwhichtheytalkedaboutEuoHealthNetsuggestedthatitwasseenasbothan‘organisation’anda‘network’;asresourceprovidingaservicetomembersanda‘meetingplace’toconnectwithpeoplesharingthesamevaluesandcommitmenttoeffectingchange.

6.2 Therefore,duringtheevaluationprocesstheremaybevalueinexploringhowthoseinvolvedinEuroHealthNetperceiveit:whethertheyseeitassingleentityormulti-faceted;asanetwork,organisation,resource,service,orinsomeotherway.

Governance

6.3 TheroleofthosewhoattendedtheGeneralCouncilandAnnualMeetingappearedtobemoreintheroleof‘participants’ratherthan‘delegates’frommemberandpartnerorganisationsofEuroHealthNet.FollowingthepresentationofreportsbytheManagingDirectorandPolicyDirector,theinvitationtodiscusspastandfutureworkappearedtoonlydrawcommentsfrommembersoftheExecutiveBoard.TherewaslittleevidencethatparticipantshadbeenbriefedbytheirorganisationsbeforetheeventinpreparationfordiscussionsonthebusinessofEuroHealthNet.


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6.4 Votingtooktheformofmembersraisingcardswiththenamesoftheirorganisations.Approvalofallthereports,businessplanandbudgetwasunanimous.Thelimiteddiscussionappearedfrustratingtosome.Despitethecirculationofcomprehensivedocumentspriortotheevent,itseemedthatmanyofthoseattendingtheeventwerenotfamiliarwiththebreadthordetailoftheworkofEuroHealthNetandfeltthattheywerenotinapositiontocomment.ThismayreflectthefactthatformanyoftheparticipantsthiswastheirfirstAnnualMeeting.

6.5 DuringtheevaluationitmaybeinterestingtoexplorehowmemberandpartnerorganisationsseetheirroleinthegovernanceofEuroHealthNetandhowtheywishtocontributetoshapingitsdirection.ThiscouldhaveimplicationsforhowmembersandpartnersconsultandinvolvethoseinvolvedintheirownorganisationindiscussionsaboutthewiderroleandworkofEuroHealthNet.

6.6 ModificationtotheprocessoftheAnnualMeetingcouldenhanceparticipation.Thiscouldinclude:

o SendingalistofspecificquestionstowhichEuroHealthNetwouldlikememberstorespond,orofferingabroadquestion,e.g.‘Whatissuesariseforyoufromreadingtheannualreport?’

o Allocatingtimeforparticipantstodiscussaspectsofthepresentationsandreportsinsmallgroups.Thiscouldhelpparticipantstoframetheirquestionsorcomments,especiallythosewhofeellessconfidentincontributinginalargegroup,especiallyiftheyarenotcomfortablespeakinginEnglish.

o Arrangingtheroomincabaret-styletofacilitatesmallgroupdiscussion

Analternativearrangementthatmightenhancecontributionscouldbetomovethereportstageandvotingelementtothelastdaytogivepeoplemoretimetolearnmoreaboutthenetworkanddiscussissueswithotherparticipants.

AwarenessofEuroHealthNetwithinorganisations

6.7 IntheevaluationexerciseattheendoftheAnnualMeetingoneparticipantstatedthattherewere40to60researchersintheirorganisationanddeclaredtheirintentiontoinformallofthemaboutEuroHealthNetandhowtheycouldcontributeandbenefitfromtheorganisation’smembership.ThisrepresentsasignificantdimensionofEuroHealthNet’spotentialinfluenceandimpact,soitmaybeinterestingtodiscovertheawarenessofitsworkamongstaffwithinafeworganisations.

6.8 ThedegreeofinvolvementofindividualsfromindividualorganisationsintherangeofTWIGscouldalsobeanindicatorofEuroHealthNet’sabilitytoinvolveanumberofpeoplewithinorganisationstosharetheirexpertisewithcolleaguesinaninternationalforum.

Empowermentofindividualsandorganisations

6.9 ReferencehasalreadybeenmadetothewayparticipationinEuroHealthNet’seventsandinitiativeshasanempoweringeffectonindividualsandorganisations.ThisaspectofEuroHealthNet’simpactcouldbeincludedasafeatureoftheevaluation.

AgentsofChange

6.10 DuringconversationsseveralparticipantsmadeexplicitreferencetothekeyroleoftheManagingDirectorinalertingindividualstoopportunities,facilitatingconnectionsbetweenorganisationsandactivelysupportingorganisationsintheirworkintheirhomecountry.Herroleappearspivotal.Attheendofoneoftheon-sitevisitsinNewcastleshetooktheopportunitytoinvitetheorganisersoftheWellbeingApprenticeshipstowriteuptheirworkasacasestudyfordisseminationthroughEuroHealthNet.ThesupportiveroleofotherofficersofEuroHealthNetwasalsomentioned.


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6.11 Aspartoftheevaluationtheremaybevalueinidentifyingtheprocessbywhichindividualsandorganisationsbecomeinvolvedinprojectsandinitiativesco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNet.ThecatalyticroleofofficersandmembersoftheExecutiveBoardisclearlysignificantintheprocessofinvolvingmembersandpartnersincollaborationsandactionsthathavethepotentialtomakeanimpactonhealthandsocialinequalities.

TakingAction

6.12 TheremaybevalueinfollowingupparticipantswhoattendedtheAnnualMeetinginafewmonthstodiscovertheoutcomeoftheactionstheyintendedtotake.

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APPENDIX B

SurveyofHealthPromotionEuropeMembers

INTRODUCTION

Theproposedplan for theEvaluationapprovedby theExecutiveBoardmeeting inApril2015 includedasurveyofmembersoftheHealthPromotionEuropeplatform.TheManagingDirectorwasconsultedonthequestionstobeincludedanditwasagreedtosendaquestionnaireto50%ofthesemembers.ArandomsampleofthirteenHPEmemberswaschosenbytheManagementAssistantwhosentoutthequestionnaireafterthesummerbreakinmid-September2015.

SomeoftheHPEmembersmayhaveparticipatedintheevaluationexercisethattookplaceattheGeneralMeetinginMarch,soreferencewasmadeinthecoveringnotethatresponseswouldbesynthesisedwithcomments given then. Only onequestion in the surveywas similar to theone askedduring theadhocinterviewsduringtheGeneralMeeting,whichenquiredaboutthevalueorbenefitofbeingassociatedwithEuroHealthNet.

TheevaluatorsentareminderatthebeginningofOctober.Onepersondeclinedtorespondwhoconsideredthat the organisationwas not in a position to contribute to an evaluation as they had not been able toparticipateinmeetingsorotheractivitiesofEuroHealthNet.Sevencompletedquestionnaireswerereceived.

Allthequestionsinvitedafreetextresponse.Theresponseshavebeencollatedwithoutidentificationoftheindividual, organisation, region or country of the HPEMember. Emergent themes associated with eachquestionarepresentedunderthequestionsposedinthesurvey.

Therelevanceofthequestionsposedwasindicatedbythecommentfromonerespondentwhoaskedformoretimetorespondtothesurvey,“Becauseyourquestionsaregood.”

RESPONSES

1.HowhasinvolvementinEuroHealthNetbeenofbenefittotheworkofyourOrganisation?

1.1ProvidingknowledgeofwhatishappeninginEurope

HPEmembersvalueEuroHealthNet’sknowledgeandexpertiseofcurrentdevelopments,announcementsanddirectivesrelevanttopublichealthwithintheEuropeanCommissionandotherpan-Europeanactivities.EuroHeathNet’s newsletter, Health Highlights and press releases are regarded as important sources ofinformationonthelatestdevelopmentsandinitiatives.

InvolvementinthenetworkhasenabledHPEmemberstoadoptandadaptwhatislearntattheEuropeleveltopublichealthworkatthenational,regionalandlocallevel.

1.2Offeringnetworkingopportunitiesfortheexchangeofknowledgeandexpertise

InvolvementwithEuroHealthNetprovidesmemberswithcontactsthroughoutEuropewithwhomtheycanexchangeknowledgeandpractice.Theserepresentanimportantresourcetoenhancelocalprojects.Onerespondentstatedthattheyhadusedthenetworktoidentifypeopletoinviteasinternationalspeakersfortheirnationalhealthpromotionconferences.


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EuroHealthNetplaysanimportantroleinbringinginstitutionstogetherandfacilitatingjointinitiatives.HPEmembers referred to the opportunities created to liaise with academic partners through CIRI. NewknowledgefromEuroHealthNetandothermembersisdisseminatedthroughtheHPEmember’sinstitutionandexternallythroughitsownwebsite.

TheGeneralMeetingsprovideopportunities fornetworkingandmutual learning. AttendingandhostingstudyvisitsprovideopportunitiesforstaffoforganisationswhicharemembersofEuroHealthNettolearnfromeachotherandtoshareinnovativenationalinitiatives.EventsandworkshopshostedbyEuroHealthNetalsoprovidetheopportunityforHPEmemberstoshowcasetheirworkontheinternationalstage(e.g.WHOconsultativemeetingandtheEuropeanPublicHealthConference).

1.3Enablingparticipationinprojectsthathelptoraisetheprofileofnationalorganisations

Association with the network and the opportunity to participate in EU-funded projects co-ordinated byEuroHealthNet has helped to raise the profile of HPE member organisations within European andinternationalpublichealthandthehealthpromotioncommunity.

HPEmembersvaluetheinvitationstoparticipateincollaborationswithotherEuroHealthNetpartners.OneHPEmemberhighlightedtheimportanceoftheinfluentialroleoftheEuroHealthNetofficeinenablingtheirorganisationtobeinvitedbytheirmemberstatetobeinvolvedinajointaction.

1.4ProvidingavoiceinEuropefornationalandregionalorganisations

Thenetwork is seenas ‘a link toEurope’,providinga framework foraddressingpublichealthandhealthrelatedissuesinanEUcontext.EuroHealthNetprovidesachannelthroughwhichHPEmemberscanpromoteissuesofnationalconcernataEuropeanlevel.

1.5Informingpolicydevelopment

BymakingpolicystatementstoimprovehealthandtacklehealthinequalitiesEuroHealthNetcontributestopolicydevelopment.

1.6Providingadvice

EuroHealthNetisjudgedtohaveexcellentlinkswithuniversities,researchorganisationsandothernetworksacrossEurope.Consequently,itisregardedasavaluableandreliablesourceofinformationandadvicewhenorganisationsareseekingexpertiseinparticularareasofpublichealth.

2.DoesyourAssociationwithEuroHealthNetenableyoutobemoreeffectiveinaddressinghealthandsocialinequalities?

2.1Constraintsofachallengingpoliticalcontext

OneHPEmembercommentedthatthiswasadifficultquestiontoanswerbecause,

“Healthinequalitieshavenotbeenveryhighonthepoliticalagendaofourgovernmentforthepastfewyearsandthishasrestrictedourcapacityandpossibilitiestoworkonit.”

(HPE6)


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Thiscommentnotonlyhighlightsthechallengingcontextwithinwhichorganisationsareworkingwithintheirmemberstates,butisalsoindicativeofthewidercontextofEuroHealthNet’swork.ClearlyitisdifficultforHPEmemberstotransferideasandinnovativepracticetotheirsettingsifthepoliticalenvironmentisnotsupportive.Nonetheless,insuchsituationsEuroHealthNetappearstoofferalifelinetoorganisationsthatmayfeelisolatedintheirowncountry,providingopportunitiestokeepintouchwithotherorganisationsandinternationalexpertsacrossEurope.

2.2Participationinconsortia

Participating in EU funded projects co-ordinated by EuroHealthNet enhances the status of some HPEmemberstherebygivingthemgreateraccesstotheirMinistriestoraiseissuesassociatedwiththeprojectswithwhichtheyareassociated(e.g.ClosingtheGap,Determine,CrossingBridgesandEquityAction).

2.3Capacitybuilding

ExperiencegainedthroughparticipatinginEU-fundedprojectshasenabledHPEmemberstoincreasetheirknowledge and develop their skills (e.g. health impact assessments). The study visits organised byEuroHeathNetofferopportunitiestoshareandcomparepracticalexamplesofhowspecificoutcomescanbeachievedinothercountries.

2.4Influencingnationalpolicyandpractice

HPEMembersvalue the informationprovidedbyEuroHealthNetaboutprogrammesand interventions inotherEuropeancountries. Inaddition, theydrawuponEuroHealthNet’svarious initiativesand reports todisseminateandpromotecountry-specific issues related tohealthandsocial inequalities. The ‘CallsandOpportunitiesAlerts’sentoutbytheEuroHealthNetOfficeenableHPEmemberstoidentifyandtranslatetherelevanceofprojectsandactivitiesattheEUleveltoanationalandlocalsetting.

OneHPEmember referred to the success in implementing a newprevention lawassociatedwithhealthequityintheirmemberstate.ThestronglinkbetweenthenationalnetworkandEuroHealthNetisassociatedwith the development of the recommendations, strategies and partnerships that have influenced theimplementationofthislaw.

Incontrast,anotherHPEmemberstatedthattheirregionalnetworkorganisationwasnotdirectlyinvolvedinaddressinghealthandsocialinequalities.

OnerespondenthighlightedthegreaterinfluenceattheEuropeanlevelthatderivesfromworkingtogetherthroughEuroHealthNet.

3.HasyourinvolvementinEuroHealthNetenabledyoutocollaboratewithneworganisationswithinand/orbetweenMemberStates?

All HPEmemberswho responded to the survey indicated that their associationwith EuroHealthNet hadhelped to develop partnerships with new organisations. Somewere looking for partners with whom tocollaborateonnewEUfundedprojects.Othersreferredtotheirrelationshipwithorganisationswithwhichthey had worked on projects co-ordinated by EuroHealthNet (e.g. DRIVERS and Gradient). Suchcollaborations have strengthened the ability of one member to promote specific programmes on foodinsecurity and healthy diets. EuroHealthNet’s support to facilitate the presentation of their findings atvariousforumshasledtothecreationofnewnationalcollaborations.


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TheworkshopsassociatedwithEuroHealthNet’sGeneralMeetingswereidentifiedasusefulopportunitiestomeetpeoplewhosharedsimilarinterestsfromdifferentcountries(e.g.mentalhealth).

Studyvisitswereagainmentionedasavehicleforfacilitatingnewcontactsandin-depthexchanges.OneHPEmemberstatedthatitsendsdifferentmembersofstafftoattendtheeventstolearnandbenefitfromthenetwork.

Membership of EuroHealthNet is considered to have strengthened collaboration between the Nordiccountries.

Opportunities to work in partnership with organisations ‘beyond the health promotion scene’ washighlighted as ‘very important’ by one respondent with reference to the social, educational and laboursectors.

SomeHPEmembersalsosharemembershipwithothernetworks(e.g.EUPHAandIANPHI)andalsomeeteachotherateventstheyorganise.

ThestrongnationalmandateofoneHPEmemberprecludesthedevelopmentofstablepartnershipswithorganisationsofotherMemberStates.

4.HasEuroHealthNetbeenusefultoyouinaccessingordisseminatingnewknowledgetoinfluencepolicyand/orpractice?

EuroHealthNetisseentobeactiveininformingmembersofopendebates,discussionsandopportunitiestovoiceconcernsattheEuropeanlevelabouthealthandsocialinequalitiesandtopromotetheirwork.HPEmembers appreciate the variety of opportunities to access and disseminate information provided byEuroHealthNet. One respondent referred to disseminating information about initiatives at the EU levelgainedfromEuroHealthNetwithintheiragencyandotherstakeholders.AnotherfoundthatidentifyinganddisseminategoodpracticehasencouragedclosercontactwiththeirMinistry.

Onerespondentstated“WehaveoftenusedtheEuroHealthNetdisseminationchannelstopromoteourwork,outcomes and results” (HPE5). This implied circulating information gathered nationally to a Europeanaudience. Others have drawn upon information about health equity from EU funded projects linked toEuroHealthNettotargetlocalpolicyanddecision-makers.

Reference was made by one member to EuroHealthNet’s success in securing a bid for the INHERITprogramme. This was an example of the importance of responding to calls for tenders and joiningcollaborationsforbidswhichareconsideredrelevantwaystodisseminateknowledgetoinfluencepolicyandpractice.

HPE members commented that through the work of EuroHealthNet, including projects, reports anddiscussions,theyhavebeenabletoinfluencepolicyandpractice.ThevalueofhearingfirsthandexperiencesfromcolleagueswithinEuroHealthNetwashighlighted.OnerespondentreferredtothevalueoftheDRIVERSprojectwhichwasasourcetodevelopanimportantpolicybrieffornationalpolicymakers.

AnHPEmember referred to how they drew upon the knowledge and experience they had gained fromEuroHealthNettopreparetworeportsthattheywerecommissionedtowritebytheirdepartmentofhealth- one on international lessons on health promotion and prevention and another on lessons from othercountrieson innovativehealthpromotion. Incontrasta regionalorganisationstated that theycouldnotidentifyanyexamplewhereinformationfromEuroHealthNethadbeenusedtoinfluencepolicymaking,butsuggestedthattheymaynothaveseizedtheopportunity.


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AnexamplewasgivenbyaHPEmemberofhowtheactivitiesofEuroHealthNetcanleadtoanimpactseveralstepsremovedfromtheoriginalevent:

“At theNewcastleGeneralAssemblywediscussedthenewEUCommissionagenda.Threeweeks later,wesharedthisatameetingoninternationalaffairsweorganisetwiceayearwithnationalhealthpromotingorganisations…

Soon afterwards, the deputy director of one of those organisations attended an EUNGOstakeholdermeetinginBrussels.Hesentmeagratefulandenthusiasticemailuponhisreturn:hehadbeenbyfarthebestinformedNGOrepresentativeatthetablewhichhadbeenofgreathelptohimtogetthemostoutofthatmeeting.”(HPE6)

5.DoesbeingpartofanetworkoforganisationsthroughEuroHealthNetmakeadifferencetoyourabilitytoexertinfluenceondecisionmakersinyourcountryorregion?

Responses to this question reflected the nature of the relationship of HPE members to their nationalgovernmentswhoseroleistoinformratherthaninfluence.Asonerespondentcommented,

“This is a delicate question to answer given our role as a government agency. Exertinginfluenceonelectedpolicymakersisnotreallywhatwearesupposedtodo.Gatheringandgeneratingevidenceforpolicyis,however,ourcorebusiness.”(HPE6)

Thissentimentwasechoedbyotherrespondents,oneofwhomstatedthattheirclosenesstogovernmentministries limitedtheirabilitytoassert influenceonaddressingpolicyareas. Anothercommentedonthedifficulties in influencingdecision-makers given thepolitical cycles and changingpolitical climate in theircountry.

Nonetheless,oneHPEmemberstressedthehelpfulnessofthenetwork’srecommendationsininfluencingboththeEuropeanCommissionandthepositionofnationaldecision-makersintheirministry.AnotherstatedthatEuroHealthNetequippedthemtobetterinformpolicymakersaboutEUprocesses,policiesopportunitiesandthreatstonationalandlocalpublichealth.TheinvolvementinEUprojectsledbyEuroHealthNetwasthoughttohaveapotentialindirectinfluencebyanothermember.

OneHPEmemberreferredtotheirspecificrole insupportingevidence-basedhealthpromotionata locallevelandthedevelopmentof localhealthplansandreports. ExperiencegainedthroughEuroHealthNet’sstudyvisitswasseenasrelevanttothisworkwhichwasdescribedas‘inspirational’,buttheextenttowhichithasmadeadifferencewashardtojudge.Incontrast,anothersuggestedtheabilitytoexertinfluenceonlocalandregionaldecisionmakerswasnotwelldevelopedandwouldbeanimportantissuetodiscuss.

Onerespondentarguedthatitwasequally,ifnotmoreimportanttoinfluencenotonlypolicymakersbutalsothosewhowereimplementingpolicies,

“Changecomesnotonlythroughinfluencingpolicymakersbutalsothroughlearningfromotherswho are implementing public health programmes or projects. I believe that theinformationonsuchactionsareasimportantininfluencingthepeoplecarryingoutthedailyworkinpublichealth,asthepolicymakers…

So, EHN is important for communicating experience from implementers as well as forinfluencingpolicymakersatalllevels.”(HPE7)


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6.WhatresourcesandsupportprovidedbyEuroHealthNetdoyouvaluemostandwhy?

HPEmembersidentifiedanumberoffeaturesofEuroHealthnet’sroleandworkthatwerevalued:

• EuroHealthNet’s ‘superior role’ as an important stakeholder at the European level, in building theevidencebaseforpublichealthandhealth-relatedpoliciesandhealthpromotioninterventionstolevelupthesocialgradientinhealth.

• Beingan informedvoice inEurope thatpromotes the implementationof integratedapproaches toaddressingthesocialdeterminantsofhealthtoreducehealthinequalities.

“We,asasingleinstitutecanneverraiseavoiceinsuchaneffectiveandstrategicwayasEuroHealthNetdoesonbehalfofallitsmembers.Wewouldnevergetaroundsuchhigh-leveltables,wewouldnotgetlistenedtointhesameway.”(HPE6)

• Expertiseonpoliciesandproceduresof theEuropeanUnionandCommissionandthequalityof itscontactswithCommissionofficers.

• ProvisionofinformationthroughthenewslettersandHealthHighlightsarevaluedwithemailupdateson policy, developments in public health, funding opportunities and EC related topics. The ‘policyprécis’seriesishelpfulwhichprovideshighqualityevidenceon‘hot’policythemesinaconciseformat.

“Formostofus,EUpolicycangetverycomplicated-especiallywhenitdealswiththemesliketradeoreconomicissues-andit’sgreattohaveitsrelevanceexplainedfromahealthperspective.”(HPE6)

• Support and co-operation from EuroHealthNet’s staff with EU-funded projects. One respondentremarked,

“Thesupport,adviceandactualworkbystaffindevelopingbidsisalsopriceless.”(HPE6)

• Individual support to HPE members - making time to have a conversation by phone or Skype;invitations and encouragement to write an article for publication in EuroHealthNet’s magazine;invitationstohostastudyvisit.

• Support to attend international conferences andmeetings and EuroHealthNet’s presence at suchevents.

• Theinformalandformalcommunicationandface-to-faceexchangesduringstudyvisitsandthegeneralassemblies that facilitate contact betweenpeoplewho share a common interest andwith expertswhichbuildstrustandmutualunderstanding.

• EuroHealthNet’sOffice-alwayshelpful,friendlyandefficient

7.WhatdoyouhopeyourassociationwithEuroHealthNetwillhelpyoutoachievebytheendof

2017?

HPEmembersidentifiedarangeofactionsthattheyhopedcouldbeachievedthroughtheirassociationwithEuroHealthNet:

• StrengthenedandenhancedcollaborationtofulfilthemissionofEuroHealthNetandtheoverallaimoftheHPEmember’snationalaimtoimprovehealthandwellbeingforall.

• ContinuedupdateonEuropeanpublichealthdevelopments.

• Promotion of country specific issues related to public health and health inequalities and raisingawarenessoftheseattheEuropeanlevel.


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• ActiveinvolvementintheTWIGSandtherebybringaddedvaluethroughinternationalcollaboration

intotheirorganisation.• MoresuccessfulprojectsandfurtheringworkinhealthinequalitiesthroughparticipationinEuropean

initiatives

• DevelopmentandexpansionoftheHPEmember’spartnership.

• ItwasalsohopedthatEuroHealthNetwillorganisewebinarsonissuesandtraininginareaswhereithasexpertise,e.g.advocacyandtheuseofstructuralfunds.

• FinancialandtechnicalsupportfortheEuropeanPublicHealthConferencebeingheldinStockholmin2017,includingahighlevelplenary.

8.AdditionalcommentsaboutyourexperienceofbeingamemberofEuroHealthNet

ThreeHPEmembersofferedadditionalcomments:

“Ourinstitutebenefittedalotfrombeinginanetworkwhichoperatesinaveryprofessionalway.”(HPE2)

“TobeamemberofEuroHealthNetmeansnotstandingalone.”(HPE3)

“Anetwork isa treasuretroveofcreativeandcommittedpeople, inspiration,expertiseand opportunities. Forme personally the past five years have been great in terms oflearning,sharingandbeingabletocontributetomoreequitablehealth.IthashelpedmealotinmyownworkandIknowithasmadearealcontributiontotheinstituteIserve.”(HPE6)

“Toextract theoptimalbenefit fromtheorganisationoneneedstoput inconsiderablestafftimetoconverttheinformationandopportunitiesprovidedbyEuroHealthNetintopractice.”(HPE7)

---ooOoo---


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APPENDIX C

InterviewswithCIRIPartners

1.INTRODUCTION

The evaluation plan approved by the Executive Board included contacting new members/partners ofEuroHealthNet12monthsaftertheyhadjoinedthenetwork.InconsultationwiththeManagingDirectoritwasdecidedtofocusonlyonCIRIpartnersin2015.Asmallsampleof3organisationswasidentifiedbytheManagingAssistant.

Initially itwasproposedtosendoutaquestionnaire,butfollowinganemailexchangewiththeManagingDirectoritwasagreedthatinterviewswouldbemoreappropriatetoexploretheexperiencesofthosewhohadonlyrecentlybecomeinvolvedinEuroHeathNet.

TheinvitationtoparticipateininterviewswassentoutbytheevaluatorinOctober2015.Allthreecontactedagreedtobeinterviewed.

Asemi-structuredapproachwasadoptedfor the interviewsthatexploredtheirexperiencesandviewsofjoiningEuroHealthNet.Ananalysisoftranscriptsidentifiedseveralthemes.

2.EMERGINGTHEMES

2.1EuroHealthNet’sframeworkandbecomingaCIRIpartner

TwooftheCIRIpartnerswereclearonthedistinctionbetweenthe‘3Pillars’ofEuroHealthNet’sframework,whileonewasunawarethatthereweredifferentcategoriesofmembership.OnehadactivelysearchedforanetworkthatwouldenablethemtoengagewithresearchorganisationsacrossEuropewhiletheothertwoalreadyhadsomeexperienceofworkingwithEuroHealthNet.Onebecameinvolvedthroughaworkpackageled by EuroHeathNet as part of Equity Actionwhile another had provided a case study for theDRIVERSproject.

TheexperienceofcontactingEuroHealthNetanddiscussinghowtobecomeformallylinkedwiththenetworkwasarelativelyeasy.StaffintheEuroHealthNetofficewerewelcomingandsupportive.Whatwasmorechallengingwasconvincingseniorofficialswithintheirorganisations.Foroneorganisationittooktwoyearstoconvincetheirhierarchy,buttheoptionofjoiningasaresearchorganisationthroughtheCIRIplatformwascrucialinsecuringinternalagreementasitmatchedtheremitoftheorganisation.

ThelowerrateofmembershipforCIRIpartnerscomparedtoHPEmemberswasasignificantfactorforatleasttwooftheorganisationswhicharesmallandhavelimitedfunds.Thisseparatecategoryandpricemakesiteasier for regionaland localorganisations to join. Onepartnerpresentedanargument to their seniormanagementthatthemembershipfeerepresentedaninvestmentinthefuture.IttooklessthanayeartoreceiveareturnthroughthesuccessoftheHorizon20:20bid.

AlthoughEuroHealthNet identifies thosewho join throughtheCIRIplatformas ‘partners’, the individualsinterviewedusuallyreferredtothemselvesas‘members’.TheimpressiongivenwasthatCIRIpartnersdonotseeanydifferenceinstatusbetweenthemandthosewhohavejoinedthenetworkasHPEmembersorPHASEpartners.Thereappearedtobenobarriertoinvolvementinactivities,meetingsorparticipatinginbids for EU-fundedprojects. There is some recognition that different types of organisationsmay choosedifferentroutes,butthatwithinEuroHealthNeteveryoneistreatedequally.


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OneintervieweestatedthatalthoughitwastheirinstitutionthatwasformallyaCIRIpartner,inpracticetheinitiativehadcome fromonegroupof researcherswithin their institutewhowantedacloser linkwithaEuropeannetworkthatfocusedonaddressinghealthinequalities.However,thegroup’ssuccessinachievingHorizon20:20fundingasapartnerinabidledbyEuroHealthNet,hasenhancedthegroup’sstatuswithintheinstitutewhichwasnowmorecommitted to thenetwork. Ithasalsogivengreater impetuswithin theirorganisationtoexplorehealthissues.

IntervieweesindicatedthatinvolvementinCIRImaybeaninterimstageforthemtowardsbecomingafullHPEmember.

2.2EuroHealthNet’sprofessionalapproachandreputation

CIRI partners regard EuroHealthNet as a professional and effective organisation. Its reputation forprofessionalism,highqualitywork,successinsecuringbidsanddeliveringresultsbecomesavirtuouscirclethatattractsorganisations.TheDRIVERSprojectandtheworkpackage(on‘Regions’)itledaspartofEquityActionweregivenasanexamples.

OneintervieweecommentedonthechallengestheyfaceindecidingwheretoinvesttheirlimitedtimewhenconsideringopportunitiestocontributetoabidforEuropeanfunding.Theyreceiveinvitationsfromotherorganisationsandnetworks,but theopportunity tocontribute toabidco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNet isregardedashavingahighchanceofsuccess. This judgementisbasedonthestrengthofthepartnershipEuroHealthNetisabletobuild,itsconnectionswiththeECanditstrackrecord.Consequentlytheinvestmentoftimeisconsideredworthwhile.

[Confidence arises from] “The extent of the partnership, the depth of contacts andknowledge within Brussels, and the links into the political process in Brussels and theprocedural process. It is fairly clear from the conferences that the people involved inEuroHealthNethavegot somevery strong links intoBrusselsand that’sexactlywhatwedon’thave.That’swhywearemembers,that’swhatthedevelopmentofourrelationshipwithEuroHealthNetisallabout,wedon’thavethoselinkswithBrusselsatall.There’snowaywecouldpossiblyaffordtodevelopthem.”(CIRI3)

2.3EuroHealthNet’sroleinenablingorganisationstobuildaEuropeanprofile

Itisevidentthatparticipationinbidsandprojectsco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNethaveasignificantimpacton CIRI partners. In part this derives froman associationwith the network before becoming a partner.AlthoughinvolvementinanEU-fundedprojectwillbringsomeresources,whatappearstobemoreimportantishowthiselevates thestatusof those involved,bothwithin theirorganisationand in theviewofotherbodieswithintheircountry.

Theenhancedprofilecanattractinvitationsfromothergroupstoworkinpartnershipwiththemandbringgreaterattentiontotheissuestheorganisationisworkingonwhichinturncanattractfurtherresources.Thefunding this attracts enables CIRI partners to study existing programmes to evaluate their success inaddressinghealthinequalitiesandidentifyexamplesofgoodpractice.

OneCIRIpartnerispartofasmalllocalauthority.ItsinvolvementinprovidingacasestudyfortheDRIVERSprojectwasconsideredarelativelysmallcontributiontoalargeprojectbuthasprovidedthecrucialsteptoestablishaconnectionwithaEuropeaninitiative.

“Theopportunitytobidforasmallpartofa largeprojectwasabsolutelycrucialtoustoenableustoestablishaprofileamongstpartnersanddevelopalittleexperienceforlateron.”(CIRI3)


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Subsequently, they have been invited to submit another case study for a new bid, which will provideresources to research an intervention to explore its impact on health and health inequalities. As theirexperienceandexpertisegrowstheyexpecttoplayamoreactiveroleasfullpartnersinbidsandprojects,butdonothavethecapacitytoleadaprojectatthemoment.Nonethelessthetrajectoryisclear,astheirexperiencegrowstheyexpecttobuildasolidportfolioofinvolvementinEuropeanprojects.

Although their role in theDRIVERSprojectwas relatively small it openedupopportunities tomakenewcontactsinEuropeandgainknowledgefromleadingexperts.Havingsuccessfullycompletedacasestudythey were invited to the launch of the project in Brussels, a case-study workshop in Helsinki and apresentationdayinBrussels.WhattheylearnedfromthebriefingpapersonhealthyworkinginGermanytheywereabletoapplytodiscussionswithemployersintheirownsetting.

OneCIRIpartnerstatedthattheyhopedtohavemoresuccessinsecuringEuropeanfundingforcollaborativeprojectsthatwouldbeinter-disciplinaryindesignandhavegreaterconsequencesforpolicymaking.

IntervieweesexpressedconfidencethattheirambitionstoenhancetheirinvolvementinEuropeanprojectswouldbeachievedthroughtheirassociationwithEuroHealthNet.

2.4EuroHealthnet’sroleinenhancingtheprofileoforganisations

WithinlessthanayearofjoiningEuroHealthNetaCIRIpartnerhasbeeninvolvedinthesuccessfulbidforHorizon20:20funding.Thishasnotonlysecuredvaluableresources,buthasenabledthemtosecuregreatervisibility for their work in a health context with a recognition of the value of bringing a psychologicalperspectivetopublichealth.Newsofsuccessofthebidoccurredonlytheweekbeforetheinterview,butithad already attracted an enthusiastic response from their university who organised publicity throughnational newspapers and radio. Other departments within the university also got in touch, which hasreinforced an ongoing initiative to develop a strategy for health within the institute. By joiningEuroHealthNetandbeingapartner insuccessfulbidsforEuropeanfundingtheCIRIpartnerhasattractednationalattention.

2.5EuroHealthNet’sroleincreatingopportunitiestocollaboratewithdifferentdisciplines

CIRI partners who were interviewed valued the opportunities EuroHealthNet provides to work withorganisationswithsharedinterestsandfromdifferentacademicdisciplines.CollaboratinginjointbidsforEU-fundedprojectsandifsuccessfulworkingtogetheroverasustainedperiodwereconsideredasignificantattractionto joiningthenetwork. AssociationwithEuroHealthNetcreatesopportunitiestowork inothercountriesthatbroadenperspectivesbyworkingoncollaborativeprojects.

Oneorganisationwaseager tobring theirexpertise inpsychologyand thepsycho-socialdeterminantsofhealthtopartnershipswithpublichealthorganisations.Theyconsideredthattheirdisciplinetendstobeseenontheborderbetweensocialsciencesandhealth,butthatbybeingpartofEuroHealthNet’sbidstherewouldbegreaterrecognitionofthecontributionofpsychologytopublichealth.Theyvaluedtheopportunityofinterdisciplinaryworkwithpeopleinpublichealthandeconomists.Theopportunitytoworkwithexpertsfromdifferentandalliedfieldsoffersthepotentialtoextendtheirknowledgeandenrichtheirexpertiseandexperiencethroughinternationalpartnerships.

OneCIRIpartnerreferredtothevalueoftheopportunityofworkingwithpublichealthinstitutesfromseveralcountries through the Horizon 20:20 project that EuroHealthNet would be leading. By being part of aresearchinitiativewhereMichaelMarmot’sUCLInstituteofHealthEquitywillberesponsibleforthescientificco-ordinationisseenasaninvaluableopportunitytoenhancethegroup’sexpertise.


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JoiningEuroHealthNetasaCIRIpartnerhasalsofacilitatedaconnectionwithanHPEpartnerfromthesamecountry. Through discussions that took place at EuroHealthNet’s GeneralMeeting it is hoped that thisconnectionwillopenupopportunitiesfornewprojectsthatwillenabletheinstitutetouseitsresearchtoinfluencepolicymakingintheircountry.ThissuggeststhatEuroHealthNethasplayedavaluablecatalyticroleinbringingorganisationstogether.

TheTWIGSareseenasapotentiallyeffectivestructuretobringtogetherpeoplefromdifferentinstitutionswhoshareacommoninterestinanissue.CIRIpartnersconsiderinformationontheTWIGStobeclearandinaformatthatiseasytoforwardtocolleagues.SmallorganisationsfacedifficultiesininvestingstafftimeintheTWIGS.Nonetheless,thereisevidententhusiasmtogetinvolvedinthoseTWIGSthatmatchacoreinterestoftheorganisation.IntervieweescommentedonhowquicklytheEuroHealthNetOfficehasbeenintouchtoconsultthemontopicsforspecificTWIGSandsawthisasindicativeofthewaytheyfeltwelcomedintothenetwork.

TWIGSareseenasadynamic initiativeofferingopportunity,freedomandflexibility inhowmembersandpartnerschoosetobeinvolved.Itisearlydays,butthenewstructureisconsideredtoofferpotentialwithnewopportunitieslikelytoemerge.

OneCIRIpartnerstatedthatnotalltheTWIGSwouldberelevanttotheirorganisation.ThefocusofattentionfortheTobaccoTWIGwasconsideredtobeonregulationandtaxeswhichwouldbetheresponsibilityofthefederal government, but they had a regional remit. Similarly, the topic of another TWIG, ‘SustainableDevelopment’,wouldbetheresponsibilityofadifferentministryandthereforeoutsidetheremitoftheCIRIpartner.

2.6EuroHealthNet’svisibilityandprovidingavoiceattheEuropeantable

CIRIpartnerswereaskedabouttheimpactofEuroHealthNet’sworkattheEuropeanlevel.OneintervieweehaddifficultlyinidentifyingspecificevidenceofEuroHealthNet’simpact,butremarked,

“Iftheywerenotthere,therewillbenoimpact,forsure.”(CIRI1)

TheimportanceofEuroHealthNet’spresenceatmeetingsandeventsorganisedattheEuropeanlevelwashighlighted by CIRI partners. EuroHealthNet’s stalls at conferences and their role as presenters andmoderatorsofworkshopsensuredattention ispaid to issuesofhealthequity. Examplesgivenwere theEuropeanPublicHealthAllianceandtheEuropeanPublicHealthAssociation.Thisvisibilityalsoprovidesarallyingpointfororganisationswhoshareacommonconcerntoaddresshealthinequalities.Italsoprovidesa contact point for members and partners of EuroHealthNet. Interviewees commented on theapproachabilityofEuroHealthNetstaffatsucheventsandthevalueofre-connectingwiththepeoplewithwhomtheymayonlyhavehadcontactbyphone.

OneCIRIpartnerhighlightedthefactthattheissuestheyworkonrequireapan-Europeanapproach,butthatthis was not achievable through a national organisation and required collaboration with others.EuroHealthNetisseenasprovidingacollective‘voice’fororganisations. IndividualorganisationsontheirownwouldnothaveaccesstothesamekeyofficerswithintheEuropeanCommissionandwouldnothavethesameopportunitytoattendthemeetingstowhichEuroHealthNetisinvited.Itseffortstoplacehealthinequalities on the agenda at the EU level and its persistence in presenting reports and makingrecommendationsisconsideredtobeimportant,evenifitisdifficulttosecureevidenceofsuccess.


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2.7EuroHealthNet’ssupporttomembers/partners

Intervieweeswereaskedwhatadditional supportEuroHealthNetcouldoffermembersandpartners.Thegeneralresponsewasofcontentmentwithwhatiscurrentlybeingprovided.

InformationfromEuroHealthNetisvaluednotonlybecauseofitsrelevanceandquality,butforitsclarityandconciseness. Consequently, it is considered easy to forward to themost appropriate person within anorganisation.Oneexamplegivenwasarecentmailingonthehealthofchildren.Oneintervieweesuggestedthatgoodbriefingsforlocalpoliticianswouldbewelcome.Articlesandcasestudiesthatshowwhereprojectsimprovethequalityof lifeandreduce inequalities forEUcitizensthatcouldbereplicable inotherplaceswouldbeuseful.

When CIRI partners receive information about opportunities to bid for European funding through otherEuropeannetworkstheyvaluetheopportunitytoconsultstaffofEuroHeathNet’sofficeaboutwhetherthereareorganisationsinothermemberstateswithwhichtheymightpartner.

Oneintervieweestatedthattheyconsideredthattheywerecontentwithwhatwasprovided,butthemainchallengewaswhatcouldbeexpectedfromasmallpartnerthatmightonlybeabletoattendonemeetingayear.

2.8EuroHealthNet’scultureandstyle

TheEuroHealthNetOfficeasawholeandindividualstaffmembersareseenaswelcoming,friendly,open,approachable and supportive from the first point of contact. It was clear that these were distinctivecharacteristicsthatareimportanttoCIRIpartners.

One CIRI partner stated how important it was to have made personal contacts with people in theEuroHealthNetOffice,initiallythroughinvolvementinafundedproject.TheestablishmentofstrongworkingrelationshipsenabledadvicetobesoughtonEuropeanfundedprojects.Advicewouldbefreelygivenwithsuggestions of organisations that might be suitable partners even if the initiative did not involveEuroHealthNet.

IntervieweesconveyedasensethattheywereofferedandencouragedtotakeupopportunitiestobeactivelyinvolvedintheworkandactivitiesofEuroHealthNetwithoutconstraintorpressure.Theyfelttheywerefreetoacceptordeclineaninvitationdependingupontheirinterestsandcircumstances.CIRIpartnersconveyedaconfidencethatbyjoiningEuroHealthNetnewopportunitieswouldcontinuetoflowthatwouldbenefittheirorganisations.

2.9IdentifyingevidenceofEuroHealthNetImpact

IntervieweeswereaskedfortheirviewsonwhatwouldbereasonableevidenceofEuroHealthNet’simpact.Thequestionprompteddiscussionofthechallengesassociatedwithidentifyingappropriateevidence.OneCIRI partner argued that structural measures might not be as important as focussing on small, people-orientedmeasures.Itwassuggestedthatthisissueneededtobeplacedonapoliticalagenda.

Outputs were considered to have limitations, but it was suggested that if an organisation with whichEuroHealthNet is associatedhasgeneratedapositiveoutcome, then it couldbe reasonable to infer thatEuroHealthNethadcontributedtosuchasuccess.

AnotherCIRIpartnerrespondedtothequestionbyreferringtotheevidenceoftheimpactoftheirassociationwithEuroHealthNetontheirwork.Thisincluded:

• Thenumberofcontacts,organisationsandcountrieswithwhichtheCIRIpartnernowworks;• Theamountof funding fromEurope ithasattractedasa resultofbeingapartner inprojectsco-

ordinatedbyEuroHealthNet;• ThesubsequentsuccessoftheabilityoftheCIRIpartnertosecureadditionalEuropeanfunding.


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However,thebiggerquestionwouldbeassessingtheimpactonlocalresidentsandthedegreetowhichlocalresidentsbenefittedfromaspecificEuroHealthNetco-ordinatedproject.Assessingimprovedqualityoflifeandreducedinequalitiesforlocalresidentswasjudgedtobeverydifficult.

ReferencewasmadetothewayinwhichtheresourcesthatwouldfollowbeingpartofaEuropeanfundedprojectco-ordinatedbyEuroHealthNetwouldbeusedtoidentifythebarrierstointersectoralengagementandaction.Itwouldalsohelptoundertakeahealthimpactassessmentofaninitiativetopromotecyclingtoimprovehealth.Withouttheseadditionalresourcestheresearchcouldnotbeundertaken.

2.10FuturechallengesforEuroHealthNet

IntervieweeswereaskedwhattheythoughtwouldbethechallengesfacingEuroHealthNet inthecomingyears.

Commentsechoedstatementsat theGeneralMeetingabout funding. ItwassuggestedthatmoreactiveinvolvementfromallpartnerswouldbeimportanttosecurefundstosustainEuroHealthNet’sstructureandwork.

EuroHealthNet’s links with policy making were recognised to be strong, but it was suggested thatdisseminationofitsworkcouldbestrengthened.

TheshiftwithinEUpolicytowardsafocusoneconomicgrowthwasraised. Therewasatendencywithinregionalprogrammestofocusonsupporttobusinesseswithinsufficientattentionbeinggiventothehealthneedsof theworkforceand labourmarketexclusion. Itwas recognised thatEuroHealthNethadalreadyendeavoured to bring attention to these issues through the DRIVERS project. Nonetheless, additionalbriefing documents from EuroHealthNet to help make the case for giving greater attention to healthinequalities,mentalandemotionalhealthwithinaneconomicpolicyframeworkwouldbewelcome.

2.11Sharingtheevaluationreport

Intervieweesaskedtoreceiveacopyoftheevaluationreporttowhichtheyhadcontributedtheirviewsandtime.

---ooOoo---


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APPENDIX D

InterviewswithKeyRespondents

1.INTRODUCTION

TheevaluationplanapprovedbytheExecutiveBoardincludedarrangingaseriesofinterviewswithagroupof‘keyrespondents’.TheintentwastoconsultindividualsinvolvedinEuroHealthNetwhowouldbeinvitedtosharetheirexperiencesandperspectivesonarangeofissuestoinclude:

• Governanceandmembership• EuroHealthNet’sidentity• KeepinginequalitiesontheagendaoftheEU• Involvementinthenetwork• Formingpartnerships• Exploringimpact,challengesandexpectations

InconsultationwiththeManagingDirectorsevenindividualswereidentifiedthatcouldoffertheirviewsfromtheperspectiveoftheirmembershiporstatus.SomehadbeeninvolvedinEuroHealthNetformanyyears,otherswerenewtothenetwork.

TheCommissionersofDGSANTEandDGEMPLwerealsocontactedbutdeclinedtobeinterviewed.

Inaddition,conversationstookplacewiththeManagingDirectorandtheDirectorofPolicyandAdvocacywhowere consultedon thedirection andprogress of the evaluation. While their comments havebeenhelpfulinshapingtheevaluation,theirviewshavenotbeenincludedintheanalysisoftheinterviews.

Fiveindividualsacceptedtheinvitationtotakepartintheevaluationstudy:threeHPEmembers,onePHASEpartner and oneObserver. A CIRI partner had been invited, but did not respond. However, three CIRIpartnerswereinterviewedseparatelyaspartofanothercomponentofthisevaluation.

Interviews took place in the latter part of October by phone or Skype depending uponwhat wasmostconvenient for the interviewee. A semi-structuredmethodwas adopted to explore the topics indicatedabove in away that responded to areas of interest to the interviewee. Time did not always permit anexplorationofallthetopicswitheachinterviewee.

Commentsfromthefiveinterviewshavebeencollatedunderemergentthemes.

2.EMERGINGTHEMES

2.1Governanceandmembership

Intervieweeswerenotallfamiliarwiththenewframeworkandthedistinctionbetweenthe‘3Pillars’.ThosethatcommentedconsideredittobeapositivedevelopmentthatgaveclaritytopurposeanddirectionofEuroHealthNetwhileopeningupthenetworktoarangeoforganisationsthatmaynothavepublichealthastheircoreidentity.

Oneinterviewwasnotsurewhich‘categoryofmembership’theywerein,whilethePHASEpartnervaluedtheopportunitythatthispillarofferedtoenableorganisationsoutsidepublichealthtojoinaEuropean-widenetwork throughwhich theycouldshare theirknowledgeandexperienceandmakeconnectionswithanallied,butdifferentfieldofinterest.EngagementinthiswayisseentobeaconstructivewayofworkingincollaborationwithEuroHealthNetonasharedagenda.


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PHASEisseenasanimportantmeansofknowledgeexchangeacrossdisciplinesandEuroHealthNetisseenasthemeansbywhichissuesofconcerntoorganisationsoutsidepublichealthnetworkscanberaisedinthisfieldofinterest.

ThecreationoftheTWIGSisseenasaninnovativeideathatcanfacilitate‘horizontal’engagementbetweenmembers/partnersof thenetwork to collaborateonareasof shared interest. Itwas suggested that theTWIGShad thepotential to strengthen thenetwork. They are also seen to represent a ‘vertical’ link togenerateideasandidentifyissuestoinformtheExecutiveBoardandEuroHealthNet’sOfficesothatwhenandwhereappropriateEuroHealthNetcandecidewhethertoexpressaviewattheEuropeanlevel.

One interviewee stressed the importance of strengthening relationships between members ofEuroHealthNetacrossallthreepillars,

“Howdoweorganiseourmembersandhowdoweaddvaluetotheworkofourmembers?PHASE and CIRI are basically an experiment [in ‘adding value’]. What [EuroHealthNet]should achieve by 2017 are well developed networks within [EuroHealthNet], who areactors,whoareinterchanging,wherethere’slife,wherethereareideasgeneratedbecausethatwouldaddvaluetomyorganisationtoo.”(KR3)

One of the interviewees had an Observer status and expressed the value of the relationship withEuroHealthNet, but emphasised the importance to governmentorganisationsofmaintainingadegreeofseparationandindependencefromEuroHealthNet.Thisavoidedanyriskofaclashofopinionandensuredtheabilitytoholdaneutralposition.TheopportunitytoattendGeneralmeetingswithoutvotingrightswasappreciatedasitofferedhelpfulnetworkingopportunities.Accesstoinformationandadvicewasalsohighlyvalued,buttheintervieweewasunclearastowhetheralltheinformationavailabletomemberscouldbeaccessedbyanObserver. AsObserversdonotpaya fee theremayneed tobegreater clarityas to thedistinctionbetweenthebenefitsavailabletoObserversandmembersapartfromvotingrights.

Overall, recent developments in the governance of EuroHeathNet convey a strong professional andsystematic approach to its organisation and engagement with other organisations. Comments frominterviewees also indicate that the EuroHealthNet Office represents both a hub and facilitator for thenetwork.Thisstrategicapproachisseentobeessentialtoitssurvivalinthecomingyears.

2.2EuroHealthNet’sIdentity

IntervieweeswereaskedfortheirviewsontheidentityofEuroHealthNettodiscoverhowitisperceivednotonlybythosedirectlyinvolved,butalsobythoseoutsidethenetwork.

EuroHealthNetisseenbothasanetworkwhichoffersameansofcontactingotherorganisationsandasavaluedsourceof informationandadvicethroughtheEuroHealthNetOffice. ReferencewasalsomadetoengagementwithspecificindividualsasthefaceofEuroHealthNet,theManagingDirector,theDirectorofPolicyandAdvocacy,staff intheEuroHealthNetOfficeandmembersoftheExecutiveBoard. ViewswerealsoexpressedaboutthenetworkasawholeandtheimageofEuroHealthNetasa‘brand’.

APHASEpartneremphasisedthatit isessentialthatEuroHealthNetdoesnotdiluteitsprofileandthatitsdistinctiveidentityasanetworkforpublichealthorganisationsatitscorewascrucial.Thecreationofthethree pillars was therefore seen as an effective means of retaining a clear identity while enablingorganisationsfromoutsidepublichealthtoestablishalinkthroughthePHASEandCIRIplatforms.

ItisevidentthatEuroHealthNetisamulti-facetedentity.OnlyoneintervieweereferredtotherelationshipbetweentheExecutiveBoardandtheOffice,referringto itas ‘consistent’.Thesignificanceofthe lackofsimilarcommentsmaybeindicativeoftheabsenceofanysuggestionoftensionwithintheorganisation.


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EuroHealthNet’s identitywas linked to its ‘visibility’ andhowwell known it isbypublichealth institutes,ministriesandpoliticiansindifferentMemberStates.Oneintervieweestressedtheimportanceofbuildingstrong linkswith people in governmentministries to ensure that EuroHealthNet is recognised by seniorofficials in departments of health. It was argued that EuroHealthNet needs to be ‘hard-wired’ intodepartments of health. It is considerednecessary to identify conduits throughwhich EuroHealthNet canaccesstheearsofpolicymakers.

DepartmentsofhealthshouldrefertoEuroHealthNetasexemplars fornetworkingopportunitiesandtheexchangeofknowledge.Buildingrelationshipswithpeopleinministriesrequiredface-to-faceengagementandwasrecognisedtobetimeconsumingandrequiredresources,butwasconsideredtobeanessentialinvestmenttomaintainandenhanceEuroHealthNet’simpact.IntheviewofrespondentsitisevidentthatsomeseniorofficialsingovernmentalreadyholdEuroHealthNetinhighesteemandconsulttheirstaffonthedevelopmentofpoliciesaddressinghealthinequalities.

Several interviewees referred toEuroHealthNetasa ‘brand’which iswell respected. The importanceofpromoting its identity to secure recognition and enhance its reputation was stressed, particularly withgovernmentministries throughout Europe. One interviewee commended EuroHealthNet on its visibilitywithintheirregionandthatseveralkeyindividualsandorganisationsknowofEuroHealthNetanditsworkattheEUlevel.ItwouldappearthatEuroHealthNetiswellknowninsomeregionsandcountriesmorethanothers,sothechallengemaybehowtoenhanceitsprofileacrossmorememberstates.

Itwasproposed that EuroHealthNetneededadevelopment strategy anda ‘developmentmanager’whowould act as an ambassador for the network in contacting key individuals in the relevant ministries ofmemberstates.ThiswasseenasarolealreadybeingundertakenbytheDirectorofPolicyandAdvocacy,butitwassuggestedthatotherscouldalsosharesuchanadvocacyrole(e.g.ExecutiveBoardmembers)andbesupportedtoundertakeoneortwovisitsayeartoaministryofamemberstate.Individualswouldneedtohavekeyskillstofulfiltheroleandresourceswouldneedtobeidentified,butisseenasaneffectivewayofraisingtheprofileofEuroHealthNet.

2.3KeepinghealthinequalitiesontheagendaoftheEU

IntervieweesfounditdifficulttocommentonEuroHealthNet’ssuccessinkeepinghealthinequalitiesontheagenda,butconsideredthatthiswasachallengeforallorganisationsinpublichealth.Itwasarguedthatthetaskwashowtoelevatetheissuehigheruptheagendatoensurethatitreceivesgreaterattention.

Oneintervieweearguedthatingenuityisrequiredtore-presenttheneedtoaddressinequalitiesinheathinnewwaystogainattention,butthatthiswasnoteasy.Thechallengeistokeepthetopic‘fresh’andfindnewangles and ways of presenting the issue to stimulate interest, encourage participation and attractcommitment.

OneintervieweereferredtotheusefulnessoftheDRIVERSproject,butstatedthatEuroHealthNetcouldplayahelpful role inmaking the general recommendationsmore country specific. Thiswasnotonly trueofDRIVERS,butalsoofreportsonaspectsofhealthequityfromotherorganisations. ItwassuggestedthatEuroHealthNet could act as an effective catalyst by facilitating meetings of organisations in individualmemberstatestoworktowardsmoreconcreteactions.Anexamplegivenwas‘socialprotection’andhowacountrythatalreadyhadagoodsocialprotectionpolicycouldimproveit.Itwasconsideredthatinsufficientdistinctionismadebetweenwhatrichmemberstatesandthosewithlessincomecanachieve.

Theintervieweereferredto‘Europlan’(TheEuropeanProjectforRareDiseasesNationalPlansDevelopment)which convened a national conference in each member state to discuss how to translate EUrecommendationsintoanationalplan.Itwassuggestedthatconveningsuchmeetingswashighlyeffectiveinmovingtheissueforwardwithinthecountry.


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2.4Encouraginginvolvementinthenetwork

Intervieweesreferredtorespondingtocallstogetinvolvedininitiatives,collaboratingonprojects,attendinggeneralmeetingsandstudyvisitsasexamplesofthewaysinwhichtheyparticipateinEuroHealthNet.Thedegreeof involvementtendstoreflectthesizeoftheorganisationandthenumberofstaffandthetimeavailabletogetinvolvedandattendnetworkactivities.

TheTWIGSareseenasapositiveinitiativethathasthepotentialtoinvolvemorepeoplefromwithinmemberorganisationstoenhanceparticipation.Itishopedthattheywillbecomechannelstoengagewithexpertsinothercountriesandraisequestions. OneintervieweestatedthatpeoplewereeagertomeetotherswhosharedthesameconcernsandthatintheirinstituteoneortwomembersofstaffhadbeeninstructedtojoineachofthesixTWIGs,exchangeinformationandstartupdiscussions.

AnotherintervieweestatedthattheywereselectiveaboutwhichTWIGStheywishedtobeinvolvedinandresponsibilityhadbeendelegatedtodifferentstaffmembers.TheTWIGon‘SustainableDevelopment’wasconsideredtobetoobroad,butitwashopedthatthosewithaninterestinthesubjectwillnarrowdowntheareasfordiscussion.

It was recommended that EuroHealthNet should concentrate on making the TWIGs a success beforeconsideringother initiativestostrengthen linksbetweenmemberstoavoidtheriskofoverstretchingtheorganisation.

Intervieweeshighlighted thebenefitsofbeing involved inEuroHealthNetwhich included the informationtheyreceivedthroughHealthHighlightsandtheopportunitiesitsactivitiesofferedforstafftoengagewithcolleaguesworkingonsimilarissuesinothercountriesandtheaddedvalueofsuchparticipationtocapacitybuilding:

“…theycangotoameeting,takepartinaproject,orbecomeaworkpackageleaderanditreallyexposesthemtofrequentlyaricherpoolofexperiencethantheywouldotherwisehave[accessto]

…throughthecontactsofaEuropeanprojecttheycomebackabitmoreconfident,theycome back a bitmore informed, they come back feeling thatwe are part of somethingbigger,theycomebackfeelingthatwe’renottheonlyonesworkingonthis.Sothere’slessisolationandtheyfeelmoresupportedasaresultoftheengagement.”(KR5)

2.5Formingpartnerships

Interviewees interpreted the development of partnerships in a variety of ways; partnerships betweenmembers of EuroHealthNet, partnerships betweenEuroHealthNet andother networks andwithnationalorganisationsthatwereseenassharingacommoninterest.

The EuroHealthNet Office is regarded as a valuable source of knowledge and potential contacts to findpartnersindifferentcountrieswithwhichtocollaborateonbidsandprojects.Thestudyvisitsarealsoseenasavaluablemeansofinitiatingrelationshipsbetweenorganisationsfortheexchangeofideasandpractice.

OneintervieweesuggestedthatEuroHealthNetcouldconsideracloserpartnershipwiththeUCLInstituteofHealthEquityastheirworkwassocloselyaligned.ItwasalsosuggestedthatacloserpartnershipcouldbecreatedwithgovernmentinstitutionssuchastheNationalInstituteforHealthandCareExcellence(NICE)andtheBelgianHealthCareKnowledgeCentre(KCE).

AnexamplewasalsogivenofthepotentialbenefitofEuroHealthNetdevelopingapartnershipwithanetworkdedicatedtoraisingawarenessonmentalhealthissues.Thiswasseentobeofmutualbenefitwherebothnetworkscouldbenefitfromsharingknowledgeandcontactstosupporteachothertoachievetheirgoals.Thiswasdescribedasa‘looselycouplednetwork’wheretherewasalightstructurethatfacilitatedfunctionalactivitywithoutundueconstraint. TheTWIGonmentalhealthwas identifiedastangibleevidenceofthecommitmentofEuroHeathNettogiveseriousconsiderationtotheissue.


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OneofthestrengthsofEuroHealthNetisseentobeitsopennesstoexplorecollaborationsandpartnershipsthatfosteredmutualbenefits.

2.6ExploringEuroHealthNet’simpact

Evidence of EuroHealthNet’s impact was explored with interviewees by asking what difference theirassociationwithEuroHealthNetmakestotheirwork.TheopportunitywasalsotakentotaptheirexpertisetodiscusswhatmightconstitutereasonableevidenceofEuroHealthNet’simpact.

Fosteringinternationallearning

OneintervieweereferredtotheirnegotiationswiththeirMinistrytoincludeanindicatorintheircontractthattheyshouldbepartofinternationalnetworks.Thishadnotbeenpartoftheiroriginalcontract,butbyinsistingonitsinclusionitnowjustifiedthetimeinvestedinparticipatingininternationalnetworks.TheirsuccessinsecuringtheinclusionoftheindicatorwasattributedtothebenefitstotheinstituteofhavingbeeninvolvedinactivitiesofEuroHealthNet.Involvementininternationalexchangevisitsisconsideredtobeacrucialelementofbeingseenasanexpertorganisation.

Influencingpolicy

TheworkofEuroHealthNetonHealthinallPoliciesandHealthforallPolicieshasdirectlyinfluencedpolicymakinginatleastoneregion.Theapproachhasbecomepartofthecultureandpracticewithinaregionalministrywhereministersandgovernmentofficialsmakeregularreferencetothemintheirspeeches.ThisreflectsinparttheworkofEuroHealthNetandthelocalInstituteintranslatingtheapproachintoworkintheregion.

AnotherinstituteusedthefindingsoftheDRIVERSprojectalthoughtheyhadnotbeendirectlyinvolvedinit.Thereportwasusedasavaluedsourceofknowledgeandsomeofthefindingswerequotedintheirreports.It also contributed to theirannual reportwhich is sent togovernment todevelopnationalhealthpolicy.EuroHealthNet’sworkisconsideredtoindirectlycontributetoastrongerfocusonsocialdeterminantswithinnationalpublichealthpolicy.

Regionalinstitutescaninfluenceregionalministriesandthroughtheminfluencecanbeappliedatthelevelof the federalstate,butwithoutarelationshiptoEuroHealthNettherewouldbeno linkor ‘voice’at theEuropeanlevel.

OneintervieweementionedcontactingtheManagingDirectorofEuroHealthNettodiscusshis ideasforanationalplanonhealthinequalitiesandinvitingacritiqueofitsfeasibility.

Discussions about local health work during a EuroHealthNet study visit in Slovenia coincided with aninstitute’sworkonanewpublichealthlawintheirmemberstate.Thisledtogreateremphasisonlocalpublichealthworkinthelegislationwhichmaybeindicativeoftheapplicationoflearningfromsuchactivities.

Akeysourceofinformationandadvice

Interviewees commented on the information they received which was considered evidence of impact.EuroHealthNetisoneofseveralsourcesofinformationorganisationsaccess.TwointervieweesmentionedusingaWHOreportwhichtheyonlybecameawareofthroughEuroHealthNet’snewsletter.OnestatedthattheyhadusedtheWHOdocument,‘TheCaseforInvestinginPublicHealth’asthebasisforadiscussionwiththeirlocalministryandasakeylearningresourceinatraininginitiativeforthehealthpromotionsector.

Theeaseofaccessing informationthroughEuroHealthNet’swebsiteandHealthHighlightsmakesthis therouteoffirstchoiceforaccessinginformation.Theeasewithwhichreportsfromothersitescanbeaccessedmakescheckingontherelevanceofdocumentsverytimeefficient.


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RegionalministriesmaynothavetheresourcestomaintainknowledgeofwhatishappeningattheEUlevelandthereforethe information fromEuroHealthNet isvalued.An intervieweereferredtocomments fromcolleaguesthattheywereimpressedbytheamountofinformationfromtheECprovidedbyHealthHighlightsandtheinsightprovidedintothepolicyprocessesoftheEU.

IdentifyingevidenceofEuroHealthNet’simpact

IntervieweesofferedideasaboutwhatevidencemightbegatheredtodemonstrateEuroHealthNet’simpact.Theseincluded:

• Identifying where the European Commission or EU politicians have accepted EuroHealthNet’srecommendations.

• ReferencestoEuroHealthNetanditsreportsinthepublicationsofmembers,nationalministries,theEU and other stakeholders. Interviewees referred to using EuroHealthNet’s material, includingmentioningtheorganisationintheirbusinessplans.Therecouldbevalueinestablishingamechanismforgatheringevidenceofsuchreferencesasanindicatorofinfluence.

• IfEuroHealthNet focussedoneffectingchangeona specific topic,e.g.healthyeatingor smokingpreventionitmaybeeasiertotrackitsinfluenceandimpactthroughtheactivitiesoforganisationsandministriesatregionalandnationallevel.

• RecordingthedevelopmentandactivitiesoftheTWIGswasconsideredtoberelevanttoassessingimpact.Thiscouldinclude,membership,thenumberofmeetings,topicsdiscussedandactionstaken.

2.7ChallengesfacingEuroHealthNet

IntervieweeswereaskedwhattheyconsideredtobethemainchallengesfacingEuroHealthNetinthecomingyear(s).

SecuringFunding

The constant challenge of securing core fundingwas identified bymany,with the need to increase andbroaden itsmembershipbaseandcontinue its success inwinningbids. Itwasargued that increasing itsmembershipwouldalsoenhanceitseffectivenessasitwouldbeseentobeastronger,morerepresentativenetwork.

OneintervieweeremarkedthattherearetwocategoriesoforganisationsinEurope:thosewithmoney,butnoideasandthosewithideasandnomoney.Thetaskwastobringsuchgroupstogether.EuroHealthNetwasidentifiedasanorganisationbrimmingwithideasthatneededmoreresourcestoputthemintopractice.

AnothermentionedthechallengesofbiddingforEUprojectswhichoftenplaceunrealisticexpectationsonorganisations,“Youhavetopromisethesun,moonandthestars.”

ImplicationsofEU’seconomicpolicy

TherecentemphasisoneconomicpolicywithintheEUwasalsoraised,withtheimplicationsoftheneedtoexplorehowtokeepsocialinequalitiesinhealthontheagendabothintheEUandinMemberStates.Thiswill requirefindingwaystokeepthe issuefreshtoensurethattheneedtoaddresshealth inequalities isrecognisedasasignificantsocialissue.

Argumentsaboutthecostsandbenefitsofaddressingtheissuesneedtorepeatedandreinforced.Thecostsof not addressing the issue are associatedwith increased health care and social disorderwith potentialbenefitsintermsofproductivity,economicreturnandefficienciesthroughoutthesystem.


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Involvingseniorpolicymakers

It was observed that member states tended to send relatively junior people to meetings organised byEuroHealthNet.Althoughtheywereoftenenthusiastictheywerenotinapositiontojudgethefeasibilityofproposals.Consequentlythereisaneedtodiscoverhowtobringseniorpolicymakerstothetable.ThismayrequiretheframingofmeetingstobemorespecificandusingSkypeconferencingorasimilararrangementto

2.8ExpectationsofwhatEuroHealthNetmightachievebytheendof2017

IntervieweesidentifiedareaswheretheyconsiderthatEuroHealthNetcouldmakeadifferencebytheendof2017:

• EuroHealthNetshouldcontinuetochampionissuesofsocialinequalitiesandactionagainstpoverty(especiallychildpoverty)andlobbypoliticianstokeeptheissuesontheagenda.

• Itshouldalsocontinuetostrengthenlinkswithothersectorsbeyondhealthtoincludeeducationandthelabourmarket.

• ItwassuggestedthatEuroHealthNetcouldtaketheleadonsmokingpreventionwherethereisclearevidenceofasocialgradient.ItwassuggestedthattheEuropeanNetworkonSmokingPreventionisnotveryeffective,butifEuroHealthNetwasmoreinvolveditwouldmakeasignificantdifference.ItwasalsosuggestedthatEuroHealthNetcouldplayasignificantroleinprovidingconcreteevidenceofhowsmokinghasanimpactonhealthinequalities.

• ThevalueofEuroHealthNetworkingonenvironmental issueswashighlightedwhichwould focusattentiononhowtoeffectchangenotonlyonindividualbehaviour,butalsoatthestructurallevel.

• For EuroHealthNet “To survive, thrive and prosper”, over the next two years was considered areasonableexpectation.

2.9Additionalideas

Exchangeprogramme

ItwassuggestedthatEuroHealthNetcouldconsiderdevelopinganexchangeprogrammeforpublichealthofficialsacrossEuropetosupportyoungprofessionalstogainexperienceofworkingindifferentcountries.Their experience could provide newperspectives that could inform and enrich theirwork in their homecountry. IfEuroHealthNetactedasanagentforsuchaprogrammeparticipantsshouldbeencouragedtosubmitareportreflectingontheirexperiences.

3.ResponsesfromEUCommissioners

OfficersfromDGSANTEandDGEMPLwereinvitedtoparticipateintheevaluationbutdeclined.

TheHeadofUnitforProgrammeManagementandDiseaseswithinDGSANTEconsideredthatitwouldnotbeappropriatetotakepartintheevaluationexercisegivenhisresponsibilityfortheEUHealthprogrammeasEuroHealthNethasbeeninvolvedinanumberofitsprojects.

TheHeadof theSocialProtectionUnitwithinDGEMPLdidnot feelsufficiently familiarwith theworkofEuroHealthNettorespondtothequestionsproposedforthe interview. Nonetheless,heconsideredthattheywere ‘highly relevant’ and suggested that theyweremore suitable for a direct discussionwith theEuroHealthNet team. He indicated interest in arranging such a discussion after the completion of theevaluation.

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Documents

EuroHealthNet Evaluation Report · CIRI, for the purposes of this report the term ‘members’ will be adopted when referring to all those who have joined EuroHealthNet across the