Regional Reitox Academy for IPA Beneficiaries: Monitoring and evaluation and National Drug Strategies 2012

The Academy is organised in the framework of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) project `Preparation of IPA Beneficiaries for their participation in the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)`. The project aims to support Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo* , Serbia, Iceland, Turkey and also Acceding country Croatia in their preparation for participation in the EMCDDA and the Reitox Network. In particular, the Academy will complement project activities aimed to fulfil following specific project objectives:

• To foster scientific cooperation in relation to data collection, analysis and interpretation
• To develop, increase and promote the added value of the cooperation.

Sound data on how different activities implemented at the national level contribute to reduction of drug use and its related consequences are a significant support for policy makers and staff involved in formulation of drug strategies. An increasing number of countries in Europe evaluate their drug strategies before the drafting and adoption of new policy documents, and this is becoming a ‘golden standard’ for evidence based policy planning. In 2012, several IPA beneficiary countries (i.e. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo* and Turkey)  are in the process of evaluating  their national drug strategies, and have therefore requested the EMCDDA to provide guidance on how to make best use of the monitoring data for evaluation of existing strategies and the planning a new ones, as well as on how to best integrate evaluation into the national strategies . 

The proposed seminar will provide participants with knowledge and skills on the evaluation of national drug strategies with a particular focus on the planning of the evaluation and the use of data from drug monitoring systems. 

 Participants

Two representatives from each - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey - will be invited to attend the seminar and their participation will be covered from the IPA4 project budget. It is recommended that participants are involved in evaluation or existing or formulation/drafting of a new drug strategy. In addition to IPA4 beneficiaries, the EMCDDA had extended special invitation to Ukraine and Moldova.

^{*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.}