Thus, the control system aims to compare the real state of affairs with a certain legal (and, first of all – in terms of funding), identify inconsistencies and provide suggestions and recommendations for eliminating inconsistencies. This makes it possible to ensure the proper use of available resources, to have compare and contrast essay online to buy proof of the legality of expenditures and to make corrections in case of violations.
Ensuring the full implementation of these functions seems possible with the appropriate means to obtain, process and use information. In addition, the ideal mechanism for the implementation of control and management functions requires the early implementation of the following conditions that contribute to the implementation of effective and efficient control:
clear definition of program or project objectives, since "blur" goals, objectives or tasks lead to a loss of understanding of what exactly needs to be controlled; the results of a program or project must be quantified or measurable in terms of defined objectives; predictability of the process of development and implementation of the program provides an opportunity to identify specific reasons for failure to achieve the goal, to adjust the achievement of planned activities; specificity and effectiveness of the measures taken by the executors of the planned measures within the program in order to minimize the risk of deviations from the set goal; involving as few qualified personnel as possible in the process of program development and implementation, as an illegal increase in their number will lead to duplication of functions and complicate the process of control.
It should be noted that it is mandatory for the Member States of the European Union to take measures to verify whether the managing authorities of the program or project are actually carrying out the necessary procedures to ensure the effectiveness of the control system.
In addition, the state may appoint independent auditors who are able to provide guarantees of rational use of funds or elimination of identified deficiencies, as well as to confirm the legality of requests submitted to the European Commission. For its part, it is the responsibility of the European Commission to verify the effectiveness of control systems, for which it conducts inspections directly on the ground or sends a request to the state to conduct such inspections.
In any case, at least once a year, the European Commission and the state conduct a joint study of compliance with the principles of sound financial management, the results of inspections, financial consequences of violations, corrected or outlined corrective measures, changes in the control system. And, of course, ensuring compliance with the rules that exist in the European Community. This is due to the need to ensure that the Member States of the European Union use the funds efficiently and correctly and that the control systems work smoothly.
As for the evaluation of programs and projects of regional development strategies, in fact it is about their expertise, which is aimed at analyzing the quality, consequences and comparison of the results with the defined criteria. In the definition of the assessment made by K. Weiss, captured the essence and meaning of the need for it: "carrying out systematic evaluations, operations of program or policy results, comparison with explicit or implicit standards, which should contribute to the improvement of the program or policy" [1, p. 620]. The assessment includes: control over the actions of the authorities; increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of programs and projects; formation of strategy directions; knowledge and study of mechanisms for implementing projects and programs. This, accordingly, determines the main objectives of its implementation:
an attempt to objectively measure the impact on society from the implementation of programs and projects of regional development strategies; promoting a better understanding of the program implementation process, measuring the cost of resources involved in comparison with the consequences; providing assistance in the process of making optimal decisions in terms of regional development policy.
The classification of the assessment is quite general: by the term (preliminary, current, generalizing), by volume (general, thematic and detailed) by purpose (formative and summary), by the form of involvement of experts (internal and external), by purpose (effectiveness, efficiency, "costs – benefits" productivity, impact).
Each of these assessments has its purpose, goals and objectives, stages of implementation, in fact, both advantages and disadvantages, and is used at the appropriate stages of development and implementation of programs and projects. Each of these types of assessment also has appropriate methods to ensure the effectiveness of their application. The exception is the general assessment as the main tool used in the structural policy of the European Union, as its subject is the program or project as a whole.
It should be noted that the evaluation process of a program or project requires a clear detailed planning procedure not only to define the goals and objectives of evaluation, but also to define indicators and criteria, evaluation standards, reporting, which is the final stage of its implementation. This is due to the systematic application of social science research methods to study the evaluation of basic concepts of projects, implementation and usefulness of social intervention programs [5, p. 99 – 103], the need for a thorough analysis both to determine the cost of programs, projects, and to make any necessary administrative or political changes.
However, given the importance of the quality of the evaluation, it should be carefully approached to its organization, the establishment of organizational and technical committees, the selection of external institutions to conduct the evaluation, because they are responsible for the results. This is due to the fact that the assessment has its limitations and problems: the unwillingness of staff to carry out such a complex type of work; emphasis on quantitative measures of activity; the difficulty of determining the need to focus on the result or the process of activity in each case, etc.
Thus, the assessment concerns the consequences of the implementation of the program or project, and the control – the correctness of the implementation. That is, these two systems – control and evaluation – complement each other, because the information obtained during the control is often used in the evaluation.
Another thing is monitoring, which is generally understood as the process of systematic collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative information on the implementation of projects, activities and programs. It is carried out in order to ensure compliance of the implementation of projects or programs with the previously approved preconditions and goals, as well as information management to provide assistance in the decision-making process.
The components of the monitoring system are the appropriate organizational structure, human resources and information collection system, its use, which operates subject to the introduction of current verified data. To this end, a monitoring committee is established, covering all levels of government, as its task is not only to periodically assess progress in achieving specific goals, but also to approve additional programs and amendments to it, making changes necessary to improve assistance management [ 7].
The monitoring system, as one of the stages of implementation of any program, requires a functioning information system (information on quantitative objectives, the stage of actual implementation of the program or project, assessment of the impact of strategy on regional development), harmonization of the legislative system. It requires a lot of time and effort, because the connection between the obtained results and financing is insufficient, there are problems with the collection of actual indicators of input resources and final, concrete results, effect, because they are not measurable.
However, the importance of indicators for monitoring is difficult to overestimate, as they are essential for monitoring and evaluating the success of the program or project, checking the level of their compliance with development goals aimed at achieving them.
Thus, practice shows that the effectiveness of monitoring is ensured by the systematic nature of the measures taken, provided that both official mandatory reporting systems and other less formal means of information are used. Monitoring is a necessary guarantee that resources in the process of activity are transformed into planned results, contribute to the effect.
Therefore, we can say that the main indicators used in the monitoring process describe the resources, activities, results of the program, as well as the context in which the implementation took place, ie, the assessment should be based on reliable information obtained during monitoring … And this is where the relationship between monitoring and evaluation systems comes into play.
Summing up, we note: adjusting the content of programs and projects, analysis of causes and failures in their implementation, taking into account errors and failures in the development of such programs, intensifying work and examination of the effectiveness of its organization, informing local authorities and the public about the results, funding and use of opportunities to attract additional funding, analysis of possible differences in the positions of performers – this is not a complete list of those activities that are performed in the development and implementation of programs and projects of regional strategies for control, monitoring and evaluation.
This is what motivates scientists and practitioners to further research and implement scientific achievements in practice, as it is the key to successful implementation of strategies, attracting foreign investment in regional development programs and projects, adaptation to European standards.
Thus, the use of control, evaluation and monitoring systems in the development and implementation of programs and projects of regional development strategies provide an opportunity to coordinate and adjust measures aimed at optimal achievement of planned goals and avoid duplication of measures, make maximum use of information resources. Monitoring is important for identifying corrective actions or measures, and evaluation is important for planning future programs and projects aimed at improving the socio-economic development of regions.