Evaluations aim to assess the benefits and value of laws, programmes, projects or strategies. They contribute to examining and improving the impact of governmental and nongovernmental actions.
Ever since 2017, implementation of the Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance (StAR) has been monitored by a formative evaluation and assessed at regular intervals. The core questions being addressed are whether the right things are done the right way and whether the actions are in line with the One-Health approach. The findings will shed light on the progress that has been made and the degree to which our goals have been achieved. They enable us to adjust or – if need be – improve or alter the ongoing interventions.
Each year, the emphasis shifts. In 2018, the evaluation team’s focus was, among other things, on the progress made among the population target group and in the surveillance action area. In 2019, the project team’s collaboration with external partners was assessed, as was the degree to which the strategy has been implemented and the objectives achieved. The findings allow for steady improvement of operations. In the case of the agricultural sector, for example, they showed that a lack of financial incentives on the part of the livestock owners impeded implementation of the state of the art for the professional care of their herds.
The current evaluation cycle was originally planned to end in May 2021 with an interim evaluation. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the implementation of the StAR strategy suffered an unforeseen pause, particularly in the human sector, and delays are likely to occur. After completion of the formative evaluation, the persons in charge of the strategy will respond to the findings and recommendations and will present the Federal Council with a proposal on how to proceed. A summative evaluation is also planned, albeit for a later date. It will take stock of the effectiveness of the measures at a certain point in time and thus represents a snapshot, unlike the formative evaluation. It provides accountability vis-à-vis policymakers and the public. The exact timing of the summative evaluation is yet to be determined.
