From this perspective, evaluations looked for evidence of why, whether or how these results are linked to the EU intervention and seek to identify the factors driving or hindering progress.
Evaluations provided an understanding of the cause and effect links between: inputs and activities, and outputs, outcomes and impacts. Evaluations should serve accountability, decision making, learning and management purposes.
The main objectives of this evaluation were to provide the relevant services of the European Union, the interested stakeholders with:

• an overall independent assessment of the past performance of the Support Programme to Implementation of the EU-PNG Cooperation, paying particular attention to its intermediate results measured against its expected objectives; and the reasons underpinning such results
• key lessons learned, conclusions and related recommendations in order to improve current and future Actions

In particular, this evaluation served to ensure that the objectives of the Financing Agreement (FA) are achieved at the end of implementation.
As a result, the mid-term evaluation has helped to:
- assess the role and the performance of the NAO Office in managing the different tools provided by the Action, identifying priorities, allocating the appropriate resources and ensuring proper communication and information among the stakeholders;

• assess the role and the performance of the NAO Office in the context of the phasing out of the 10th EDF programmes and the implementation of the 11th EDF programmes;
• assess the role and the performance of the NAO Office in the context of an increased use of innovative financing instruments (i.e. blending);
• assess the role and the performance of the NAO Office in organizing the coordination between the different stakeholders;
• assess the effectiveness and design of the technical assistance contract component in support of the Action
• based on the findings, amend the operational set up of the Action.

The main users of this evaluation were the Delegation of the European Union to Papua New Guinea, the National Authorising Officer and the GoPNG.