Celebrating impact and ensuring future sustainability of the EDJC

The European Days of Jewish Culture 2023 has culminated in a landmark achievement with the release of a comprehensive report detailing this year’s activities, outcomes, and the collaborative efforts across various countries. This document highlights the extensive work undertaken by the festival organizers and includes contributions from nations beyond the scope of the European funding project. The full report is now available online and can be accessed here.

Download the EDJC 2023 report

A significant focus of this year’s EDJC was on evaluating the festival’s impact and organizing a final online conference to share insights and outcomes. The initiative was guided by the expertise of Raoul Sellam, renowned specialist in impact evaluation, ensuring that the methods used were both robust and reliable.

The process began with an initial meeting involving the project consortium partners. This meeting was crucial for clarifying the purpose of the impact evaluation and identifying the main areas of impact. Participants collaboratively identified four main areas and proposed sixteen potential indicators to measure these impacts. The complete list of these evaluation criteria can be found here. This foundational work set the stage for a comprehensive and aligned evaluation process.

Download the EDJC evaluation criteria

Following the initial meeting, the proposed indicators were synthesized and consolidated, ensuring that all feedback was accurately captured. The consolidated findings were then validated with stakeholders to ensure consensus. These results were presented during a dedicated session at the annual EDJC final meeting, facilitating a robust discussion and enabling the prioritization of the proposed indicators through an online voting process. This democratic approach ensured that the selected indicators truly reflected the collective input and priorities of the organizers.

Once the votes were compiled, detailed guidelines were created to facilitate the completion of the prioritized indicators. These guidelines provide clear and practical instructions for measuring impact, ensuring a consistent and standardized approach across the festival. Designed to be user-friendly and actionable, the guidelines are available in a canvas format here.

Download the EDJC Impact Evaluation Framework

The chosen indicators are:

• Audience Growth Rate: Evaluating the rate at which the festival attracts new audience members over time.
• Feedback Survey: Conducting post-event surveys to gather feedback on various aspects of the experience.
• Knowledge Acquisition: Assessing participants’ pre- and post-event knowledge of Jewish culture.
• Personal Testimonial: Gathering personal anecdotes and testimonials from participants.
• Policy Influence: Tracking changes in policies or regulations influenced by the festival.
• Succession Planning: Assessing strategies for leadership continuity to ensure the festival’s sustainability.
• International Collaboration: Measuring the number of partnerships or collaborations established.
• Cost Per Outcome: Calculating the cost per achieved outcome for each activity.

A final meeting was organized with Local Organisers and Regional and National Coordinators to present the finalized impact canvas and collect best practices. This collaborative discussion was vital for documenting and sharing insights on implementing and sustaining the identified indicators. The engagement of diverse stakeholders and the focus on gender equality ensured a balanced and inclusive approach to festival activities.

The publication of the comprehensive report on EDJC 2023 marks a significant achievement, extending the reach and influence of this year’s efforts. The report details the extensive work carried out both within and beyond the funded scope, highlighting the festival’s impact and the collaborative approach that underpinned its success.

The activities carried out this year have been instrumental in ensuring the successful completion of EDJC 2023. The collaborative approach in identifying, consolidating, and prioritizing impact indicators has provided a robust evaluation framework that reflects the collective input of all involved. The transition to the sustainability phase has been initiated, with clear guidelines and best practices established for future EDJC activities.

For more details, access the following documents:

• The full report on EDJC 2023 here.
• The list of sixteen evaluation criteria here.
• The EDJC Impact Evaluation Framework here.