Balazs Pichler

Advisor National Development Center (contract) 2025

Head of Department – Monitoring and Evaluation Department       2024

Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development/ National Development Center

Main tasks: Supervision of the operation of a 24-person department, preparation of the first transfers of EU funds from the European Commission. Preparation of a HUF 1.2 billion public procurement on program evaluation.

Head of Department – Monitoring and Evaluation Department                                      2021–2023

Prime Minister's Office

Main tasks: Under my leadership, the 24-person department prepared the fundamental planning document for the use of EUR 20 billion EU funds and then set up the monitoring committees: selecting and training hundreds of people. I held monthly high-level meetings in English with the European Commission on the preparation of calls for proposals. I supervised the management and implementation of a HUF 200 million evaluation framework procurement with a consortium of 4 consulting firms.

Head of Department – Monitoring and Evaluation Department     2018–2020

Ministry of Innovation and Technology

Main tasks: Under my supervision, the 22-person department carried out HUF 2.1 billion worth of evaluation procurements and implemented program evaluations in partnership with 9 consultancies. I oversaw the operation of a management information system on the use of EU funds and the achievement of annual targets, resulting in no loss of funds. As part of a separate project, I worked with a team of three to develop an allocation model for 27 EU Member States and prepared calculations and impact analyses for the EU's seven-year budget negotiations.

Head of Department – Monitoring and Evaluation Department                                       2015–2018

Prime Minister's Office                                                                                           

Main tasks: Managing the work of a department of 20 colleagues. I oversaw the development of a management information system on the use of EU funds and the achievement of annual targets agreed by the government. I oversaw the development of the program and background materials for the Hungarian V4 Presidency and chaired the expert and director general meetings with 8 regional countries.

Chief advisor – Monitoring and Evaluation Department / Prime Minister's Office                                                                                              2014

Main tasks: I prepared monitoring and controlling reports on the progress of the financial programs, which were discussed by the Government.

Head of Unit, then Deputy Head of Department –                     2011-2013

Central Monitoring Department, Controlling Unit / National Development Agency

Main tasks: Managing the work of the 5-person Controlling Unit, preparing regular controlling reports for management on the financial progress of development programs. Preparing an intervention plan for the use of EU funds to avoid loss of funds, coordinating it with the directorates responsible for the implementation of the programs and with representatives of the European Commission, and supervising its implementation.

Desk officer – Presidential Cabinet / National Development Agency        2007-2011