Evaluating the effectiveness of national project implementation in Russia: Findings from an expert survey

This article addresses the issue of monitoring the implementation of national projects to assess the social impact of project implementation. The article aims to analyze the experience of monitoring the implementation of four national projects based on the results of an expert survey. The methodological basis of the study is the results of fundamental research conducted by the Center for Sociology of Management and Social Technologies of the Institute of Sociology FCTAS RAS. The article substantiates the need to use monitoring as a combination of integrated research methods – a mixed methodology of social assessment – specifically in accordance with the goals and objectives of regional governance. In line with emerging research trends in the analysis of subjective and objective data, this article presents the results of a comparative analysis of an expert survey (a collection of expert assessments from four regions) and official Rosstat statistics. The expert survey findings indicate an emerging positive trend in the consideration of social aspects in regional project decisions. It is noted that government bodies (federal, regional, and local) act both legally and in practice as the primary implementers of projects, while the public is currently relegated to the role of public observer. It is concluded that government assessments (statistical data) and expert opinions are similar – both assess the implementation of projects in the regions as satisfactory. However, greater transparency of government statistical data is needed. The study's results suggest the feasibility of incorporating monitoring of the social impacts of national projects into government monitoring. Based on this approach, it becomes possible to define government monitoring as socially oriented, institutionally structured, and unified.