Module 2: Setting up a monitoring and evaluation framework and defining indicators
This module highlights the importance of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in sustainable urban mobility planning by introducing a monitoring and evaluation framework, process description and practical tools developed by the SUMPs for BSR project, tailored to help small and mid-sized cities with different capacities build effective local M&E processes.
What will you learn?
✔ Basic principles for the monitoring and evaluation framework
✔How to select suitable indicators taking into account available resources and local needs, and how to align them with the SUMI and TEN-T regulation requirements
✔How to create local monitoring and evaluation plans – where to start and what to consider
✔Different data collection methods
✔Monitoring methodology, evaluation methodology and how to use the results
✔Stakeholders’ engagement importance in monitoring and evaluation processes
✔Real-life examples of local monitoring and evaluation plans, effective use of data and selection of indicators.
The webinar recording provides a clear and practical introduction to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning.
The first part of the webinar focuses on the basic principles of monitoring and evaluation, explaining how M&E support different phases of the SUMP process, from preparation and strategy development to implementation and learning. The presentation clarifies key concepts such as outputs, outcomes and impacts, the role of baselines and targets, and how monitoring and evaluation plans link to action and implementation plans. It also includes insight into indicator selection, data sources, stakeholder involvement, and practical ways to address common challenges such as data gaps, limited resources and continuity over time.
The second presentation introduces the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework developed within the SUMPs for BSR project, including the Indicator Selector Tool and Monitoring & Evaluation Plan Template. The presentation explains how these tools help cities of different sizes build feasible and meaningful M&E practices, illustrated with real‑life examples from the Baltic Sea Region. Finally, the City of Malmö from Sweden and the Cēsis municipality from Latvia share their experiences on the monitoring and evaluation topic.
The workshop recording introduces the process of Choosing Mobility Indicators by Marcin Wolek from University of Gdansk and two cases from cities on monitoring and evaluation of SUMP. Find out more about Monitoring of School Mobility in Panevezys (Lithuania), and Evalaution of SUMP in Gävle (Sweden).
Slides
PDF: Basic Principles of Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, Kristina Gaučė
PDF: M&E Framework Developed by SUMPs for BSR, Marcin Wołek
PDF: Developing Monitoring for Sustainable Mobility in a Small City, Ritvars Šilkovs
PDF: Monitoring and Evaluation for SUMP in Malmö, Andreas Nordin
PDF: Choosing Mobility Indicators – Marcin Wolek
PDF: Monitoring of School Mobility in Panevezys, Jokubas Leipus
PDF: Evaluation for SUMP in Gävle, Aregay Fkadu Kebede
Check the background & additional materials to dive deeper into monitoring and evaluation for SUMP, with links to the SUMP Topic guides, e-courses, manuals, practical tools from other projects as well real-life city cases from all around Europe. Explore the practical tools developed in the SUMPs for BSR project: the indicators selector tool & Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Template.
Background & additional materials
Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators Selector Tool (SUMPs for BSR project 2026)
An Excel-based tool developed within the SUMPs for BSR project to support cities in selecting a set of indicators for monitoring Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs). The tool enables filtering and prioritisation of KPIs by city size, policy theme, importance, data collection effort, indicator level, and EU alignment, supporting evidence-based decision-making.
To preserve full functionality, the tool is provided as a ZIP archive containing an Excel (.xlsm) file and must be extracted before use. When opening the file, users are required to enable macros in Excel in order to use interactive features such as PDF export of filtered indicators and resetting all filters.
Access the tool
Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Template (SUMPs for BSR project 2026)
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan Template, designed to support sustainable urban mobility planning (SUMP), provides a comprehensive guide for cities of varying capacities to develop or improve their M&E processes. It explains the role of M&E in the planning cycle, differentiates between monitoring and evaluation, and highlights common mistakes in developing M&E schemes. The template includes a checklist to help cities identify the recommended pathway through the M&E Plan Template based on their experience and resources. It provides a structured indicator table template to list and describe selected indicators, including objectives, descriptions, classification, data sources, baseline and target values, responsible parties, and resources.
Access the template
Guidelines for Developing and Implementing a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. Second Edition (Rupprecht Consult (eds.) 2019)
The guidelines provide a comprehensive step-by-step description of the SUMP implementation and co-creation process. It provides associated activities, aims, task descriptions, guidance on timing and coordination, and how to address the involvement of regional and national government structures that delineate the legal frameworks within which a SUMP functions.
Topic Guide: Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning in Smaller Cities and Towns (Rupprecht Consult (eds.) 2021)
The guide applies the SUMP Guidelines to the planning realities of smaller cities and towns and their specific challenges, including fewer resources and experience in strategic mobility planning, stronger car-dependency and weaker public transport. The guide provides smaller cities and towns with planning methods, tools and policies that have proven to work well in smaller urban areas. It also includes a variety of good practice examples from all over Europe, highlighting the benefits of SUMP for some of the most common problems in smaller cities and towns.
CH4LLENGE Monitoring and Evaluation Manual: Assessing the impact of measures and evaluating mobility planning processes (2016)
The Intelligent Energy Europe project CH4LLENGE supported mobility practitioners in improving local transport planning processes and developing quality Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans. It addressed the four most pressing challenges in sustainable urban mobility planning: participation, cooperation, measure selection, and monitoring and evaluation. In 2016, CH4LLENGE released four SUMP Kits to support mobility practitioners in SUMP preparation and delivery. Each kit consists of a Quick Facts Brochure, a SUMP Manual and an e-learning course. The brochures present concise summaries of the challenges while the manuals are dedicated to providing detailed advice underpinned by city examples.
Methodology and indicator calculation method for sustainable urban mobility
This , produced by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) as part of its Sustainable Mobility Project 2.0, sets out the results of a piece of work to develop a comprehensive set of sustainable mobility indicators for cities. The indicators are described with SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based) methodologies that will allow cities to perform a standardised evaluation of their mobility system. This report provides definition, parameters and calculation methods of the most common mobility indicators.
Access the methodology and the calculation method
Mobility Academy e-courses “SUMP learning programme for mobility practitioners” developed in CIVITAS SUMPs-UP project (2020)
The SUMP Learning Programme for mobility practitioners consists of 7 e-courses on different parts of SUMP cycle. The courses tackle different phases in the SUMP process starting from how to initiate a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) and prepare a SUMP vision in cooperation with various stakeholders, elaborate the SUMP strategy and select SUMP measures and on how to finally implement SUMP. Each course contains 4-7 modules and concrete case examples from European cities. All courses also include exercises that help to review your city’s own SUMP practices and practice what you have just learned and links to useful webinars.
EU city database on SUMPs
The EU city database on SUMPs is an information repository featuring Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) and other urban mobility plans in EU Member States. It provides information on the 431 urban nodes on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T network), and other EU cities with a population above 50,000, that are at different stages of SUMP development.
Exercises
Coming soon…
Interested in learning more?
This webinar from October 2025 brings together leading voices in sustainable urban mobility to share practical insights and inspiring examples. Hear Morgane Juliat (Rupprecht Consult) on how active mobility is transforming cities, and Marcin Wołek (University of Gdansk) on frameworks for monitoring progress. Learn from Cēsis municipality (Latvia) and City of Turku (Finland) about real-world approaches to active mobility data and citizen engagement.
After the session
Webinar recording
Slides
• PDF/PPTX link here