Evaluation of NRNs Hannes WIMMER, Team Leader Andreas RESCH, Evaluation Advisor Nordic-Baltic Rural Network meeting, 6-8 December 2015, Pułtusk (PL)

2 Who we are? What we do? Introduction into NRN evaluation Self-assessment versus evaluation OUTLINE

Who we are? 3 EU Rural Networks Assembly and Steering group ENRD Two EU Rural Networks… Guided by DG AGRI.... Unit H.3 Unit E.4 Unit H.5 EIP-AGRI Network ENRD Contact Point ENRD Evaluation Helpdesk EIP-AGRI Service Point Three Support Units…

4 DG AGRI, E.4 Permanent team Knowledge transfer team Team Leader Project Director Project & knowledge transfer manager Evaluation manager Evaluation Officer Evaluation advisor Information officer Core team 8 persons Thematic experts 30 persons Geographic experts 27 persons Good practice manager Capacity building advisor Communication manager Method.develop- ment team Team Structure

5 Geographic experts… Latvia: Valdis Kudins Poland: Jerzy Michalek Lithuania: Lina Dumčiūtė Estonia: Iiri Raa Sweden & Finland: Sari Rannanpää Denmark: Morten Kvistgaard

6 General and specific objectives of EU Rural Networks General Objectives Specific Objectives Enhance participation A.Stakeholders’ involvement in rural development B.Dialogue between farmers and research community C.Inclusion of all stakeholders in the knowledge exchange process Improve the policy quality D.Exchange of expertise and good practice E.Improve the quality of RDPs F.Support the evaluation of RDPs Increase awareness G.Informing the broader public on the benefits of rural development policy

7 1. Better evaluation methodologies and tools 2. Good practices in RD evaluation 3. Better evaluation capacity 5. Well-organized evaluation related events 4. Further developed M&E system 6. Up to date communication on evaluation topics Support the evaluation of RDPs AWP 2016 Guidance “Assessing RDP results” Guidance “Evaluation of NRN ” Working Paper Evaluation-related queries Guidance “Evaluation of Leader/CLLD” Guidance “Assessing RDP results” Guidance “Evaluation of NRN ” Working Paper Evaluation-related queries Guidance “Evaluation of Leader/CLLD” Evaluation related input for Expert Group meetings, ENRD events, NRN meetings, other events. Assessment impl. of Evaluation Plans Rural Evaluation NEWS no. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Evaluation Helpdesk website - revamped Other publications Rural Evaluation NEWS no. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Evaluation Helpdesk website - revamped Other publications Training on CMES, EQs, eval. Leader/LDS Training on evaluation of NRN, ex post Other training activities Training on CMES, EQs, eval. Leader/LDS Training on evaluation of NRN, ex post Other training activities GP WS “Assessment of env. effects” GP WS “Approaches to define HNV farml.” Good Practice collection (various topics) GP WS “Assessment of env. effects” GP WS “Approaches to define HNV farml.” Good Practice collection (various topics)

Guidelines currently under preparation Published in early 2016 Main target group Contractors of external evaluations (MA, NSU?) External evaluators Presented during NRN meeting in Ljubljana Content: Part I Managing NRN evaluation (Who does what? Key steps in evaluation of NRN, Part II Methodological Handbook (Structuring, Observing, Analysing, Judging) Part III Toolbox (ToR, etc.) 8

9 Evaluation Self-assessment Interest of involved actors (NSU) in order to facilitate steering and management, learning effects Legal obligation and interest in policy learning & accountability (client: MA, NSU?) Why? Actors involved in intervention (e.g. NSU, network members) Independent external evaluator By whom? Assess delivery process, perceived added value, areas for improvement Assess efficiency, effectiveness, achievements of expected results, impacts, contributions towards policy objectives, relevance What? Formative, process-oriented, mainly qualitative approaches Summative, results-oriented, mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches How? Monitoring and reporting information, feedback sheets etc. Info from monitoring and self- assessment + additional information On what basis? 9 Improvement of action plan, management and delivery mechanisms Input for RDP evaluation or self- standing evaluation, improvement intervention logic & policy design Outcome?

Thank you for your attention! European Evaluation Helpdesk for Rural Development Boulevard Saint Michel B-1040 Brussels Tel