Evaluating LEADER under CAP presents a substantial challenge. It is not just about measuring LEADER’s contribution to the CAP’s Specific Objectives, but also uncovering the added value generated from the application of the ‘LEADER method’.
To help find a path forward, the European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP is working with experts to extract best practices from existing Rural Development Programme (RDP) evaluations. In an ‘Expert Insights’ paper published in March 2024 María Coto Sauras appraised four LEADER evaluations from Austria, Finland, Hungary and French Guiana, covering the 2014-2020 period. Together with Costas Apostolopoulos of the Evaluation Helpdesk’s permanent team, they identified steps to success and recommendations aimed at all LEADER evaluation stakeholders, including Managing Authorities, evaluators, researchers and Local ActionsGroups (LAGs).
All these evaluations employed diverse structures and methodologies. The Evaluation Helpdesk found that utilising a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques, ensuring good categorisation of data, maintaining clarity, constructing a coherent narrative, and acknowledging any potential methodology limitations could enhance evaluators’ ability to conduct future LEADER evaluations.
The full paper is available HERE.
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