NSU Training Programme Module 7: ‘Understanding NRN evaluation & self-assessment’
Kendal, England (6-8 May 2014)
The training activity was initiated and kindly hosted by the UK-England Rural Network Support Unit (RDPE network) in Kendal.
The training activity was organised back-to-back with the 21th NRN Meeting where around 77 people participated, from 23 National Rural Networks, 4 LAGs, and representatives from DG AGRI and the Evaluation Helpdesk.
NRN evaluation and NRN self-assessment serve different purposes. On the one hand, NRNs are subject to evaluation as all other rural development interventions financed by the EAFRD. On the other hand, NRN self-assessment is a process according to which NRNs assess their own operations on an on-going basis, with the aim of drawing lessons learnt and to continuously adapt their rolling plan and improve their activities.
The event focused on the topic of ‘Understanding NRN evaluation and self-assessment’, with the aim to support NRNs (and NSUs in particular) in managing and carrying out self-assessment and contributing to the RDP/NRN evaluation efficiently.
The NSU Training Programme Module 7 provided the opportunity to:
- to gain better understanding about the relevance of network evaluation & self-assessment, and in particular to understand the importance of ‘intervention logic’ as a basis of NRN self-assessment (and evaluation);
- to identify/learn about new practical ways/methods for addressing key challenges of network assessment;
- to gain better understanding of RDP evaluation, its linkages to NRN evaluation; and how NSUs can contribute to a more efficient RDP monitoring and evaluation and disseminate their results.
The NSU Training Programme Module 7 included 3 workshops:
- Workshop A – Training in practical network self-assessment methods: aiming at introducing some self-assessment techniques that can be used in the context of NRN self-assessment and to provide participants with practical/’hands-on’ tools and methodologies to assess networks’ performance.
- Workshop B – NRNs’ contribution to a more efficient RDP evaluation: aiming at providing a better understanding about how NRNs can contribute to the improvement of the quality of RDP implementation through a more active role in its evaluation and in the dissemination of the RDP monitoring and evaluation findings.
- Workshop C – Social Return On Investment (SROI) model: aiming at introducing the the Social Return on Investment (SROI) model, a method for understanding, measuring and reporting on change, and value created by an organisation or activity.
Outcomes
NSU Training Module 7 - Full report [PDF 
]
Background materials & presentations
Introduction
- Training programme [PDF ]
- Introduction to the training – Edina Ocsko, ENRD CP [PDF ]
- Introduction to the ‘basics’ of intervention logic – Jela Tvrdonova, Evaluation Helpdesk [PDF ]
- Background Document: ‘Intervention logic and evaluation framework for 2014-2020 National Rural Networks’ (draft), Evaluation Helpdesk [PDF ]
- Background Document: ‘Intervention logic and evaluation framework for 2014-2020 National Rural Networks’ (draft), Evaluation Helpdesk [PDF
Workshop A: Training in practical Network self-assessment methods & tools
- Participatory engagement of stakeholders for self-assessment, Wallonian RN [PDF ]
- ENRD (2012) Self-Assessment Process Belgium-Walloon Case Study [PDF ]
- ENRD (2012) Self-Assessment Process Belgium-Walloon Case Study [PDF
- Self-assessment questionnaire, Italian NRN [PDF ]
- ENRD website, NRN Self-Assessment Profiles: Italy (Programme NRN) [PDF ]
- ENRD website, NRN Self-Assessment Profiles: Italy (Programme NRN) [PDF
- Mapping of Network Quantity and Quality, Finnish NRN [PDF ]
- ENRD website, Example of Mapping of Network Quantity & Quality (analysis of the Finnish NRN) [PDF ]
- ENRD website, Example of Mapping of Network Quantity & Quality (analysis of the Finnish NRN) [PDF
Workshop B: NRNs’ contribution to a more efficient RDP evaluation
- Introduction to Workshop B, Edina Ocsko, ENRD CP [PDF ]
- NRN dissemination of evaluation results, Swedish NRN [PDF ]
- Virtual Think-Tank “Chairman instructions” [PDF ]
- Virtual Think-Tank Secretariat Template [PDF ]
- Virtual Think-Tank “Chairman instructions” [PDF
- 'Glancing back to plan ahead', Wales RN [PDF ]
- Added value of networking story: “Glancing back to plan ahead” [PDF ]
- Added value of networking story: “Glancing back to plan ahead” [PDF
- E-VALPROG training programme, Italian RN [PDF ]
- Poster: The Value of Rural Networks: National Rural Network – Italy, E-valprog [PDF ]
- Added value of networking story: “Online evaluation training: E-VALPROG” [PDF ]
- Poster: The Value of Rural Networks: National Rural Network – Italy, E-valprog [PDF
Workshop C: Social Return On Investment (SROI) model
- SROI as an assessment tool for NRN activities, J. Powell, K. Kubinakova, CCRI and R. Madin BNED LEADER [PDF ]
- Factsheet: Social Return on Investment (SROI) as self-assessment method for NRNs [PDF ]
- Factsheet: Social Return on Investment (SROI) as self-assessment method for NRNs [PDF
