NRN Self-Assessment Profiles

Belgium – Wallonia

The Walloon Rural Network has been fully operational since April 2009, however the process of preparing for formal monitoring and evaluation / self-assessment process started before the network support unit (NSU) was launched.  The NSU is fully out-sourced from the Managing Authority and the terms of reference for technical assistance to support operation of the network already included specific requirements for self-assessment procedures.  Consequently all the technical offers submitted by potential contractors included a detailed list of quantitative and qualitative output, result and impact indicators.

As soon as the NSU was established then work started on constructing a Work Plan for the network based upon a clear understanding of the network objectives and intervention logic / logical framework.  Annual priorities were structured around 4 ‘axes’ as follows:

Challenge – Theme – Sub-theme - Action - Deliverable – Recommendation

Monitoring and assessment of network activities is an on-going process co-ordinated by the “Commission Permanente (CAR)” (i.e. the NRN Steering Committee composed of 30 regional stakeholders) which meets every 2 months.  The Steering Committee launched the first survey of network stakeholders in October 2010 with the specific objective of generating feedback to improve the services and products delivered by the network in 2011.  The questionnaire used can be found under Stakeholder Surveys and included questions in 4 sections:

• Animation of the network;
• Tools of information and communication set-up by the Steering Committee;
• Satisfaction with the services of the Steering Committee, and;
• A part dedicated to a more comprehensive assessment of specific elements of the network.

Response rate to the questionnaire was 49% with a total of 29 questionnaires returned.  The survey synthesis report is included below.

Additional tools include:

• A simple “progress reporting” tool based upon the Work Plan for the Steering Committee Thematic Working Groups (see below) and structured according to project, activities, deadlines and expected outcomes;
• Feedback and evaluation forms for all events, plus regular debriefing with the NSU and Steering Committee;
• Feedback every 3 months from the Thematic Working Groups to the members of the Steering Committee;
• The development of a specific evaluation system to support the adaptation of the communication activities of the network to better suit the needs of stakeholders.

A system of self-assessment of Local Action Groups (LAGs) is also under development (developed by another regional structure "Interface LAG").

• For further information on the Walloon Rural Network click here.
• Presentation (March 2010) on the design of the operational structure, objectives and logical framework of the Walloon Rural Network [PDF ]
• Work Plan (and expected outcomes) for Steering Committee (CAR) Thematic Working Groups 2009 – 2011 [PDF ]
• Results of the 2010 Stakeholder Survey - Evaluation globale des missions de la Cellule d’Animation du Réseau wallon de Développement Rural [PDF ]
• The Walloon Self-Assessment Approach [PDF ]