NRN Self-Assessment Profiles
Portugal (Programme NRN)
Portugal has chosen to have a specific national Programme for its National Rural Network (NRN) that was adopted in March 2010. Its priorities have been organised into five areas of intervention:
- Capitalising on experience and knowledge
- Facilitating cooperation
- Monitoring the rural world and implementation of rural development policies
- Facilitating information access
- Rural Network Operation
Assessment of the NRN performance
The monitoring system quantifies success of the NRN activities through a set of results and achievements indicators. The Managing Authority (MA) uses this information for producing yearly interim reports on the Network Support Unit (NSU) activities containing specific quantitative indicators. They are used in a system of continuous evaluation and eventual programme adjustments can be made accordingly.
Scope of the assessment:
In 2011 the Report on Activities of the NSU focused on four main ‘axes’:
- Fostering NRN activities
- Promoting access and dissemination of information
- Promoting knowledge and its diffusion
- Supporting LEADER cooperation
Tools:
- Network Intervention Logic
- Quantitative Indicators
- Qualitative Indicators
- Financial monitoring and reporting tools
- Activity M&E (feedback forms from events)
- Sophisticated techniques (SWOT, benchmarking)
- Intended: Network Evaluation Questions, thematic evaluation on cooperation projects
External evaluation
The continuous evaluation is carried out by a dedicated thematic working group and external evaluators. Evaluation questions are based on the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (CMEF). The Mid-Term Evaluation of the NRN Programme was carried out by a public research institution: Instituto Nacional de Recursos Biológicos.
Scope of the evaluation:
- Situation (functionality) of the NRN
- Mission/Objectives of the NRN
- Logistics and operation of the NRN
- Management of the NRN
