Evaluation; Research & Guidance

Winter tree

The Welsh Governments Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020 supports a wide range of activities designed to increase the sustainability and resilience of our natural environment, land-based sector, food businesses and communities.  

This includes:

  • Improving skills, innovation and knowledge transfer
  • Creating and safeguarding jobs
  • Improving agri-environmental outcomes
  • Supporting woodland and forestry
  • Increasing biodiversity
  • Supporting and promoting resource efficiency
  • Developing and delivering ecosystem services
  • Supporting community development
  • Improving animal health and welfare
  • Mitigating and adapting to climate change

Why do we monitor and evaluate? 

Monitoring and Evaluation are important processes in assessing the delivery and success of the Rural Development Programme in Wales. It is important that robust and appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to help track the achievement of outputs and outcomes and to assist in assessing impact.

Who’s responsible for monitoring and evaluation?

Both project applicants and the Welsh Government.  

Project applicants have a responsibility to report key data and achievements on their projects. Responsibility for monitoring and evaluation at a Programme level lies with the Strategy Team within the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO). This includes the collation of monitoring data at a programme level to complete the Annual Implementation Reports (AIRs). The Strategy Team are also responsible for the management of programme and scheme level evaluations and in addition are able to provide advice relating to any monitoring and evaluation queries within the programme. This includes providing assistance relating to data collection and indicator definitions and offering support in designing evaluation specifications.

You can contact the Research Monitoring Evaluation team via their email: RDPMandE@gov.wales 

The grant aimed to increase on-farm investment, technical performance, on-farm production, and resource efficiencies.

Overall, the research found:

  • perceptions of the FBG were positive
  • the application process was simple and straightforward
  • the Farming for the Future Knowledge Transfer Events (KTEs) were generally well received
  • the KTEs were effective in driving engagement with broader support and advice offered through Farming Connect
  • there was indicative evidence to suggest that investments had stimulated improvements in the technical efficiency of farms