France: Ex post evaluation of structural actions and Less favoured area measure (LFA) of the National Rural Development Programme (NRDP) in France over the period 2000-2006

Client: Centre National pour l’Aménagement des Structures des Exploitations Agricoles (CNASEA)

Partner(s): EDATER - POLLEN

Start/End Date: 11/12/2007-01/10/2008

Description:

1- Evaluation of structural actions:

The project involved the ex post evaluation of structural policy implemented within the National Rural Development Programme over the period 2000-2006. This policy included 12 measures mainly related to the current first pole of rural development, namely a) farm investment support, b) setting-up of young farmers, c) training, d) early retirement, g) improvement of processing and marketing of agricultural products. Some measures promoting the adaptation and development of rural areas (certain Article 33 measures) addressing farmers were also included. Total public financial contribution amounted to 4.9 billion euros of which 2.1 billion from EAGGF.

The evaluation was structured around 5 to 7 common evaluation questions (EQ) for each measure, 6 cross-cutting questions and 2 national questions. Evaluation questions covered the main evaluation criteria with a special focus on effectiveness and impact. National questions mainly related to relevance.

Answers to EQ were based on analysis of documents and specific databases (Observatory of Rural Development, FADN data and National statistics), interviews and workshops with stakeholders at national level, specific interviews with stakeholders in 5 regions and 8 departments in France, surveys among beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries.

2- Evaluation of less favoured area measure (LFA)

The ex-post evaluation focused on the less favoured area measure (Chapter V, measure e) of the French national rural development plan 2000-2006, elaborated according to EC Regulation n° 1257/1999 presenting the Community framework in support of sustainable rural development.

Measure e helped to compensate for naturally less-favoured areas in order to ensure continued agricultural land use and it therefore aimed at maintaining a viable rural community, maintaining the countryside, maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems which would take environmental protection requirements into consideration.

The evaluation was divided into two parts:

The first part focused on common European evaluation questions including the effects of the measures on the:
- compensation of natural handicap,
- continued agricultural land use,
- maintenance of a viable rural community,
- environmental protection.

The second part focused on national questions, including:
- the impact of the new measures adopted since 1999,
- the multifunctional character of the support,
- the historical perspective,
- the relevance of the areas

The following services were provided: