France: Ex-ante Evaluation of Rural Development Programme (RDP) of Metropolitan France) 2007-2013 Including the Environmental Strategic Assessment

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

Partner(s): Pollen Conseil, EDATER

Start/End Date: 29/06/2006-30/11/2007

Description:

The French Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), in accordance with Regulation R(CE)1698/2005, was structured around the national strategic plan of a programme for mainland France excluding Corsica, and of 5 other regional programmes for the French overseas departments and Corsica.

The ex-ante evaluation dealt with the metropolitan programme excluding Corsica, entitled “Programme de développement rural pour l’Hexagone” (R.D. programme for mainland France). This programme is made up of a national part, programmed by the central administration, and of 21 regional sections elaborated at the level of each region under the responsibility of the prefect. The programme is based on 4 main lines, as defined by Regulation R(CE)1698/2005: 3 thematic lines – improvement of the competitiveness of the agricultural and forest sectors (Line 1), improvement of the environment and of rural areas (Line 2), quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy (Line 3), and lastly, a methodological line: the Leader approach (Line4).

The ex-ante evaluation was part of the drafting of each programme and aimed at optimising the allocation of the budgetary resources and improving programming quality of programming. It pointed to the need for providing an independent opinion, and made recommendations on the main elements of the programme. It discussed ways of facilitating choices and of ensuring the follow-up and the evaluations in accordance with the explicit definition of the quantified objectives; it proposed a system of indicators and the evaluation of the implementation mechanism. Finally, the ex-ante evaluation discussed the potential risks of the programme, the inherent risks associated with political choices and with the proposed implementing mechanism.

Moreover, a Strategic Environmental Analysis (SEA) was carried out to evaluate the environmental impacts of the operational programme and propose corrective solutions to avoid or alleviate these impacts.

The following services were provided:

- Assessment of the SWOT analysis linked to the programme;
- Assessment of the programme's objectives and targets;
- Assessment of the impacts expected and not expected;
- Assessment of the proposed implementation mechanisms, including follow-up, evaluation and financial management.