summary of 1st year draft work programme of the contact point (cp)

Summary of 1st Year Draft Work programme of the

Contact Point (CP) EN RD Contact Point 2008

Istvan Feher, Team Leader

Mission Statement of Contact Point for the European

Network for Rural Development

(EN RD-CP)

Our mission is: “to provide high quality intellectual services and products in time to DG AGRI and transfer knowledge, information, best practice in four axis and provide technical assistance for inter territorial and trans-national cooperation through good network management” based on KANTORS worldwide experience.

Basic Guidance to preparation of AWP

Term of References and Contract Close cooperation with DG AGRI in four axis Pro active networking system with NRNs, sharing

information Respecting quality and timing for delivering support

and a range of services to DG AGRI for running the EN RD

Assist in the implementation of rural development policy in supporting the inter-institutional cooperation

Exploiting synergies by working closely with the European Evaluation Network for Rural Development

Core functions and tools

The work-programme is structured around seven service codes and three core tools (following the terms of reference)

For each service code and core tools their are specific methodologies linked to deliverables

The work of the Contact Point is organised around three groups, each with allocated responsibility for the different service codes and tools

Resources Permanent staff: 21 members Large pool of non-permanent experts to provide expertise as

required Staff of 24 different EU nationalities The team in its totality has the capability to work in all EU

languages except Maltese CP ENRD is located at rue du Marteau 81 in Brussels – in close

proximity to DG AGRI One full floor in the 4 floor building - currently acquired by

KANTOR - and additional space elsewhere has been assigned to the Contact Point permanent team and necessary equipment has been allocated to the team. Additional space has been made available for the non-permanent team as well as three meeting areas.

The reception facility and further working space are currently under refurbishment and works are scheduled to be finalised by the end of September.

Arrangements for a meeting room with large capacity have been made with the Residence Palace / International Press Centre located at Rue de la Loi 155, again in close proximity to DG AGRI.

Association partners

KANTOR Management Consultants S.A. (Greece), leader

Hushållningssällskapens Service AB (Sweden) IEEP - Institute for European Environmental Policy

(UK) CIHEAM - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de

Montpellier (France) Agriculture Science and Engineering Centre of

Debrecen University (Hungary) Agri-consulting Europe S.A. (Belgium)

Services: Administrative support.

Administrative support will be provided for: the coordination committee (2); Leader sub-committee (2); thematic working groups (likely not more than 4); expert working groups (likely not more than 4).

This means: retro planning; mobilisation of key personnel (including selection of relevant experts according to policy area); translation; invitations; expert papers and content; minutes; evaluation of meetings; follow-up papers

Services:Support to transnational cooperation

1. An inventory of needs and existing guides:

Collect key information from LAGs and other relevant sources at European, regional and local levels, possibly including other policy areas eg Interreg; EQUAL; Innovative actions, Leonardo

Classify information according to the different axes Develop a questionnaire to ascertain factual information

regarding state of art: existing databases of TNC projects; cooperation guides; contacts; level of expertise/experience in individual countries

Involve all the different stakeholders: MA’s; NNUs; LAGs, Nature Parks. Farming Associations; and local development structures

Information obtained in a template format + supplemented by discussion groups

2. Guides:

To be based on result of the ‘needs enquiry/inventory’ Resulting in an ‘Integrated European Cooperation Guide’ able to address

a wide range of rural stakeholders with different levels of experience (Member States, various stakeholders);

The Contact Point will take contact with consortium partners to ensure that the different axes are addresses;

Provide a ‘web-based’ application to ensure that the guide is dynamic and can provide links to other sources

Concept Papers Drafting of concept papers on specific needs related to mainstreaming of

Leader as a horizontal axis: Specific focus on developments and needs in New Member States


3. Pro-active follow-up of databases:

Contact Point will contact MAs to compile an initial database of projects under approval (updated regularly)

The database forms the basis of ‘Partner Search Tool’; Encourage partners to take a proactive role in using the ‘web-

based cooperation platform’ Improve efficiency by direct contact (phone and e-mail); contact

during events; via the Newsletter; help in writing ads for posting on web-site;

Continuing monitoring and support of the ‘cooperation platform’


4. Direct Support to 50 projects:

Selection of cooperation projects covering all axes; selection criteria developed (agreed with the EC)

CP will support (through its consortium) the final selection of an external selection committee

CP will contact partners of selected project(s) and identify specific needs

CP will allocate a coaching expert with relevant language, knowledge and expertise

CP will monitor projects by a reporting method, and produce a summary report

Summary reports will be made public via on-line database


Services:Exchange of information and coordination with national rural networks.

An inventory of needs and on the spot visit: The Contact Point will contact NRNs, and survey

LAGs (selected), rural organisations to assess information needs;

This enquiry will be supplemented by ‘on the spot’ visits Strategy paper outlining the information exchange procedure

(based on above enquiry), will be presented to DG Agri for approval, before being circulated to the NRNs

Regular working meetings (max 8) to provide face to face contact with the NRNs will be organised by the CP

Regular reporting to DG Agri

Setting up good cooperation with NRNs and MAs

Official letter from the Commission

Preparation/ update of contact list of NRNs and MAs, availability of existing websites

Initial contacts with basic questions in order to establish the existing capacity Secondary contact for more detailed information with a small questionnaire:

Foreseen timing of activities How the existing NRNs are structured and how those which are not in place

will be structured; The information needs of various NRNs; What information they have available which can be shared.

Collection of RDP (done)

Timing: continuous update

Services:Exchange of information and coordination with national rural networks.

Services:Promotion (including representation).

The Contact Point will support and provide resource in promoting RD policy at Member State level:

Participation in Events: Propose relevant seminars; Preparatory content support: Preparation of standard materials,

such as ppt etc; Working with Evaluation network;

This means development of; a Calendar of events; a combination of “off the shelf” and customised materials; and a close working relationship with the evaluation network.

Services:Reply to requests for information.

Answering questions on rural development; Reception of visitors; Preparation of FAQ.

This means: development of a logged service to ensure a competent level of reply; providing a reception facility to receive visitors; a web-based FAQ based on anticipated, actual and ongoing requests.

Services:Support to the analysis of RDPs (summary and monitoring indicators).

Error identification within the monitoring indicators; Exchange of data between the stakeholders; Analysis/summary of programme data.

This means: development of technical solutions for error correction and data exchange; summary of a logged service to ensure a competent level of reply; providing summarised information for specific purposes (Member State files; committees/working groups).

Services:“good practice examples” of European rural development policy code A7.

Select a set of common selection criteria; The Contact Point will inform the NRNs about the activity; Will produce a working paper with input from thematic

experts offering selection criteria for each of the 4 axes and horizontal themes;

Consultation process (workshop) with the NRN’s and thematic groups before adoption by the EC.

Develop ongoing consultation processes – either virtual or ‘real’ networking to share information on technical aspects, new themes, etc

Creation of database of “good practice”; Agreement of a common structure of datasheets with the

NRNs, and uploaded to Good Practise database Publication of “good practise” datasheets.

Communication tools: Website + thematic exchange facility

1- A website structure and thematic e-networks: Website structure; Development of the necessary functional modules; A discussion platform via thematic portals.

This means: a series of analyses and development phases to arrive at an approved structure; uploading of suitable content (including databases and associated interactive tools); proposal of topics/themes related to the 4 axes, and then the creation of the different thematic portals.

2- Work in progress:

CP is drafting two large technical documents (technical analysis & “vision” document) to be submitted to DGIT & Datacenter. The whole process may take some time.

The CP can deliver first a shorter version of this document with the functional diagram and basic hardware & software specifications of the ENRD website including a first proposal for setting the ENRD CP mailbox using a “.eu” domain name at CP’s premises.

CP can prepare a web page with an introductory text about the ENRD and the contact details of its CP. To be eventually published under “Rural Development Policy 2007-2013”

CP to collaborate with the Commission services in the development of the ENRD logo.

Communication tools: Website + thematic exchange facility

Communication tools:Seminars and conferences

Support to the selection of themes and organisation of thematic seminars and conferences:

Topics, timing and location; Providing the necessary retro-planning and content papers; Identification of ad-hoc seminars

This means: taking into account of the thematic priorities communicated by the EC (including transversal themes such as transnational cooperation; identification of the thematic experts and provision of content papers, support with animation (moderators); working closely with the NRNs to identify ad-hoc seminars and provide the necessary content input.

Communication tools:Publications

Development of a range of publications to reach a wide European audience, acting as multipliers for relevant regional and national information:

Electronic Newsletter; Rural development periodical; Best practice; Thematic publications; Mailing lists.

1. Proposed format of first Newsletter

English language/later on 5 languages Logo: under preparation Title: Rur@l (?) Structural elements:

Focus The four axes Cooperation corner Evaluation network Contributions Subscription

Production: agreed retro-planning document, which details all steps in

Other elements to be discussed: Links to videos Spotlight on a personality


2. Rural development periodical: Propose a main content/structure reflecting the 4 axes of

EAFRD policy and thematic priorities; Also note issues arising from the NRN; thematic working

groups; New Member States; cooperation; Develop a retro planning document indicating major steps of

production; Delivery of first draft for ‘Editorial Committee’ + revisions as

required; Readership survey after first year (of 2 periodicals).

This means: proposing generic layouts/formats and structures; taking into account the 4 axes and the thematic priorities communicated by the EC (including transversal themes such as transnational cooperation; contributions by the appropriate thematic experts; making reference to relevant sources of information; translation into the required languages; making use of/updating existing mailing lists, by: contacting NRN’s, offering subscription facility via the newsletter and web-site (subscription management tool), and updating and cleaning on a regular basis.


3. Mailing lists: Initial list drawn up from previous programming

period; Contact; MA’s and NRNs for details of new LAGs,

add other ‘new stakeholders’ related to all 4 axes, such as NGOs, Universities, European Institutions;

Include, accession, candidate and third countries; Develop tools related to subscription management

and provide continuous update, via websites, newsletters and conference attendees;

Ongoing cleaning/maintenance of lists and creation of sub-lists for specific publications as required.


CP ENRD Quality AssuranceKANTOR is ISO9001:2000 certified and operates its own Quality Management Procedure.

The extent of the work and the large number of persons to be involved in the CP ENRD calls for a CP ENRD Quality Management Procedure to be put in place.

This procedure - currently under preparation - is taking into consideration technical and administrative project aspects, it will be reviewed and updated regularly and will be made available to all CP ENRD staff for consultation.

It will indicatively include:Reporting templates (good practice, conference preparation, progress reports)Assignment specification templates for non-permanent expertsOperation of the information lineProcedure on meeting / events preparation and minute templatesProcedure on contracting permanent and non-permanent expertsProcedure on the CP ENRD financial management Contingency planningProfessional conduct

summary of 1st year draft work programme of the contact point (cp)

Documents