Scottish Rural Development Programme 2014-2020: ex-post evaluation - main report

23. Technical Assistance

This chapter answers CEQ 20: Has technical assistance contributed to achieving the objectives laid down in Art. 59(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 and Art. 51(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013? (Technical Assistance).

Response

As was noted in the enhanced AIR 2018, that whilst the SG had built up considerable institutional experience and expertise in implementing the SRDP over successive programming periods, continuous improvement was required.

Lessons learned from previous evaluations have been used to continually improve the implementation of the SRDP over time. In particular the ex-ante evaluation of the SRDP 2014-2020 noted some improvements to the implementation of the Programme had been made. This included:

• simplification of implementation.
• minimising bureaucracy for SG staff.
• delivering improvements to customer services.
• updating the IT systems and processes for rural payments and inspections.
• the budget for the SRN was increased substantially to allow it to play a more significant role in improving implementation.

Promotion of the SRDP was undertaken by the SG’s central communications team. In addition to this was a communications team within the RPID which had a more specific function, along with the SRN’s important communication role for rural communities. These three units worked together utilising the Technical Assistance funds for communication with the SRN the main driver for delivering external communications.

From 2019 onwards there was an increased emphasis on undertaking SRDP scheme level evaluations. This was in line with the increase in the budget for monitoring and evaluation in the 2014-2020 programming period compared to the 2007-2013 programming period. While there has not been any change in the overall approach taken to evaluation, there have been some improvements in terms of the availability of data (this has not been paid for under Technical Assistance).

Almost all schemes have been subject to an evaluation or review (albeit some are still underway). The only exceptions were the BES and the BS, albeit the latter scheme closed early and was replaced by an alternative mechanism and used non-SRDP funds.

There were examples of the use of Technical Assistance funds to enhance cooperation within the wider UK and elsewhere in the EU. This has been noted in the activities of the SRN.

The view of SG officials was that the level of engagement achieved across the EU would not have been possible without the Technical Assistance funds.

As was noted in the enhanced AIR 2018, the increase in budget for key Technical Assistance activities increased the staffing and administrative capacities to effectively manage the RDP.

A summary of the public expenditure realised for Technical Assistance through the SRDP is presented in Table 23.1.

Source: Scottish Government, Annual Implementation Report, 2023.

EKOS conclusions and recommendations

Technical Assistance has contributed to achieving the objectives laid down in Art 59(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 and Art. 51(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, with an increased focus on monitoring, evaluation, information and communication and networking in the 2014-2020 Programme by SG officials. However, there was very limited evidence on the impact of such improvements for customer services, IT systems and simplification for staff.

It is recommended that SG consider both the lessons learned and the institutional expertise developed over the lifetime of the SRDP in implementing and managing rural development in Scotland going forward.