Evaluating to improve: the impact of the PSRN and future perspectives

The National Rural Development Programme (PSRN) is a European fund aimed at promoting the sustainable development of rural areas in Italy. Its key objectives include enhancing agricultural competitiveness, safeguarding the environment, and improving risk management. Established within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy and co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the PSRN is a strategic tool for implementing the EU’s rural development goals.

Within this context, the project addresses the need to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation system mandated by EU regulations, with the goal of measuring achieved outcomes and guiding future policy decisions. Specifically, it aims to assess the PSRN’s impact in achieving thematic EU objectives, providing the Ministry with data and analysis to improve agricultural and rural policies.

More details

The intervention concerns the evaluation of the National Rural Network Programme (PSRN) 2014–2022, managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, for the transitional extension period of the Programme (2023–2025).

The service covers not only the assessment of the implementation process and the achievement of the Programme’s objectives, but also the response to the common and specific evaluation questions defined by the Managing Authority, as well as the dissemination of the evaluation results. Finally, Lattanzio KIBS supports the Ministry in preparing the Annual Evaluation Reports, which include the analysis of the Programme’s annual progress in terms of implementation, financial execution, physical outputs, and procedural aspects, the annual dissemination materials, and an ex post Evaluation Report summarising the results achieved throughout the entire programming period.

Project Impact

By evaluating the impact of the PSRN, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests benefits from continuous, detailed assessments of the Programme. These reports provide thorough analyses of achievements and identify areas for improvement. The resulting recommendations support more efficient resource management and improved strategic planning, while communication and dissemination activities ensure that findings are integrated into future policy and decision-making, thereby enhancing the programme’s overall effectiveness.