Evaluators collect ideas on how to assess AKIS in the next CAP

A group of experts have identified several challenges when evaluating Agriculture Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) in the next CAP, but they also suggested key steps towards effectively assessing these knowledge and innovation ecosystems in the future.

On 30-31 May 2022, the European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP hosted a Good Practice Workshop focusing on the assessment of AKIS, a topic of high importance because of its potential in modernising farming during the next programming period.

Over 105 stakeholders from 24 Member States participated in the workshop with many highlighting the challenge in evaluating AKIS because of its different levels of development and structures in countries, along with the various approaches outlined in each CAP Strategic Plan.

However, ideas were then collected on how to assess AKIS within this context. Latvia recommended that a common understanding is established before any assessment begins, which could be developed by mapping out AKIS structures, instruments and links among stakeholders. Some participants also suggested breaking AKIS down into layers and then determining how each individual layer could be assessed. Evaluators from the Netherlands highlighted the importance of distinguishing between national and regional AKIS levels as many Member States have different approaches for both.

The two-day workshop saw strong support emerge for AKIS evaluations based on a social network analysis alongside a more integrated assessment that does not focus on single measures. This could also be complemented by setting specific objectives and using evaluation criteria according to the timing and state of implementation of AKIS interventions.

Another challenge highlighted was finding and collecting the required information to evaluate AKIS effectively, due to the amount of information required, but participants recommended a mix of quantitative and qualitative techniques, including interviews, surveys, network and peer-to-peer analysis, national sources, and adopting more flexible evaluations.

Several experts said this combination of techniques could additionally form the basis of evaluating how many stakeholders participate in AKIS supported by CAP Strategic Plans, and may then be used to identify what they learned and their likelihood of adopting relevant practices.

An overarching conclusion from the workshop was that AKIS evaluations should clearly identify what approach is followed and consider that AKIS is a tool that contributes to the CAP’s cross-cutting modernisation objective.

More information from the Good Practice Workshop can be found on the Evaluation Helpdesk’s event page: How to assess AKIS based on lessons learned from 2014-2020.