Objective 1. To map the main drivers of future trends and dynamics of EU rural areas.
- Synthesised opportunities and challenges for rural areas, identified in the recent publication of the SHERPA Discussion Paper and SHERPA Position Paper on the topic of multi-level governance.
- A review of the rural ambition in the CAP Strategic Plans has been executed (Deliverable D3.3).
- Reviewed existing foresight and scenario studies at EU and global levels in Deliverable D3.4.
- Provided an update on Deliverable D3.1 ‘Timetable of the EU negotiation and policy developments’ concerning an overview of the rural policy framework post-2020.
Objective 2. To establish Multi-Actor Platforms as effective and sustainable Science-Society-Policy interfaces
- The 41 regional and national MAPs established during the First and Second Reporting Period continued to run effectively as Science-Society-Policy interfaces. Details of each MAP are available on the SHERPA website.
- One Practice Abstract per MAP has been prepared for publication on the SHERPA website as well as on the EIP-Agri website.
- During the final stages of the project, it was decided to continue collaborating, with the purpose of involved parties (i.e. the SHERPA partners) agreeing to actively share information and possible collaboration opportunities to keep the established SHERPA network existing.
Objective 3. To create a shared knowledge base relevant to EU rural policy by taking stock of results of past and on-going research projects
- The SHERPA online Repository was further developed, improved, and updated for compiling research outputs and findings from past and on-going projects related to rural areas during the Third Reporting Period (Deliverable D4.5)
- Deliverable D4.6 was developed to provide information on the stocktaking of research results and data from projects funded by the EU for research and innovation.
- Content from the SHERPA Repository informed the one SHERPA Discussion Paper developed during the Third Reporting Period: ‘Empowering rural areas in multi-level governance processes’ (Moodie et al., 2023b)
Objective 4. To engage in dialogue between citizens, researchers and policy makers from EU territories
- Through the implementation of the SHERPA approach during MAP Cycle 4 (i.e. 80+ MAP meetings with 610+ actors from science (27%), society (42%) and policy (30%)in 2023), citizens, policymakers, and researchers were engaged on the topic of multi-level governance in rural areas and contributed to the production of a SHERPA Position Paper on this topic, resulting in 31 MAP Position Notes and MAP Fiches.
- Findings from MAP Cycle 3 were debated in a hybrid Annual Conference (31 January and 1 February 2023) with over 100 participants from across Europe representing the three types of actors: science, society, and policy.
- Findings from MAP Cycle 4 and the project as a whole were debated in the in-person Final Conference (1 and 2 June 2023) with over 160 participants from across Europe representing the three types of actors: science, society, and policy.
Objective 5. Formulate recommendations for the development of modern rural policies.
- Recommendations on the topics of the social dimension of rural areas, digitalisation in rural areas, resilient & sustainable value chains, and climate change and land use (i.e. MAP Cycle 3) are documented in the corresponding SHERPA Position Paper.
- Recommendations on the topic of multi-level governance (i.e. MAP Cycle 4) is documented in the corresponding SHERPA Position Paper.
- The second set of recommendations for future research agendas (Deliverable D7.4) was developed and submitted based on the work done during the Second and Third Reporting Period.
- The second set of recommendations for development of future rural policies’ (Deliverable D7.5) was developed and submitted based on the work done during the Second and Third Reporting Period on elements related to the building blocks of the EU Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas.
