The evaluation undertaken by the, Rural Development Company, looked at the performance, role and influence of the Network in supporting the delivery of the RDPE, the value added through this activity and assess current and future needs to inform the development and delivery of networking activity under the 2014-2020 RDP in England.

The report made several suggestions as to how the RDPE Network can improve in the next RDP programme and the National Support Unit are looking at all the ideas suggested and how they can be developed for the new programme.

The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) was a six year (2007-2014) £3.7 billion funding programme which has implemented the European Union (EU) Rural Development Regulation EC No 1698/2005 in England. This regulation also requires all Member States to establish a National Rural Network to provide a networking resource for all applicants and stakeholders. The RDPE Network was therefore established in 2008 to support the delivery of the RDPE by providing tools and opportunities to exchange ideas, practice and experiences across the four axes of the Programme at a local, sub national, national and at EU level.