EU CAP Network Focus Group charter
Description of what EU CAP Network Focus Groups are and their functions.
- 2023-2027
What is an EU CAP Network Focus Group?
An EU CAP Network Focus Group is a temporary group of selected experts focusing on a specific subject who are brought together in a forum to share knowledge and experience. The group discusses and documents best practices and research results, explores practical innovative solutions to challenges or opportunities identified on a subject and builds on the knowledge gained from related projects. Focus Groups catalyse the sharing and exchange of knowledge among the actors involved (i.e. researchers, farmers, advisers, etc.).
The Focus Group conclusions may have implications for dissemination as well as possible further research directions that may help solve practical problems in the sector. These may be related to production, processing, consumption, transportation or other issues.
The tangible output is focused on practical knowledge and where to get it, as well as ideas for Operational Group projects.
A Focus Group is moderated by DG AGRI and the EIP-AGRI Support Facility. A coordinating expert from the EIP-AGRI Support Facility drafts a starting paper and final report and coordinates the content related work of the Focus Group experts.
The final report of every Focus Group is published on the EU CAP Network's website.
Objectives of an EU CAP Network Focus Group
- Assess the current state of practice related to the Focus Group topic, outlining challenges and opportunities.
- Take stock of the existing research in this field, summarising possible solutions to the challenges outlined.
- Identify needs from practice and propose directions for further research.
- Propose priorities for innovative actions by suggesting potential EIP-AGRI Operational Groups or other project formats to explore opportunities and test solutions, including ways to disseminate the gathered knowledge.
Selection of EU CAP Network Focus Group experts
EU CAP Network Focus Group experts will be selected from applicants who have successfully completed an online application following the open call for expression of interest, published by DG AGRI.
At least three evaluators score the applications independently in terms of relevant expertise, motivation, extent of professional capacities and any other criteria specified in the call. Consequently, the evaluators draw up lists per professional capacity based on the scores (e.g. a list of scientists or a list of farmers).
When composing each Focus Group, these lists are used as the point of departure. Each Focus Group typically consists of 5-6 scientists, 5-6 farmers, 5-6 advisers and 2-4 other relevant actors (such as agri-business and NGOs), depending on the specific questions to be addressed in order to strike a balance among the different professional capacities within each group. In that sense, the individual lists are used to fill these quotas. Finally, a limited number of changes can be introduced in the final composition of the Focus Group, taking the geographical balance into account.
Focus Group experts participate in the Focus Group in their personal capacity and do not represent organisations or other entities.
Author(s)
EIP-AGRI Service Point
Resources
EU CAP Network Focus Group Charter
(PDF – 119.21 KB – 4 pages)