Second thematic report on the evaluation of the Aosta Valley LAG’s communication and LEADER added value

The report forms the second thematic evaluation of communication under the 2014-2022 Rural Development Programme (RDP) of the autonomous region of Aosta Valley, Italy. It builds on the 2018 thematic report and examines both the effectiveness of communication channels and stakeholder perceptions formed during implementation of the Local Development Strategy (LDS).

The evaluation aims to assess the LAG’s communication capacity, territorial role and added value across six dimensions jointly defined with the LAG: identity, ability to identify needs through programming, representation of community interests, subsidiarity (proximity and support to local actors), project quality, and the added value of funded projects.

A mixed-method approach was applied. Media data analysis examined institutional communication outputs, considering the website as the central content hub, alongside social media activity, with statistical analysis used to detect relationships between channels, message types and themes. Perceptions were collected through a dedicated questionnaire based on value-distance scales, reflecting the difficulty of capturing divergent interpretations through interviews or focus groups alone. The survey was implemented as a computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) exercise between late November and late December 2023 and obtained 99 responses from a range of local actors, including municipal representatives, professionals, entrepreneurs and citizens. Quantitative analysis combined descriptive statistics on communication channels with multivariate techniques, including principal component and factor analysis, to position respondents within a value space and identify patterns across the six evaluation dimensions.

Overall, stakeholder judgements tend to cluster around neutral positions (55%), with positive assessments (27%) exceeding negative ones (15%). Perceptions are more favourable regarding the LAG’s programming capacity and representation of local interests. More critical views concern the LAG’s role relative to municipalities, subsidiarity, and the quality and added value of projects, particularly among enterprises. Municipalities and unions of municipalities appear cautious and at times perceive overlap with local governance roles, while companies express negative views on project outcomes despite recognising the LAG’s support function.

The evaluation highlights municipal participation in LAG assemblies and a clear expectation that the LAG should focus on programming and disbursement rather than broader governance. The concentration of support in a limited number of sectors during 2014-2022 is identified as a factor contributing to negative perceptions among enterprises. Recommendations therefore emphasise strengthening targeted communication through private board members and sector associations, as well as more effective use of instant messaging tools and social media (e.g. Instagram) and interactive formats. Increased participation of municipalities in decision-making is encouraged, alongside more tailored support and animation activities for both public and private beneficiaries.