Evaluation of the Co-operation and Supply Chain Development Scheme

Main findings

• The projects delivered using Co-operation and Supply Chain Development Scheme (CSCDS) funding were diverse covering feasibility work, pilot, and demonstration activities, as well as the development of new products, practices, processes, and technologies. 
• These activities ranged from agriculture/ horticulture, food & drink marketing, and tourism activity to sustainability-focused projects around energy efficiency & renewable energy, soil and water ecosystem services and sustainable transport, to broader rural development activities including active travel, the Welsh language and digital inclusion.
• A scheme such as the CSCDS holds significant strategic potential for rural economies in Wales. However, assessing the strategic value of project proposals once submitted was seen to be too reactive to maximise such value.
• Stakeholder feedback consistently highlighted the fact that the administrative processes and systems adopted for CSCDS programme management interactions with individual projects were not appropriate for the nature and scale of the kind of project that was supported through the scheme.
• The meta review and stakeholder interviews show that the individual CSCDS projects rarely gained any traction with a wider target group of interested organisations.
• Overall, there is clear evidence of many CSCDS projects effectively engaging direct project beneficiaries.