Review of Community Led Local Development in rural Scotland

The Scottish Government is developing a new Rural Support Plan and associated rural policy which will follow on from the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill.

To inform this work, we wish to commission a research project comprising the design and delivery of a review of three Scottish Government-funded programmes:

• Community Led Local Development
• Scottish Rural Action
• Scottish Rural Network

This research will constitute a review of the role and impact of these programmes. It will involve:

• evaluating the delivery of these programmes against their intended aims;
• engaging with a range of stakeholders to examine the strategic fit of these programmes within a wider policy and funding context, and in relation to other public and third sector policy and interventions;
• producing options and practical recommendations on future areas of focus and delivery models.

This review will draw on a range of previous research, including a desk review due for completion by June 2024 (see Section 3).

This specification sets out the aims and objectives of this work, provides background information on the policy approach and provides a suggested methodological approach to realising these aims. It sets out the tasks required of the contractor, management arrangements and timescales. Where appropriate, contractors are invited to suggest alternative approaches to meeting the aims and objectives of this review within the available budget and timescale.

The research will support the work of Scottish Government policy officials and Ministers in developing a new Rural Support Plan as well as wider rural policy. It should also benefit, and provide practical outputs for wider stakeholders, including those delivering the Community Led Local Development, Scottish Rural Network and Scottish Rural Action programmes, and people living and working in rural and island areas.

The review will take place in three stages, and outputs at each stage are required so that interim findings can feed into ongoing policy work, including the development of the Rural Support Plan and wider rural policy / legislation during 2024-25.