The provision and maintenance of a New CAP Network & services related to the aforementioned

Tender description

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will support the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of farmers and rural communities in Ireland in the period 2023-2027 through the implementation of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The role of the CAP Network is to facilitate the increased involvement by a range of stakeholders to improve the quality of the implementation and adoption of the interventions outlined in the CSP (www.gov.ie/CAP). The specific requirements for the CAP Network are set out in Article 126 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and the Council (Strategic Plan Regulation). The CAP Network will include the development of an innovation support service in its Action Plan and activities to bring together researchers, advisors and farmers facilitating the improved exchange of knowledge and information on the various challenges and opportunities facing the sector, and through its Innovation Hub to consider the opportunity to support research and innovation activities, such as Flagship projects or Innovation Sprints. The CAP Network will have an increased focus on fostering innovation in agriculture and rural development and support the inclusion of, and the interaction between, all stakeholders in the co-creation, knowledge-exchange and knowledge-building process of initiatives. The CAP Network will support the implementation of the LEADER programme, by connecting Rural communities to and informing them of the programme implemented by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD). The CAP Network role will also include providing support to Pillar 2 interventions in the Rural Development Programme (RDP), which will continue to run until 2025. The CAP Network in Ireland will be structured to have 4 main elements: • A Research element, • A Communications and Networking element, • A Management and Implementation element, and • An Innovation element.