Sector approaches in agriculture and rural development. EU Reference document. Summary.

This Reference Document aims to throw some light not only on the challenges, but also on the opportunities of sector approaches in agriculture and rural development. The document addresses the interface between the sector and the approach, i.e. between agriculture and rural development on the one hand and the sector-wide approach on the other. More specifically, its purpose is:

• to follow on from the EC Guidelines Support to Sector Programmes by offering additional guidance or advice with respect to programmes in agriculture and rural development;
• to offer an entry point towards further information on sector approaches and sector programmes in agriculture and rural development.

The foundation for this Reference Document is the EC Guidelines Support to Sector Programmes. These guidelines have taken stock of experiences, including those with sector approaches in the “non-traditional” sectors (agriculture, rural development, trade or justice). This Reference Document builds on that basis by highlighting some of these experiences and by suggesting how the principles of the sector approach may be adapted for rural development and agriculture. Its layout is structured on the EC Sector Programme Support Guidelines: for each of the seven areas for sector assessment as used by the EC and described in the guidelines, this document discusses the specific challenges and opportunities for agriculture and rural development.

EuropeAid - October 2008