The ESIRA project is pleased to announce its upcoming Scientific Dissemination Workshop and Community of Practice (CoP) Session, taking place on 2 December 2026, from 10:00 to 12:30 CET, online via Microsoft Teams.

Under the title “Measuring the Impact of Social Innovation and Social Economy Development in Rural Areas,” the workshop will bring together representatives of European research organisations, networks and EU-funded projects to explore approaches to measuring the socio-economic impact of social innovation and social economy development, with a particular focus on rural areas.

Understanding and measuring the impact of social innovation and social economy initiatives is essential for assessing their contribution to rural development, identifying their long-term benefits and informing evidence-based policies. However, capturing this impact requires reliable data, appropriate evaluation frameworks and indicators that reflect the diverse realities of rural communities.

The workshop will feature contributions from several European organisations and projects, offering complementary perspectives on measurement, benchmarking and evaluation:

• EURICSE will introduce findings from the study “Benchmarking the Socio-Economic Performance of the EU Social Economy,” presenting an overview of the socio-economic performance of the European social economy.
• Euclid Network will present the European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM), focusing on the collection and analysis of comparable data on social enterprises across Europe.
• HÉTFA will present the ESIRA evaluation framework and key findings from the project’s monitoring and evaluation process.
• RURALITIES Project will share experiences and insights from local communities through its contribution on slow cultural rural tourism.

The workshop will also provide an opportunity to exchange knowledge, discuss common challenges and explore opportunities for collaboration between projects and organisations working on social innovation and rural development.

COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE SESSION: INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION, KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND Q&A

The workshop will conclude with an interactive Community of Practice (CoP) session, providing space for participants to exchange experiences, reflect on lessons learned and discuss the challenges and opportunities emerging from their work.

Building on the presentations and experiences shared during the workshop, the discussion will encourage participants to identify common interests, exchange practical knowledge and explore potential areas for future collaboration.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: 2 December 2026
Time: 10:00–12:30 CET
Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)

Registration: Measuring the Impact of Social Innovation and Social Economy Development in Rural Areas

We welcome researchers, practitioners, policymakers, social economy organisations, rural development stakeholders and representatives of EU-funded projects interested in measuring and strengthening the impact of social innovation and social economy initiatives in rural areas.

We look forward to welcoming you to the discussion!