Strategic objectives:

By improving synergies between the European national ARD programmes, increase the effectiveness and efficiency of European research planning, funding and implementation to fight poverty and hunger and to support a more rapid and sustainable development in the poorest countries in the world.

By improved cooperation and coordination of national ARD programmes, strengthen Europe’s contribution to, and impact on, regional and global ARD systems.

To contribute to these two strategic objectives assigned to ERA-ARD, the following specific objectives have been identified:

Specific Objectives	Measurable indicators
1) To improve reciprocal knowledge on national ARD programmes and governance.	National surveys on the ARD in each participating country Internet Platform established as a communication tool Number of workshops and e-meetings held and number of participants
2) To identify the national ARD sub-programmes which can benefit the most from joint and transnational activities.	Number of workshops and e-meetings held and number of participants Number of complementarities, duplications and synergies identified between the national ARD programmes Number of ARD sub-programmes selecteds
3) To explore innovative approaches and institutional arrangements for implementing joint ARD sub-programmes.	Breadth and depth of the range of approaches and institutional arrangements discussed Number of workshops and meetings held and number of participants Number of participants from partner countries involved
4) To elaborate a shared vision and a strategic agenda on ARD in Europe.	Number of fields/areas/expertise/ approaches identified where shared European ambitions with regard to ARD exist Number of workshops and meetings held and number of participants
5) To implement joint activities for the two selected ARD sub-programmes.	Action Plans for the selected ARD sub-programmes Contacts established between programmes decision-makers and managers
6) To develop common methodologies for ARD programmes management (planning, monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment).	A Task Force of national experts established Number of workshops and e-meetings held and number of participants ARD Management Methodological Guidebook Web-based information system for joint monitoring and evaluation of ARD programmes
7) To promote the European role and contribution to ARD at the regional and global levels.	Number of ERA-ARD presentations in regional and international conferences Number of common papers (join papers) drafted and presented
8) To develop tools and mechanisms to implement joint transnational ARD programmes.	Number of workshops and e-meetings held and number of participants Number of exchanges meetings between the programme managers Consolidated funding mechanisms identified
9) To implement transnational activities for one ARD sub-programme.	An Action Plan for the selected ARD sub-programme An evaluation report

Two additional cross-cutting specific objectives are also assigned to ERA-ARD:

To promote trust-building among ARD programme decision-makers and managers;
To create spill-over effects for the enlargement of the network to new members and for launching new transnational ARD programmes.