Project networks funded by LEADER across Europe. A proposed evaluating approach based on social network analysis

The paper proposes a method to evaluate the project networks funded by rural development programmes (RDPs) through local development strategies of the LEADER/CLLD approach. By using social network analysis (SNA), the paper proposes the sub-density indexes (S-DIs) related to specific dyadic relationships among members, partners and beneficiaries of projects financed. The S-DIs contribute to measuring the change in the organisational structure of the project networks evidencing the dynamism in the central positions by different actors (i.e., members, partners, and beneficiaries) and in different programming period.