FLIARA COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE: BRIDGING PRACTICE AND POLICY FOR SHARED LEARNING AND IMPACT

The FLIARA Community of Practice (CoP) is a European platform designed to connect women innovators in agriculture and rural areas with policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders. 

Spaces for connection: Four macro-regional CoP in-person networking events were held, alongside online events and the opening of a LinkedIn CoP. Twenty women from FLIARA case studies were chosen as Innovation Ambassadors and were central to the CoP. Emerging from CoP activities, some members established their own informal WhatsApp group. This reflects the value participants place on networking and extends the legacy of the FLIARA CoP. 

Co-creation activities: The events involved diverse actors in sustainable rural innovation through workshops, field visits, and structured policy dialogues. Members provided key input into future rural and farm policy through foresight analysis and policy benchmarking. Engagement in the CoP demonstrated the importance of peer-to-peer exchange and its role in building capacity to sustain and scale sustainable innovations.

Participation: To support participation at FLIARA CoP events a Buddy System was established. Each Ambassador was matched to a native speaker with proficiency in English that could support their engagement. FLIARA findings and feedback forms were used to keep topics relevant and to identify needs from the community.

Recognition and influence: The CoP builds on the strength of social networks and the FLIARA Campaign of Visibility, ensuring that women innovators gain recognition as central actors in shaping sustainable rural futures. The diversity of members of the FLIARA CoP ensured that topics from the women were brought to the attention of and discussed alongside policy makers and key agencies.