How to implement a real bottom up approach
LEADER approach today
and after 2013 based
– new on LEADER method
challenges
Petri Rinne
ELARD
Ing. Radim Srsen, Ph.D.
Vice-president of ELARD
http://www.elard.eu
Zwolle, the Netherlands
21st March, 2013
Viimsi Spa, Estonia
15th September, 2011
Background:
ELARD from 1999 to 2012

International non-profit organization founded in 1999 by 5
European national informal LEADER networks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

French LEADER Network - LEADER France
Greek LEADER Network - Eλληνικό Δίκτυο LEADER
Irish LEADER Network - Comhar LEADER na hEireann
Italian LEADER Network - AssoLEADER
Spanish LEADER Network – REDR
Today, ELARD is representing more than 800 LAGs (from some
2200 in total) through national and regional voluntary networks in:
Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, North Ireland,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden + Croatia & Macedonia
 In contact with Rural Networks in Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany

ELARD aims
(see more at www.elard.eu)

One of the most important aims of ELARD is to:
"campaign to spread the philosophy, principles and reach of the
LEADER method grounded in the eight specific features in order
to achieve sustainable rural development across Europe".

The association aims also to:
"represent the interests and needs of its members in front of
other international, European, and national institutions to liaise
with other stakeholders and institutions working towards an
integrated rural development and to influence EU policies in
favour of rural development".
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8 specific and key features of
LEADER / Community-led
local development








Area-based approach
Bottom-up approach
Local public-private partnerships: Local Action
Groups
Innovative approach
Integrated and multi-sectoral approach
Networking
Cooperation
De-centralised administration
REMEMBER!
LEADER is not yet another EU funding
programme, it’s a bottom-up development
methodology. In order to use the method right
and effectively all of its 8 special features
must be valid simultaneously!
General need for mobilising the rural resources
for reaching the EU2020 goals
EU 2020 needs us!
Source: OECD
- 2/3 of the EU’s GDP growth takes place outside of the metropole areas
- In more than one out of three OECD countries, the region with the highest
rate of employment creation during 1995-2005 was a rural region
Community-lead local development
(CLLD) as solution?
Think globally…
…act locally
Why LEADER / CLLD ?
To involve everyone!
1. LEADER is able to mobilise,
empower and involve the whole
rural economy: from a traditional
farm to a high-tech processing
company. In rural context, where
human and other resources are
scarce, this is particularly important.
LEADER is a non-political,
transparent and open for everyone
tool to re-shape the rural future.
Why LEADER / CLLD ?
To be cost-effective!
2. LEADER is a cost-effective way of renewing,
diversifying and developing the rural economy.
In LAG territory in South-West part of Finland, with
the population of 45 000, they have been supporting
the generation of 200 new jobs during the current
programming period, most of which are in the
services sector where we have been lagging
behind. The 150 business and community
development projects launched are funded 60% by
the EU, state and local municipalities public funds
and 40% by the private stakeholders’ own funds. In
addition there is an extensive amount of local
enthusiasm and voluntary work powering LEADER
free of charge.
Why LEADER / CLLD ?
To change the mind-set!
3. LEADER is able to change the traditional topdown local development mindset to bottom-up.
People on the ground start doing those things
themselves that they were earlier blaming public
civil servants and politicians not to do. LEADER
also brings in the long-term strategic thinking
through the Local Development Strategies that
collect the individual projects under an umbrella and
bigger territorial vision.
Criticism: European Court of
Auditors
-
LEADER has no proved value-added  it is just an ineffective, extra
administration layer (need to create better indicators, preferably on each LAG
level!)  creation of EN RD LEADER Sub-Committee Focus Group 4 on
Better Local Development Strategies
-
LAG decision making has conflicts of interest and doesn’t follow the rule of
public-private partnership
-
LAGs’ operation is not open and transparent enough  problem of small
circles giving majority of grants to LAGs’ own member organisations
-
LAGs don’t focus on achieving the objectives of their local strategies
-
LAGs give grants to projects without regard to cost efficiency  risk of
deadweight (project implementation even without the grant)
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The LEADER impacts in Ireland,
Finland and the Czech Rep. in 2007
(A LEADER Dissemination Guide Book)
LEADER started
Slow down rural exodus
- 1991 in Ireland
- 1997 in Finland
- 2004 in Czech Rep.
Change national policies
Increase public participation
Capacity building in rural areas
IRE
New jobs and enterprises
CZK
FIN
Protect the environment
Position of women and youth
Innovative approach
Internationalisation
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4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Europe 2020 strategy
Common Strategic Framework (CSF)
– covering the EAFRD, ERDF, ESF, Cohesion Fund and EMFF, and reflecting EU2020 through common
thematic objectives to be addressed by key actions for each of the funds
Partnership Contract
– national document outlining the intended use of the funds in the pursuit of EU2020 objectives
Rural development
policy: EAFRD
Other CSF funds
(ERDF, ESF, CF, EMFF)
Priorities
Innovation, Environment and Climate Change as cross-cutting objectives
Fostering
knowledge
transfer and
Innovation in
agriculture,
forestry and
rural areas
Enhancing
competitiveness
of all types of
agriculture
and farm viability
Promoting
food chain
organisation
and risk
management
in agriculture
Restoring,
preserving and
enhancing
ecosystems
dependent on
agriculture and
forestry
Promoting resource
efficiency and
supporting the shift
towards a low carbon
and climate resilient
economy in
agriculture, food
and forestry sectors
Promoting social
inclusion,
poverty reduction
and economic
development
in rural areas
Rural Development Programme(s)
15
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If you want to go fast , go alone ,
If you want to go far , go together …
(African proverb)
Project 1
ERDF
Running costs,
animation,
networking
possibly
through „lead
Fund“
Project 2
ESF
ESF
EAFRD
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY
ERDF
Project 3
EAFRD
EMFF
Project 3
EMFF
Local action group
Local governments
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Local entrepreneurs
Local NGOs, civil society
From the governance point of view:
door openers needed!
From the “glocal” point of view:
door openers needed!
Universities
Professional
associations
Project
organisations
Place-based
interests
Non-profit
organisations
Local
municipalities
Other
interests
Businesses
CREATIVE
PERSONS
MANY THANKS
FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!
Radim SRSEN
ELARD Vice-president
radimbz@seznam.cz
http://www.elard.eu
European LEADER Association
for Rural Development (ELARD)
Square de Meeus 1
B-1000 Brussels