1. How to implement a real bottom up approach based on LEADER method
Ing. Radim Srsen, Ph.D.
Vice-president of ELARD
Zwolle, the Netherlands
21st March, 2013
LEADER approach today and after 2013 – new challenges
Petri Rinne
ELARD
Viimsi Spa, Estonia
15th September, 2011

2. Background: ELARD from 1999 to 2012
International non-profit organization founded in 1999 by 5 European national informal LEADER networks:
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

3. 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".

4. 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

5. 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!

6. General need for mobilising the rural resources for reaching the EU2020 goals

7. 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 was a rural region

8. Community-lead local development (CLLD) as solution?

9. Think globally…
…act locally

10. Why LEADER / CLLD ? To involve everyone!
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.

11. 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.

12. Why LEADER / CLLD ? To change the mind-set!
3. LEADER is able to change the traditional top-down 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.

13. 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)

14. The LEADER impacts in Ireland, Finland and the Czech Rep
The LEADER impacts in Ireland, Finland and the Czech Rep. in 2007 (A LEADER Dissemination Guide Book)
LEADER started in Ireland in Finland in Czech Rep.

15. Rural Development Programme(s)
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)
Innovation, Environment and Climate Change as cross-cutting objectives
Promoting social
inclusion,
poverty reduction
and economic
development
in 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
Fostering
knowledge
transfer and
Innovation in
agriculture,
forestry and
rural areas
Priorities
Rural Development Programme(s) 15 15

16. If you want to go fast , go alone ,
If you want to go far , go together …
(African proverb)

17. Local NGOs, civil society LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Local action group
ERDF
ESF
EAFRD
EMFF
Local governments
Local entrepreneurs
Local NGOs, civil society
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Project 3
Running costs, animation, networking
possibly through „lead Fund“
Project 1
Project 2

18. From the governance point of view: door openers needed!

19. From the “glocal” point of view: door openers needed!
Project organisations
Universities
Professional
associations
Businesses
Place-based
interests
Non-profit organisations
Local
municipalities
CREATIVE PERSONS
Other
interests

20. MANY THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Radim SRSEN
ELARD Vice-president
European LEADER Association
for Rural Development (ELARD)
Square de Meeus 1
B-1000 Brussels