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Publications

H 1 Application of the LEADER Approach in the Western Balkan Countries - “from a local initiative to a mainstream concept in the rural areas”

BOGDANOV Natalija, LEVESKA GJORSHOSKA Bogdanka, PALAZZO Anica, GJORGIEVSKI Petar, LUKESCH Robert

2018

145p.

Having noted the lack of systematic studies assessing the progress that the Western Balkan countries/territories have achieved in adjusting their rural development policies to the CAP, as well as the limited baseline information available about specific measures (including LEADER), the methodological approach of this study was designed to meet the following objectives: • Fact finding on the current state of LEADER-like initiatives in WB countries/territories Desk research was used to collect existing secondary data and information on LEADER initiatives in project countries/territories. A content analysis was performed to examine how the LEADER and/or certain aspects of it (LAGs, social networks, local partnerships, territorial development etc.) are treated by national strategic, programming and regulatory documents. To provide an overall insight into the policy and legislative framework related to the LEADER initiative, the desk research involved assessment of relevant policy documents of all the line ministries responsible for/in charge of dealing with certain matters. In addition to studying policy and legal documents, all relevant information and data on LEADER that have already been collected or recorded were examined (research papers, reports, studies, websites of national, local and regional institutions, donor projects, CSOs etc.). • Understanding the state of the affairs and identifying specific national challenges and needs Interviews with identified resource persons were carried out in order to obtain primary data and to ensure that all relevant information was covered. The interviews were carried out using a semi structured survey guide, where participants were encouraged to discuss all issues related to LEADER they considered important. The resource people were selected in light of their responsibility and position, knowledge level or practical experience from the field, leadership role and influence, control over information (representative[s] of the MoA or other relevant Governmental bodies, representatives of LAG-like partnerships and other practitioners). • Illustrate LEADER in reality by an example and in a consistent framework Case studies were used to illustrate the diversity of institutions, policy approaches, types of partnerships and practices related to LEADER in WB countries/territories and experiences gained by policy makers, experts and stakeholders. To ensure a balanced sample of case studies, the themes were not predefined, but were identified by national experts, allowing them to consider various kinds of practices.

Technical dossier, Report

EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), LEADER

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia

978-608-4760-22-1

English

https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/sites/enrd/files/enrd_publications/leader-western-balkans.pdf

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