What is LEADER

LEADER is a methodological approach to neo-endogenous regional development that has been used primarily in rural areas of the European Union for almost 30 years. LEADER enables local stakeholders to participate in the planning and implementation of strategies, decision-making and the allocation of public funds for projects that are intended to serve the further development of the region. This is shaping change in rural areas.

LEADER fact box for Austria

• There are currently 83 LEADER regions, which have just under 210 million euros in public funding available for the current 5-year programme period.
• A Local Action Group (LAG) steers the strategy implementation of a LEADER region. This body consists of a majority of civil society representatives and a maximum of 49% political representatives. Each LAG has a professional LAG management with 2 to approx. 5 employees. That is over 200 qualified jobs in Austria's rural areas.
• Participation through co-financing: The approximately 5,000 LEADER projects are managed and co-financed by municipalities, private and private-sector stakeholders, resulting in a total of EUR 1 billion being invested in rural areas.
• Number of participants: Around 3,000 volunteers from municipalities, businesses and civil society are involved in the LAG committees (executive boards, project selection committees, working groups). Together with project organisers and project staff, around 10,000 people are working on the future development of rural areas.
• Number of LEADER regions in the EU: LEADER is implemented by around 3,300 Local Action Groups (LAGs), representing 61 % of the rural population in the EU (as of 2018; EU-28).
• Public funding: LEADER is mainly financed by EU funds via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) as well as federal and state funds.

The three roles of LEADER

Funding advice centre

The task is therefore the rapid evaluation of ideas and projects submitted by regional stakeholders in terms of their compliance with the local development strategy as well as funding advice
and project support. This means that sponsors of approved projects are supported in the implementation process and in accounting.

In its simplest form, the self-determination of the LAG means the selection of LEADER-relevant projects. Professional LAG management with an office in the region is staffed by at least 2 people.

Network centre

A LAG should promote the development of a regional and transnational network of economic and personal relationships. This means that social capital promotes economic capital. In
The LAG's decision-making and working groups include "key persons" who can positively influence the significance or dissemination of LEADER projects through their competences or positions.

The LAG actively represents regional projects to the outside world and becomes a local network node for information on strategic topics at EU, federal and state level and an innovation mediator. A LAG offers a wide range of services: methodological advice, organisational support such as initiating cooperation and arranging public funding for project implementation.

Socially innovative company

A LAG can also become a non-profit organisation itself, especially if no project managers can be found in strategically relevant subject areas. The LAG is characterised by numerous innovation-oriented LAG projects and also transnational cooperation projects in the European network. This role is entrepreneurial, as the projects are pre-financed, co-financiers are sought and the content and finances are controlled and managed.

In addition to LAG management, the personnel competences also relate to innovation and participation processes: Creativity techniques, moderation techniques and communication. This involves regional problem solving and transformation processes.