Transcript (LAGs) for complex development of rural areas

Local Activity Groups (LAGs) for complex development
of rural areas – best practice from MS
Brussels
19 September 2014
Grzegorz Orawiec
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Fast quiz
Why is complex rural development so important for european regions ?
(public investments / key investors / sustainable development)
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What is the aim of Local Activity Groups ?
(money / networking of institutions / building human capital)
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Who can be the member of Local Activity Groups ?
(public institutions / private companies / ngo’s / sport clubs / natural persons)
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What does SMART Specialisations mean & any link with LAGs ?
(extra EU money / strategic sectors / innovative economy e.g. R+D)
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Economic activity in central Europe
The map of economic density - An uneven topography
(GDP per sq km - Source: World Bank GIS Laboratory)
LAGs in Świętokrzyskie Region
TOTAL
ALLOCATION
1 570 MIL. EURO
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EUROPEAN REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FUND
EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND
EAFRD
(AGRICULTURE + RURAL
DEVELOPMENT)
860 MIL. EURO
370 MIL. EURO
340 MIL. EURO
Network of key implementing institutions (partnerships)
Need for administrative & institutional capacity
But firstly … strategic planning !!!
Regional Development Strategy:
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Improvement of regional infrastructure;
Key sectors and industries for the economic
development of the region;
Building human capital and a base for an innovative
economy;
Increasing the role of urban centers in stimulating
economic development in the region;
Complex rural development;
Environmental aspects of the region.
Tourism products:
”The Magic Świętokrzyskie Region”
LEADER
Leader is a partner approach to rural development, implemented by Local
Activity Groups (LAG) through the development of Local Development
Strategy (LDS) by the rural community and implementation the projects,
connecting human, natural, cultural, historical resources.
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The objective of this activity is to create social capital on the rural areas by
activating citizens and creation of new workplaces on rural areas.
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Concentration on complex rural development with the support of the
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
 Other options e.g. ESF
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Supervision of local action groups has the regional administration
Local Activity Groups
is a partnership consisting of representatives of
three sectors:
public
social
economic
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European Tale Centre - Pacanow
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Local Development Strategy (LDS)
The base for any actions and taking by the Local Activity Group
(LAG) under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (EAFRD).
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LDS defines the directions of development of the area covered by the
LAG (agriculture / tourism / green energy) → key specialisations
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Main points of LDS:
- description of present situation / mapping resources / diagnosis
(SWOT analysis) / strategic goals / planned actions / system of
implementation (partners linked with tasks) / criteria / financial plan /
system of monitoring
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Implementation of strategy = the basic tools
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Implementation of actions from Rural Development Programme 200720213 for which the beneficiary is LAG
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Call for proposal for projects:
- Diversification into non-agricultural activities – max 25 000 €
- Creation and development of micro-enterprise – 75 000 €
- Village renewal and development – 125 000 €
- Small grants – 5 000 €
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Verification of applications from the beneficiaries
Selection the projects for funding (coherent with LDS)
Sending checked applications to the Agency for Restructurisation and
Modernisation of Agriculture - approval.
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OP HR / ROP / EU & National & Regional Grants
LAG Sandomierz Land & Apple’s track
LAG
Sandomierz Land
&
Apple’s track
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The route is about 200 km long and passes through all the municipalities of Sandomierz
county (9 municipalities = 70 000 inhabitants)
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The main part of this track is 30 fruit farms of three-generation tradition of gardening in
the field of production of apples, pears, cherries, plums
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Tourists can also visit the professionally run vineyards (rebuild after 200 years)
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There is a Chamber of Gardening Tradition
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Attraction on the Apple’s track is a 100 ha fishing farm in the municipality Łoniów.
There live 15 species of fish
Farmshouses offer for tourist: accommodation, traditional meals and entertaining
activitiessuch as: horseback riding, fishing, barbecue, games, bicycles tours and outdoor
fun e.g. calendar of local events
(From April to October)
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The starting point …
The starting point …
Local Activity Group (LAG)
Flint Circle
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Flint-stones & a few footmarks of dinosaur
”Delta” local association – 2002 (idea + dynamic team + external funds)
Small beginning & step by step investment
Encouraging: local business + municipalities + ngo’s
(informal partnership)
Creating Local Activity Group ” Flint Circle” (formal partnership)
Delta as the company & owner of Jurassic Park (ERDF)
LAG - common projects e.g. (EAFRD & ESF) & spa in ppp
The results:
- 300 000 visitors per year in Baltow
(750 inhabitants)
- Three Jurassic Parks in Poland
Bałtów Jurassic Park
Bałtów Jurassic Park
Local Activity Group (LAG) & Jurassic Park
How was it possible ?
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Willness for cooperations of people from different sectors (public / private /
ngo’s) = real partnership
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Common long – term strategy + consequence = LDG
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LAG as the: legal framework + main budget
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Sharing the risks: tasks & responsibilities (informal ppp model)
- local roads (local municipality)
- first equipment of Jurassic Park (private companies)
- promotion events (ngo’s)
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No other option 
Smart Specializations
In the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy smart specializations
emerged as a key element of policy designed to increase
innovation.
Regional strategies for smart specializations can be defined
as integrated strategies that:
• focus finance sources on the priorities of knowledge-based
development,
• mobilize private funds for R & D,
• building the regional innovation system (public / private / bsi),
• include effective monitoring and evaluation system.
 create institutional partnerships on regional level:
- Public sector (municipalities / universities / administration)
- Private sector (enterprises / individual inventors)
- Business support institutions (ngo’s / technology parks /
innovation centres)
Smart Specializations
Identified specializations, contained in draft of Development Strategy of
Swietokrzyskie Province for 2020 are:
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modern agriculture & food processing
efficient use of energy,
medical tourism,
trade fair and congress,
industrial design.
LAG & SMART specialisation
Modern agriculture & Food processing
Local Activity Group
Logical scheme
MARSHAL OFFICE
(REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION)
SOCIAL PARTNERS
(NGO’s)
LAG
PRIVATE SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR
NATURAL
PERSONS
* OPTIONAL:
-CLUSTERS
- PPP
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Representatives of: public sector & social partners (local leaders)
Periodic control of the progress in acheving the aims of the Strategy (indicators !)
Analysis and recommendation for annual Action Plans (e.g. SMART Specialisations)
Any risks ???
”Sweet home Alabama …”
partnership ≠ individual approach
LAG = Long-term sustainable development
Think different &
May the Force be with You
!!!
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