Multi-funding opportunities expand LEADER's potential

Our workshop on LEADER and multi-funded CLLD approaches attracted around 80 participants from 20 Member States to Ljubljana, Slovenia, earlier this month, who exchanged experiences and main challenges for the implementation of multi-funded CLLD at the policy and operational level and discussed practical solutions for improvement of the use of multi-funded CLLD, in the current and next programming period.

The LEADER method has been implemented in rural areas all over Europe for over 30 years. In the 2014-2020 programming period, the method was extended to include the other European Structural and Investment (ESI) funds, with the approach described as Community Led-Local Development (CLLD). Through multi-funded CLLD LEADER LAGs can access additional resources for their Local Development Strategies (LDS), which allow them to include a more diversified portfolio of projects, create further added value and increase their impact through integration.

There are new opportunities for rural innovation that stem from the ability to design comprehensive locally-led development strategies that can benefit from various sources of EU support. However, utilizing multiple EU funds can present both advantages and challenges. To address this interesting topic, our workshop in Ljubljana provided participants with the chance to discuss and exchange ideas.

The workshop was attended by LEADER and multi-funded CLLD stakeholders from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund+ (ESF+) and European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Participants included representatives from Managing Authorities, Paying Agencies, National CAP Networks and LAGs.

This networking event in Ljubljana explored different approaches to using a multi-funded approach for CLLD in the Member States. Delegates also explored the main planning, design and implementing challenges which face multi-funding and shared practical solutions that work well at both programming and local level, such as the use of a Lead Fund.

The workshop presented the first overview on the use of CLLD in the CAP Plans 2023-2027 by the expert Stefan Kah, detailing in which Member States multi-funding is being implemented and which funds are being used. Experience from all the funds represented at the event was harvested with the aim of helping stakeholders get a better understanding of how the uptake of multi-funded CLLD might increase. The event concluded with some recommendations from participants on improvements of existing CLLD model.

See the event webpage to learn more from the presentations and other material, including the 'travelling workshops' showcasing Slovenian LAGs that used multi-funded CLLD at the local level.