Smarter, simpler, younger LEADER in Finland

Finnish Local Action Groups (LAGs) are addressing needs identified in their new Local Development Strategies (LDSs) and this CAP period has seen novel approaches being introduced for LEADER in Finland. Being applied at national, regional, and local levels, these are carefully designed to focus LEADER as a specific piece of a wider rural and regional development jigsaw. This newly targeted role for LEADER has been designed to complement and add value to other EU funding tools (including all national CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) interventions) that are implemented regionally at provincial levels.

LAGs are primarily now concentrating their CSP funds on animating and catalysing and supporting the early stages of rural development projects. Successful start-ups can then advance to access the other EU funds that are administered by provincial units of central government. The aim of this strategic differentiation is to simplify the CSP and EU funding system, by reducing risks of duplication and confusion. It also provides a renewed emphasis on LEADER prioritising rural innovation and rural entrepreneurship.

LEADER has therefore been crafted to be a distinct policy implementation tool and is different from other EU support in rural Finland. For example, LEADER is not planned to fund rural broadband.

Simplified approaches like this aim to clearly separate LEADER and give it its own identity. Branding LEADER as the rural economy’s go-to point for help with project start-ups should help beneficiaries better understand its role. The differentiation is also useful from a LEADER management perspective because it allows smarter ring-fencing of LAG results that can be compared with alternatives during monitoring and evaluation of LEADER’s added value.

Smarter approaches to LEADER management in Finland also include improved digital administration systems which reduce risks of human error and increase overall efficiency of LEADER administration. Simplified Cost Options continue to be applied widely as another simplification measure for LEADER stakeholders and a new results-based approach aligns LAG running costs with LAG expenditure.

National Network support

These new developments have been drawn up through broad consultation processes with LEADER stakeholders that are facilitated by the National CAP Network (NN), which helps LAGs as CSP stakeholders with peer-learning and communication. NN support for LEADER often takes smart formats, such as ‘Innovation Camps’ which harvest a large number of initial ideas and proposals (from LAGs and others) that are then worked on by experts and converted into different aspects of the LEADER delivery system. An example of this is the new set of indicators that have been agreed for measuring LEADER’s added value for Finland where NN support was instrumental in making the new monitoring system happen. It has deliberately been kept simple to use by LAGs while simultaneously feeding data directly into the CSP reporting channels.

Communication requirements are also inherent in the new and simple Finnish LEADER monitoring toolkit. Twice each year, LAG achievements are to be widely published to maximise visibility and help ensure a broader understanding about LEADER’s added value. Communication here will include national awareness campaigns and smart possibilities are also being explored with artificial intelligence for interpreting the presentation of LAG achievements. Other Member States could use similar smart approaches to help reinforce appreciation of LEADER’s benefits.

Farmers are forecast to be a more important beneficiary group for LAGs that will be highlighted in the communication campaigns, and LEADER is being promoted to the agri-food sector as a main source of project start-up aid from the CSP. Diversification projects such as alternative crops are already being co-financed by LAGs as LEADER can support a spectrum of projects along farm to fork supply chains in Finland. Rural start-ups in tourism and service sectors will be another group of stakeholders set to access LEADER assistance. Young peoples’ projects are expected to be prominent among these LAG beneficiaries.

Young LEADER

LEADER in Finland has a long and strong tradition of investing in the future generations of rural communities and the Finnish approach to youth involvement in LEADER has become a good practice.

Youth perspectives and aspirations have been incorporated within LDS action plans and youth outreach work is being provided by around half the country’s LAGs via a national community development initiative. This builds young peoples’ capacity and interests in maintaining the social fabric of their rural territories.

What’s more, LEADER is used to give young people in rural areas a voice as LAGs have a youth member on their boards, and youth animation approaches take advantage of social networks to help make LEADER feel attractive and younger overall in Finland.

If you are interested in finding out more about these, or other features of LEADER in Finland, you can contact the Finnish Rural Network. Thanks to the Rural Network Support Unit of Finland for helping with this article.