Creating new jobs in rural communities Marta Marczis

Creating new jobs in rural communities Marta Marczis Skopje 2010 November

LEADER as a complex tool for local economic development Acronym: “Liaison Entre Actions de Developpement de l´Economy Rurale” “Links between Actions for the Development of the Rural Economy”

The LEADER methodology Define a choosen Area Set in hand a Process Develop a Programme Create Partnerships Put in place an Animator Work over a significant period of time

Endogenous resources for local economic development in the rural areas Agricultural land production Nature and landscape Cultural heritage Local knowledge and skills Diversity and distinctiveness

Example: West Cork LAG LEADER II Statistics Applications Received Applications Approved Applications rejected/ineligible Projects in Progress Applications withdrawn/ not proceeding Applications awaiting decision Projects complete Applications referred Small Technical Rural Training Firm/ Support Tourism Craft Natural Culture/ Resource Heritage Total 60 271 83 102 137 88 741 34 85 54 26 68 36 303 12 64 13 23 21 20 153 0 0 0 0 11 105 16 37 28 28 225 0 0 0 0 34 85 54 26 68 36 303 1 15 1 16 12 2 47

Summary of the statistics (West Cork LAG, in 2000) Formal project applications 741 Project Approvals 303 Projects presented at subcommittee 443 Approval rate/referral 60% Approval rate/application 44% Development Funding Approved £ 4, 783, 194. 68 Development funding paid £ 4, 756, 468. 92

From self-help to community economic development

Organizational development and partnership (West Cork LAG example) Community Development Initiatives New Community Structures created 24 New Community Initiatives undertaken 32 Initiatives undertaken by existing Community / Voluntary Organisations. 52

Knowledge and information Training Initiatives undertaken 120 Number of participants completing Training Initiatives 3660

Development of the local SME s Enterprise Development Supports New Enterprise Development 39 Existing Enterprises supported 52

Creation of new jobs Employment Full Time (FT) Part Time (PT) Created 89 70 Sustained 33 15

The thousand LEADER LAGs created 300 000 sustained jobs in frame of the LEADER II Programme in Europe

Good to know The LEADER strategy should be a Business Strategy too There is difference between income generation and job creation

How to make the local rural economy sustainable Development of local product cluster Tourism, based on multicultural and natural resources Eco-farming & adding value to local product Area-based marketing Renewable energy & energy efficiency creates jobs Empowering community enterprises

Who are the stakeholders? For- and nonprofit businesses Public bodies Civil Society