The Lessons of LEADER South of Scotland LEADER Conference 20 th September 2011

1. The Lessons of LEADERSouth of Scotland LEADER Conference20th September 2011

2. LEADER LEADER is a French acronym which means: ‘Links between actions for the development of the rural community ’

3. Local Development Strategies • Given the diversity of rural areas, development strategies are more effective and efficient if they… • • are decided and implemented at local level, by local actors; • • accompanied by clear and transparent procedures; • • have the support of the relevant public bodies; and • • have the necessary technical assistance for the transfer of good practice.

4. The Local Action Group • Private, public and social partnership; • At decision making level the economic and social partners, as well as other representatives of civil society, must make up at least 50 % of the local partnership; • Representative of the area; • Locally based; • LAG responsible for drawing up and implementing local development strategy; and • Capturing the effects of the funds distributed.

5. 7 Key Features of Leader Area-based approach Local public-private partnerships Local financing and management Bottom-up approach Networking and cooperation Innovation Integrated approach

6. From the Community Initiatives to an integral part of the policy... • Leader I(1991-93) – experiment: integrated approach instead of individual projects – 217 LAGs • Leader II (1994-99) - laboratory: limited to disadvantaged rural areas, innovation, pilot actions, introduction of transnational cooperation – 906 LAGs • Leader+(2000-06 and 2004-2006) 1153 LAGs – • Community Initiative : 893 LAGs maturity phase: eligibility of the whole rural territory; reinforced role of networks and transnational cooperation. New Member States– 260 LAGs ..to “mainstreamed Leader” 2007-13: • Leader axis – not any longer specific programmes; methodological approach to mainstream RD programming – 2192 LAGs • Average 6% of the EAFRD budget

7. Influences and Drivers • Leader+ Ex post Evaluation; • European Court of Auditors Special Report; • Leader focus groups (DG Agri/European Network for Rural Development); and • Evidence from the Mid Term Evaluations.

8. L+ Ex Post: Main Messages • Addressed a large number of rural areas’ needs; • Important complement to mainstream policies flexible, sensitive to local needs, small scale; • Addressed needs and exploited potentials otherwise considered ‘unreachable’ by more conventional channels; • Needs to address diversity as well as diversification; • Greater strategic focus on innovation needed; • Developed LAG governance and autonomy, with clear definition of roles; • Systemic weaknesses in monitoring & evaluation; and • Networking and cooperation are crucial.

9. European Court of Auditors Special Report • Could do better:- • LAGs in achieving; • Commission and Member States in supervising; • Relevance of and focus on LAG strategies and their objectives; • Weaknesses in decision making and sound financial management of the strategies; • Lack of monitoring and evaluation at all levels; and • Weak integration of Leader into the RDPs.

10. Focus Groups and MTEs • Restrictive ‘integration’ of Leader into the RDPs; • Eligibility rules and local selection; • Proportionality, scale, innovation; • Autonomy, clarity of division of tasks, local decisions; • Centrality of local strategy; • Match funding effects; • Capacity building, local & multi level; and • LAG/strategy monitoring & evaluation.

11. Council Conclusions • Continue with LEADER approach concept; • Improve the management of the local development strategies; • Enable efficient implementation of LDS, avoid counterproductive; and • Ongoing dialogue EC/MS for continuous improvement of implementation.

12. SCOTTISH LEADER • 95% of rural Scotland covered; • 6% of total SRDP; • £52 m funding pot; • £19.2 m additional to convergence area; • 20 LAGs; • £48.45m committed; £18.4m spent; • Commitment to spend - 38%.

13. Leader in Scotland • Mid Term Evaluation: • Looked at quantitative data; • Case study approach; • 5 areas selected- • Argyll and the Islands • Aberdeenshire • Ayrshire • Forth Valley • Scottish Borders

14. Main Findings from Scottish Mid Term Evaluation • Co-operation and collaboration strong; • Capacity building valued highly; • Innovative approach, thinking wider; • Integration of projects and with RDP; • Key role of LEADER staff; • Autonomy of LAG; • Claims, payment and audit requirements; • Networking opportunities; and • Need more evaluation evidence.

15. Scottish Leader Programme 2007-2013 • Publication produced by Scottish LAGs to demonstrate variety of projects funded by Leader;

16. MOVING FORWARD

17. Common Ground for Local Development • Common strategic framework for the coordination of different EU funds including Local Development ; • Common approach to Local Development between the different policies; • One area, one strategy; and • Requires compatibility of models and financial interaction.

18. RDP 2013? • LEADER compulsory and ring fenced; • Strong political commitment; • Measures and actions relating to broader rural economy; • Importance of method and well defined Local Development Strategies reinforced; • Implementation mechanisms improved to deliver expected LEADER added value; • Aim of unlocking local potential an EU priority; and • Goals of improved innovation & local governance