LEADER (”Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l’Économie Rurale” meaning ‘Links between the rural economy and development actions’) is a local development method which allows local actors to develop an area by using its endogenous development potential.

The LEADER approach has been an important component of EU Rural Development Policy for over 20 years. Since 2007 it has been funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). In the period 2007-2013 it was successfully applied in fisheries areas as Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund and since 2014 this approach, called “Community-Led Local Development” (CLLD) can be implemented not only in the EAFRD (where it is still called LEADER), but also in the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). Read more.

The Local Development Strategy Leader Nordvästra Skaraborg 2014-2020

The development-strategy the municipalities of the north-western part of Skaraborg cooperate. The strategy’s aim is to develop the area with the so called Leader method. This method is built on strong cooperation between the different sectors and actors with local initiatives often under different conditions.

The north-western part of Skaraborg include ten municipalities: Essunga, Grästorp, Gullspång, Götene, Karlsborg, Lidköping, Mariestad, Skara, Töreboda and Vara.

The Leader’s local partnership, here abbreviated to LAG, is the initiator of the strategy and its task is to look after that the goals also are obtained.

This strategy acts with the help of three funds: Landsbygdsfonden, Regionala Utvecklingsfonden and Socialfonden.

The strategy itself comes out of a vision:

“In north-western Skaraborg – where creativity and natural resources give vital force”

According to the SWOT-analysis and this partnership, three major goals are stipulated and the focus is fixed on “achievements” in order to fulfill all the goals and the vision of the strategy.

Major overall goals

More developed and ripe visitors’ destinations – unique destinations with a high quality

We want support the men and women who develop valuable links within the tourism industry. Destinations that are built by several entrepreneurs cooperating give an attractive area for visitors. Very important is high quality in all parts which also make the destinations mature and ready for export. But the destinations will have to develop themselves even more. So this area in Skaraborg need to form separate profiles and take advantage of an outstanding marketing too.

The natural resources are a starting point for production for people who wants to consume in a locally and globally responsible way

We want to take care of this area’s natural resources. In order to create a durable and sustainable development is it necessary to develop and refine all the local resources. The focus is set on the development of businesses based on local natural resources. The potential for development lies within refining local resources, both goods and services, connected with food, energy and other raw materials.

 Creativity flows and the power in innovation is high

We want to promote creativity and innovation. Development of cultural events means also developed milieus worthy of support. Development of ideas among men and women in all branches and in the society as a whole must be stimulated. And development of the systems must be performed in order to let young people as well as the new Swedes participate in working-life. Men and women of different backgrounds must also be able to take care of their own Resources.