LEADER APPROACH IN ESTONIA: SEVEN KEY ELEMENTS IN THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LEADER

Abstract

The present paper focuses on the two questions concerning the strategic planning of rural development and implementation of the LEADER approach. Firstly, which of the seven key elements of the LEADER approach are valued more than others? Secondly, how does the implementation of local development strategies (LDS) through the action of projects reflect the social innovation element? The empirical study is based on assessment documents of LDS of the two funding periods and qualitative analysis of focus group interviews. The results of the study show how well the strategies entail the seven key elements during the period 2007−2013 and period 2014−2020. Also it is investigated how well the seven key principles in the LEADER approach is implemented. Through the applied study significant changes are visible, but the contents of the LDSs do not reflect all the seven key elements in the equal extent. The evaluation of the period 2007-2013 highlighted that the most attention has been given to area-based approach, also to bottom up approach and to implementation of innovative approach. The study shows weakly addressed the formulation of common vision for some sectors, but also has been difficult to give sense to the element of innovation. The output of the research is providing a suitable knowledge for decision makers to implement the key elements in the best possible way that in turn will reflect by implemented project.

Keywords: LEADER, local action groups (LAGs), local development strategy, seven key principles of LEADER approach, rural development

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2017.222