Division 3.4 Building local capacity for employment and diversification

Support under axis 4 offers the possibility, in the context of a community-led local development strategy building on local needs and strengths, to combine all three objectives — competitiveness, environment and quality of life/diversification. Integrated approaches involving farmers, foresters and other rural actors can safeguard and enhance the local natural and cultural heritage, raise environmental awareness, and invest in and promote specialty products, tourism and renewable resources and energy.

In order to meet these priorities, Member States are encouraged to focus support on key actions. Such key actions could include:

1. (i)

   building local partnership capacity, animation and promoting skills acquisition, which can help mobilise local potential;

2. (ii)

   promoting private-public partnership. In particular, Leader will continue to play an important role in encouraging innovative approaches to rural development and bringing the private and public sectors together;

3. (iii)

   promoting cooperation and innovation. Local initiatives such as Leader and support for diversification can play an essential role in connecting people to new ideas and approaches, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, and can promote inclusiveness and the provision of local services. On-line communities can help in the dissemination of knowledge, the exchange of good practices and innovation in rural products and services;

4. (iv)

   improving local governance. Leader can help foster innovative approaches to linking agriculture, forestry and the local economy, thereby helping to diversify the economic base and strengthen the socioeconomic fabric of rural areas.