institution building for leader from local to national and from national to local in slovenia...

INSTITUTION BUILDING FOR LEADER

FROM LOCAL TO NATIONAL ANDFROM NATIONAL TO LOCALIN SLOVENIA

Tihany, november 2006Slovenian Rural Development Network, Msc. Zlata Ploštajner

e-mail: [email protected]: +386 3 747 1246

European Commission

mailto:[email protected]

Slovenian Rural Development Network

BASIC INFORMATION ON SLOVENIA

Area: 20.256 km2

Population: 2 million

Rural population: 57 %

Rural areas: 93 % of Slovenia

Number of holdings: 86.000

Average size of holdings: 6 ha (10 ha with forest)

Less favoured areas: 80 % of all areas

Leader like activities: 31 Rural development programmes (potential LAGs)

Size of LAGs: big differences (very small in population and area covered – very large in population and area covered)


SLOVENIAN RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

NGO, registered as non-profitable society, established in 2003 with the support of PREPARE

organisational structure and functioning in accordance with the national law on societies

around 300 members, hundred of them also have paid membership fees for 2006

acts as an informal network for Rural development programmes (future LAGs)


MISSION

Bring together all those individuals and organisations who are involved, at different levels, in rural development in Slovenia, so that the well-being of rural people in Slovenia can be effectively pursued.


ACTIVITIES

strengthening and widening of the Network through development of co-operation and mutual help among individuals and organisations related to rural development

informing members and the public on all important activities regarding rural development, incentives from the field and best-practices

representing interests of rural areas in elaboration of rural development policies and strategic development documents at the national and regional/local level

providing training, counselling, and assistance to local areas in organizing local action groups (LAGs) and preparing local development strategies

active participation in international institutions and events (Observatory, PREPARE, conferences that bring together individuals and organisations involved in integrated rural development


ACTIVITIES RELATED TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES (LAGs)

meetings with managers of RDP (LAGs)

forming of an expert group for co-operation with the MAFF in the area of programming and Leader preparation activities

workshops for RDP (LAGs)

information dissemination related to Leader and rural development

some help with preparation for Leader in a view of exchange of experience


WORKSHOP FOR FUTURE LAGs (april, 2006)

presentation of Leader by the SRDN

presentation of good practice in establishment of local partnerships in Slovenia

presentation of Austrian experience with Leader by Austrian partners

presentation of NRDP and future activities in relation to Leader by the MAFF


WORKSHOP FOR FUTURE LAGs (november, 2006)

results of the Leader Conference in Tihany)

Rural Development Programs and implementation of the 3rd and Leader axes

institutionalisation of LAGs, selection of Leader LAGs and functioning of LAG

rules for state aid in relation to implementation of local development strategies

role of human and social capital in integrated rural development


LIMITATIONS OF THE SLOVENIAN RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

very limited financial resources

small financial grant from the PREPARE and from the Centre for NGOs (for two projects)

no financial support from the MAFF

completely voluntary work of its members

problems in covering material expenses related to its activities


EXISTING STRUCTURE FOR LEADER

National level: Ministry for agriculture, food and forestry (co-financing elaboration of local Rural Development Programs -

RDP, setting rules and requirements) Slovenian Rural Development Network (NGO – informal Leader network)

Local level: RDP with managers (potential LAGs– institutional form of LAG, functioning and financing not defined yet) municipalities as partners in RDP (local co-financing)

Strengths: prepared RDP in accordance with Leader approach experience with Leader approach in elaboration of RDP built local partnerships already developed management and administrative capacity

Problems: local partnerships in different stage of development big differences in management and administrative capacity big differences in size, population, human, economic and financial potential among RDP lack of financial support for implementation of RDP from the MAFF project implementation dependant on ability to acquire other resources lack of permanent and systematic professional support to LAGs


SELECTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LAGs

Selection of LAGs by the MAFF based on the criteria related to: employment of Leader principles, quality of partnership, quality of strategy and implementation and administrative capacity

Strategic goal: whole rural Slovenia should be covered by LAGs

Responsibilities of LAGs: elaboration of local strategy management of partnership management of strategy implementation and LAG financial resources selection of projects for implementation (Ministry can only reject the

project if violates EU and national regulation provisions) project management, reporting, control and evaluation

Strategic goal: empowerment of local level (LAG) through financial and decision-making autonomy


TO STRENGTHEN BOTTOM-UP INITIATIVES

LAGs should serve as local networks practicing Leader approach to rural development and be empowered to make decisions related to issues of local rural development

establish the National Leader Network as a network supporting local actions and initiatives (LAGs)

facilitate the exchange of information about the rural development problems at the local level

provide for exchange of experience and best practices related to the promotion of bottom-up initiative between the EU members, what can help getting support for this approach within national debates


THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL LEADER NETWORK

providing organizational structure for co-operation of Leader and non-Leader LAGs (network of LAGs – exchange of information, practices, experiences, joint actions, etc.)

providing organized and professional support for all LAGs according to their needs (training, counseling, information dissemination, assistance to LAGs in their activities, etc.)

developing and supporting Leader-like approach to local development

being strong and influential partner, ensuring effective representation of rural interests in relation to the state implementation of the Leader program and rural development in general

providing involvement and active participation in international Leader related activities and organizations/networks


NATIONAL LEADER NETWORK AND NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

NLN represents organized local initiatives aiming to provide conditions for integrated rural development at local level

NLN is an equal partner within the National Rural Development Network

NLN has financial resources on its disposal so that it could offer adequate support to the local level a separate Leader Network Unit established as a professional support to the Leader network

National Leader Network Unit has to be staffed by responsible, experienced and well trained professionals who will be able to offer needed support to the NLN and its members

National Leader Network Unit should not be mistaken for the National Leader Network, it just offers professional support to the NLN and should serve the needs of the network and all its members

if the NLN is reduced to the NLNU and its activities the Network will never become a real player in the area of rural development


CONDITIONS FOR GOOD FUNCTIONING OF THE NATIONAL LEADER NETWORK

openness to all

respect for dialogue and equality of partners within the Network

provision of information to all partners

adequate technical/professional support to LAGs

adequate financial resources for functioning


WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

Clarify open issues related to LAGs: institutionalisation of LAGs selection of Leader LAGs functioning and financing of LAG

Clarify open issues related to administrative procedures related to LAGs: approval of projects by MAFF reporting and control procedures paying procedures

Clarify open issues related to NLN and NNU: establishment of NLN and NNU provision of financial support for NLN and NLNU activities development and provision of support activities for Leader LAGs development and provision of support activities for LAGs that will

not be selected during the first call

Clarify time schedule for: the first and the second call for selection of LAGs call for LAG projects that need approval of the MAFF

Implementation of local strategies should start as soon as possible, since local partnerships are eager to start with Leader.


With our commitment and co-operation

LEADER will meet big expectations

of local people.

Thank you for your attention and

come to visit us.

institution building for leader from local to national and from national to local in slovenia...

Documents

development of cooperation

rural developmentsome

wellbeing of rural people

selection of leader

leader conference

presentation of leader

local areas

future activities