European agricultural fund for rural development: europe investing in rural local initiative group devnya aksakovo

Projects with local participation within the initiatives of the European Commission as the LEADER + Programme are usually considered to have exceptionally important roles in Local Development Strategies. Ensuring the participation on local level in the field of agriculture and rural regions development can lead to:

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  Supporting process to sustainable development of rural regions;
  
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  Reporting the diversity of local peculiarities and expectations;
  
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  Recovery of the attractiveness and identity of local regions through support of agriculture;
  
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  Creating new connections and relations between agriculture and other sectors as environment protection, tourism, hand crafts and energy production;
  
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  Supporting farmers benefit in the best possible way of local givens and values in a world where the significance of the farming in rural regions decreases. .¹
  

Agriculture and food processing industry are important sectors for preserving local identity and increasing the value of rural regions. In spite of that the focus of development of the target territory shall not be places solely on agriculture and food processing industry. Moreover- the focus shall be placed on development of target territory overall, not on development of certain economic sectors. Respectively, imposed is the use of multi-sector approach when developing the local development strategy.

Two alternative methods were discussed for the needs of developing Local Development Strategy on the territory of Devnya and Aksakovo Municipalities – Project Cycle Development and Methodology, based on clarifying key moments in the social dynamics.

Characteristic features of the project cycle’s management are the clear structure, the clearly defined subsequent and non-overlapping phases, the standardized approach, tools and defined information and standard documents deed. Taken into consideration had to be the low capacity of local communities for mutual planning so we needed a flexible approach for planning.

Methodology we used to develop the Local Development Strategy (LDS) on the territory of Devnya and Aksakovo municipalities differs with two important innovative aspects:²

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  When developing LDS a special focus shall be placed on its execution.
  
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  When developing the LDS used was the method of clarifying the key moments in the social dynamics.
  

The clarification method of key moments in the social dynamics suggest defining the problem (vision) and objectives of the LDS by the group of interested parties, gradual inclusion of a wide range of actors and institutions, defining the roles and engagements of every partner and overall management of activities (projects). As was marked above, the development and execution of the strategy is usually considered a linear process with a range of subsequent management phases. When developing the LDS for the purpose territory we were led by the understanding that the social dynamics which results from performing LDS usually leads to overlapping phases, change of objectives and causes necessity of discussions.

The social dynamics related to executing common activities (projects) we review as collective actions consisting of four phases. These phases are usually overlapping and it’s not necessary to follow chronologically this order:³

1. 
   Defining the problem. Two key matters regard this phase: “What is the problem” and “Who are the main actors which have undertaken its settlement?” The phase of defining the problem consists of debates on controversial issues as well as in taking decisions.
   
2. 
   Expanding the range of partners. This phase suggests finding other interested partners with the idea to increase the scope of interested parties. In this phase the initial actors are trying to involve others in the execution.
   
3. 
   Distributing roles and obligations. In this phase roles of various actors are discussed from the point of their participation, after reaching consent to coordinate. Every actor takes a certain role. The distribution of obligations is approved by all interested parties.
   
4. 
   Undertaking common actions. By executing the aforementioned three steps a situation shall come called the mobilization phase. A network is created and separate actors undertake mutual actions. Usual in this phase created is an official organization, for example an association.
   

In the process of developing the strategy used was a complex method including training, consultative methods, collection and analysis of information about territories for initial and secondary methods, analysis of previous projects and initiatives and their results and impacts on the local community, experience exchange, innovative European practices and group work of experts and the rich instrumentation of the forum approach.

For mobilization of the local community for participation in developing and execution of LDS, for activating the participation of interested parties when establishing LIG DEVNYA-AKSAKOVO used were the Forum Approach, discussions in Focus Groups and group discussions through Work Meetings.

The most important about forums is that they try to include all interested parties including such that in most cases remain outside the public debate. The FORUM approach is based on conducting structural and moderated discussions where the interested parties are presented at a certain “work desks”. In the process of strategic planning every one of the work desks gives its contribution by protection its interests and thus contributing to development of the LDS in a way that the measures could be reachable and realistic.

The success of ever forum depends on the process of convincing of the citizens that it is reasonable to take part. This is why the initiator of the forum to be a consensus personality and outside of the community. The moderator mobilizes the forum’s process, leads the discussions, follows every one of the “work desks” to participate actively and equally.

The philosophy of the forum is to reach consensus decisions. Important is every decision to be clearly formulated. The forum is a place for opinions of the representatives of various society groups. At the same time the forum is a form of attracting citizens to take part in the process of local planning and development.

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  Openness and transparency;
  
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  Attracting all interested parties;
  
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  Structure of interested parties;
  
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  Equality;
  
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  Independent moderation;
  
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  Consensus character of decisions the citizens take.
  

When developing the LDS of LIG DEVNYA-AKSAKOVO conducted were four forum session including introductory and closing. They were used for:

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  presenting data about the territory before local interested parties;
  
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  discussing the provided data and development of analysis for the needs of planning when reporting the view point of local partners;
  
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  discussing the Local Development Strategy and accepting the final version of execution.
  

Along with the above two tools conducted were group discussions through work meetings in every one of the places of residence. This tool was used as additional to the above two. The purpose was to be enclosed as many representatives of local interested parties as possible thus obtaining a more complete image of the target territory.

Group discussions were combined with conducting personal interviews with representatives of the local business. The purpose was to obtain data about their investment intentions and the need of financing.

Marked shall be that the process of acquiring skills, attracting local interested parties, developing the Local Development Strategy through participation of local communities and registering of Local Initiative Group, engaged with the LDS’s execution is exceptional with the fact that the project was financed by the local business, no funds from measure 431-2 of Rural Regions Development Programme. Contrary to the expectations the limitation of the funds practically unified the local interested parties and this showed that such activation is possible to be reached at high competence, skills and interest by the organizers of the process. Limited financial means additionally motivated the participants and motivated the team to be creative which led to creating an authentic organization which on its behalf as a final result characterizes with the developed unique territory development strategy of LIG DEVNYA – AKSAKOVO.

The steps of development and execution of the LDS on the territory of Devnya and Aksakovo Municipalities are as follows:

1. 
   Initiation of partnership. General formulization of the problem.
   
2. 
   Defining the interested parties.
   
3. 
   Review of resources and development of the SWOT analysis.
   
4. 
   Developing a Problems Tree, identifying the potential partnerships and developing LDS.
   
5. 
   Establishing LIG.
   
6. 
   Implementing LDS.
   

Initiator for establishing public and private partnership on the territory of Devnya and Aksakovo Municipalities was Eskana AD. The company carries out activity on the territory of many municipalities in the region, including on the territory of Devnya municipality through exploiting a quarry for crushed stones fractions “Martsiana”. Eskana AD for years has been conducting socially responsible policy realizing the significance of local factors such as education, income of population and business, quality of life and the negative population growth which affect its activity. This engagement and partnership focus on an important connection between the urban and rural territories and the significance of the territorial integration networks as urban territory - rural territory. In our attempt to support the development of municipalities of the target territory the company turned to local authorities counting on their knowledge of the territory and their competences for development and realization of mutual projects. Subsequently, to the partnership attracted was the Flori Rudarilor Foundation acting on integration of minor groups on the target territory.

The initially engaged partners of the project – Eskana AD, Devnya Municipality, Aksakovo Municipality and Flori Rudarilor Foundation realize that for the purposes of sustainable development on the territory necessary is the partnership to be established on a wide basis and in the execution of activities involved shall be local interested parties.

As appropriate tool accepted was the LEADER approach – with review of the framework of developing the sustainable local development strategy so as taking into consideration the opportunities for financing the execution of the strategy it offers.

Informing the interested parties of Devnya and Aksakovo Municipalities of the LDS preparation and establishment of LIG

In the beginning conducted was information campaign with the purpose of familiarizing the local interested parties with the LEADER approach and to activate their participation in the process of developing the LDS. Developed and issued were information materials – 5 000pc. brochures and a manual of 200 issues. Templates of these materials are provided in the appendixes of point 20 of the application documents package.

For stimulating the participation of local interested parties used were the following communication channels:

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  Mass communication means – published were announcements/ invitations in local and regional newspapers, made were announcements on the local cable TV and radio as well as in the websites of the two municipalities and in the site of LIG DEVNYA – AKSAKOVO – www.da.org.
  
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  Additionally distributed on lively places were ads – in front of stores, public buildings, bus stops.
  
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  Sent were personal invitations to various representatives of the business, agricultural farmers, representatives of non-profit organization and other to inform the community on the territory of LIG regarding development of the LDS and the opportunities the LEADER approach offers for the rural regions.
  
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  Communication “by word of mouth” – vising of the team’s members in the homes of more well-known interested citizens on the territory of the LIG who have proven initiative in implementing small and medium business.
  

On March 30^th, 2010 conducted was training for local interested parties by an expert from the list of Ministry of Agriculture and Good – Mrs. Tsveta Petkova for acquiring skills for establishment and functioning of the local initiative group. At the training present were 31 people. About 20 of the trained formed a core which was the engine of the process of mobilizing the local community. The contents of this core included representatives of various social and economic sectors and consisted of formal and informal leaders. This core also took part in the forum session and accepted the form of civil initiative group for establishment of LIG DEVNYA – AKSAKOVO.

On April 14^th, 2010 conducted was the first forum session. Present on it were representatives of the three social and economic sectors. It began with a lecture by Mr. Fausto Fagioli, manager of Territorial Marketing of LIG Altra Romagna, Italy which was the presented practical example of the LEADER approach application in Italy on the territory of LIG Altra Romagna. The form was moderated by Mrs. Tsveta Petkova. This was an introductory session on which the participants were familiarized with the forum approach as well as with the purposes of introduction of discussions when applying this approach.

91 people attended. The forum closed with reaching a consensus about the following decisions:

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  to be conducted a second forum session where to be presented a situation and tendencies analysis of the development of the target territory;
  
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  the conduction of the forum session to help reaching a consensus regarding the advantages and disadvantages, the opportunities and threats for the target territory.
  

The necessity of involving the local partners at an early stage for development of the strategy is formulated in various practical guides for developing the local development strategy.

First collected and assessed were statistical data about the target municipalities and marked were the key issues related to the advantages and disadvantages, opportunities and threats of the target territory. They were discussed by the local interested parties on the second forum session that was conducted (May 10^th, 2010). Present were about 40 participants which were distributed into working desks depending on the sector they represent:

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  Work desk of farmers;
  
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  Work desk of civil society structures;
  
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  Work desk of the business;
  
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  Work desk of local authorities;
  

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  Developing the draft versions of the Statute;
  
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  Developing the draft versions of the work rules regarding the community beneficial activity of the LIG;
  
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  Organizing the establishment process, fixing a date for conducting the Constituent Assembly – May 28^th, 2010;
  
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  to be formed focus groups where to be discussed the social and economic analysis and tendencies in development of the target territory with the purpose of create and analysis of the problems defined in the LDS – 25-27 May;
  
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  Conduction of third forum session – 28 May;
  
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  Along with organizing the conduction of the third forum session adopted was a decision to hold work meeting with visits by mobile teams in every town of the territory of LIG DEVNYA AKSAKOVO. Within the period 01.05-25.05.2010 conducted was work meeting as per towns.
  

When conducting the focus groups discussed were the roads to achieve the Vision from the view point of engaging local actors. On the basis of analysis of discussion developed was Problems Tree.

When conducting the focus groups we aimed to identify the potential partnerships between local actors. This was necessary for ensuring the integrity of the Local Development Strategy as well as for taking an engagement by local actors to realize the strategy.

On the grounds of the developed SWOT analysis, the Problems Tree and identifying potential partnerships between local actors developed was an initial version of PDS for its realistic view and comprehension of territory survey an important role played the work meetings in every town on the territory. For developing the strategy collected was maximally comprehensive information for the situation at the moment of the LIG as well as for the vision of the future business intentions of local people. The same was presented at the conduction of third forum session and conclusive forum. The notes of local actors were reported when developing the final option of the LDS.

During the third forum session (May 28^th – before noon) discussed were the rules of LIG’s work as well as main accents from the Statute as:

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  Responsibilities of MB and its chairman;
  
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  Responsibilities of the administrative team of the LIG;
  
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  Rules of work with regards to the socially beneficial activity of LIG;
  
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  Discussed were the vision, objectives, priorities and measures of the strategy.
  

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  Developing the Local Development Strategy by taking into consideration all decisions of previous forums, taking into consideration are the shared opinions during the focus groups and during work meetings and the third forum session and voted by the MB vision, priorities and objectives of LDS;
  
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  Conducting conclusive forum session for discussing the final option of Local Development Strategy conduction:
  

Personal interviews with representatives of the local business were planned with the purpose to survey the investment intentions and the financing need. The obtained results were carefully interpreted due to the following reasons:

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  Not all local partners were presented. The answers shall be accepted as sample;
  
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  At the same time the sample was not representative. The respondents were not selected randomly but according to the principle of responded;
  
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  The general population (farmers and processing enterprises) is comparatively low. Due to this reason analysis cannot be made regarding the population on the grounds of sample data.
  

On June 23^rd 2010 in Devnya conducted was the Conclusive forum for discussing the LDS of LIG DEVNYA – AKSAKOVO. Present were 60 participants. The participants were distributed into work desks depending on the sector they represent:

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  Work desk of farmers;
  
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  Work desk of civil organizations;
  
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  Work desk of the business;
  
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  Work desk of local authorities.
  
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  Additionally organized was a “Work desk – guests and experts” because during that time at the forum present were experts, consultants for the development of LDS including Mr. Fausto Fagioli, Chief Consultant on the project of Mrs. Lyuba Yonkova (member of the European Academy of Rural Tourism).
  

The connections between local actors were placed on formal bases through establishing a non-profit organization in public favor LIG DEVNYA –AKSAKOVO. At the same time (through accepting the association’s statute and the final version of the Local Development Strategy) the engagement of implementing the LDS was also formal.

The balancing of interests of local actors when implementing and updating the LDS is guaranteed by the authorities of the Local Initiative Group – the General Assembly and the members of the Management Board. The membership in the association and respectively the participation in the General Assembly are free for individuals and entities of both municipalities. The members of the MB are representatives of various social and economic sectors (business, civil society and local authorities). The Management Board is responsible for ensuring the balance of interests of local actors when implementing the LDS.

Non-Profit Organization LIG DEVNYA-AKSAKOVO applies for financing of implementation of LDS as per Rural Regions Development Programme 2007-2013. The implementation of the LDS will be characteristic with two innovative approaches.

First of all we shall note that the presence of partnership will be a necessary condition for financing the projects of the LDS. The applicants will have to prove that their suppliers or clients will be local actors. This way achieved will be two effects:

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  Ensured will be leverage effect – creating an added value to the target territory will be greater than to the single project. Additionally the integrity of LDS in the planning phase will be ensured though project’s implementation.
  
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  Stimulated will be mutual planning of activities of local actors. This way by applying in practice the “learning through making” approach increased will be the capacity for planning of the local community. The reached cooperation will be materialized during the next periods of the program.