LEADER is a set of measures from the Rural Development Program (PDR) of Galicia 2014-2020 that is implemented under the LEADER methodology. This methodology has been promoted by the European Union since 1991 to decentralize rural development policies, so that rural territories are no longer simply recipients of these policies but become protagonists of their own development.

In Galicia, during the periods 1991-1994, 1994-1999, 2000-2006, and 2007-2013, in addition to implementing the LEADER Community Initiative programs (LEADER, LEADER II, and LEADER+), other programs were carried out using the same methodology which, due to different funding sources, received different names such as PRODER, PRODER II, or AGADER. As a result, during the 2000-2006 period, the entire rural territory of Galicia was covered by these programs.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

All public or private entities that operate in the defined territorial areas within the economic, social, cultural, neighborhood, environmental, professional spheres, forest communities, etc., not only can but should be involved in their territory’s LEADER program.

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?

Each territory’s LEADER program is designed and executed by a Rural Development Group (GDR). This is an association made up of all entities from the economic, social, cultural, neighborhood, environmental, or professional spheres that wish to be involved. These entities function like any non-profit association and must comply with the “open doors” principle, which requires them to admit any organization from their territory that wishes to participate in the program.

HOW DO GDRs WORK?

The Rural Development Group develops a regional development strategy. It includes the main possibilities, opportunities, and needs of its territory from productive, economic, infrastructural, and social perspectives. This strategy is submitted to the Galician Rural Development Agency’s (AGADER) program call for the 2014-2020 period, the public body managing the LEADER program in Galicia. The group has a technical structure dedicated to dynamization, mobilization, and promotion to implement the strategy designed for this territory with the aim of generating projects that can be funded under the program. The GDR itself is responsible for analyzing and evaluating projects, and based on this, its governing body assigns an aid percentage according to pre-established criteria. The decision is forwarded to AGADER which, after reviewing that the GDR’s allocation complies with regulations, resolves the grant allocation.

LEADER METHODOLOGY

The essential element of the LEADER methodology is that it involves “bottom-up processes.” The development strategy or program is defined at the local or regional level, and decisions, proposed guidelines, funded projects… are made at that same level by unions (participated) of public and private agents, called Rural Development Groups (GDR). It involves a multisectoral approach, both in the economic dimension, not just the primary sector, and in other social dimensions: equipment, services and public facilities, cultural heritage, environment, social relations… Innovation is incorporated as a relevant element, not only understood as a technological element but also as new ways of addressing processes in the territory, problem-solving, population participation and involvement, meeting needs… A final defining element of the LEADER methodology is networking and cooperation between territories, as the commitment to a living rural environment involves establishing alliances between different rural territories.