Leader+ Observatory Seminar “The Legacy of Leader+ at local level: Building the future of rural areas” April Cap Corse, Nebbiu e Custera, Corse, France Mini-plenary I2: The added value and benefits of networking Valdis Kudiņš, Latvian Rural forum European Commission

LAGs in Latvia 28 LAGs in programming period ; almost 80% of rural areas of Latvia covered; established quite recently – in years 2005 – 2006; 11 LAGs - “Acquisition of Skills”; 17 LAGs - implementation of pilot integrated rural development strategies.

LAG networking in Latvia Review on Latvian LAG cooperation activities during implementation of rural development strategies and networking: Main objectives:Main results: Formation of social capital – meaning cooperation between people, different social groups or organizations and adding value to the interaction. Increased number of active organizations; Improved socio-economic environment in rural areas; Increased individual activity; Arise of new socio-economic activities in rural areas; Developed skills to coordinate local resources and attract external resources for community development. Improvement of cooperation on particular fields like communication, information flow, elaboration of cooperation projects. Involvement of different cooperation partners – local organizations, LAG, small and medium entrepreneurs, facilitators and trainers, service providers. Networking increasing LAG area cultural environment that will strengthen its identity, attract visitors. Projects will facilitate development of tourism, promotion of cultural values and local heritage as well as increase welfare of local population.

Latvian Rural Forum: place for networking Horizontal cooperation: - sessions “Hour of exchange”: - especially important in negotiations with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Support Service (paying agency). - mutual process of learning. - Untraditional Games of Latvian Community Groups: - teambuilding activities that strengthens spirit of LAG togetherness, - recognition of LEADER Type activities in wider society. Vertical cooperation - representation of interests: - negotiations with Ministry of Agriculture: - working on Rural Development Plan , - taking part in LAG rural development strategy evaluation commission, - participating in National Rural Network development working group. - Ministry of Integration: - representation of rural population on Civic Society Council.

Project “Rural school – a heart of local development” new initiative for Latvia piloted in 20 rural schools and associates 12 LAG areas; crucial problem – closing down of small rural schools; possible solution – allocation of new functions for small schools - adults education, preschool child care, social and cultural centers etc., that are based on local needs. LRF started initiative of transforming small rural schools into local development centers: - attracting society attention to this issue, - involving schools (especially pupils) in local development planning activities, - fostering closer cooperation between school, local community and LAG. LAG: - includes these initiatives in local development strategies; - gives significant priority to the problem solution: - involving different cooperation partners; - attracting additional resources.

LAG networking in Latvia: how to grow up? only several LAGs in Latvia have significant experience in cooperation, that helps to implement local development strategies successfully; LAGs need some time in order to establish good cooperation links on local level; LAGs have to be more active in advocating interests of rural population on national and European level; LAGs using LRF as a tool have to wider range of cooperation partners including ministries like Ministry of Education and Science, Regional Development Ministry, Children and Family Affairs Ministry etc. in order to broaden understanding of rural development and to add social and cultural dimension to it; LAGs have to expand scope of cooperation partners outside Latvia, incorporating into Pan-European organizations, European programs and projects, in this way gaining the experience from other Member States.