1. Ivo Morawski

2. OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION 1. The LEADER experience LEADER highlights Description of a LEADER case study Lessons learnt 2. The relevance to North Africa The rural development challenges The Euro-Med opportunities

3. What is LEADER? LEADER : Liaison entre actions de développement de l'économie rurale The LEADER Programme became since 1990 a pillar of the EU agriculture and rural development policy Objectives: Promote and implement integrated rural development strategies in territories characterized by shared ecological and socio-economic features.

4. LEADER Basic Principles  Public / Private Partnerships → The Local Action Groups (LAG).  Multi-stakeholders participation to local strategy development & implementation  Valorization of local heritage and development assets & potentialities  Balanced economic, social and environmental development.  Cooperation within and between EU rural territories … progressively opened to cooperation with extra-EU territories

5. The “RICA” case study Institutional Partners: LAG Oglio Po (Mantova & Cremona provinces) and Agriculture Ministries of Bosnia Herzegovina Associated partners: farmers associations and private operators in partner territories + IFAD (financial and organizational support) Duration: 10 months (2005-2006) Budget: Euro 186,000 RICA : Rete Integrata di Cooperazione nell’Agribusiness

6. RICA Implementation Approach Identified Common interests in the dairy sector (traditional productive base) Facilitating the meeting between the Demand from emerging/transition economies and the Offer of well developed markets through :  Adoption of value-chain approach: farming, animal husbandry, milk production/processing, istribution.  Joint needs assessment by concerned stakeholders (Peer to peer cooperation)  Promotion of demand-driven and commercially viable technology transfer,  Access to markets and development of services  Support to association mechanisms among sector operators and the territories

7. RICA achievements and outcomes Modernised production assets & technology Improved management practices in target farms (60 Bosnian operators trained in technical & management aspects of milk production). Start-up of private sector led agri-businesses  Improved food security and safety standards  Enhanced access to markets (local & national)  Increased competitiveness of farmers groups.  Improved dialogue between public and private stakeholders

8. Lessons Learnt from RICA: Success factors Enabling private sector SMEs to develop self-sustainable business opportunities. Facilitate dialogue with public authorities to favour integration of private businesses with Local/regional development strategies. Mobilize resources where available and for specific targets to stimulate commitment and ownership.

9. 2. North Africa Context – The Challenges:  Reduce the regional disparities;  Create employment;  Enhance entrepreneurship;  Diversify rural economies;  Facilitate territorial associations, value-chain integration and access to markets;  Develop new models of governance for integrated regional development and social cohesion

10. The Opportunities from the NA evolving context EU Association Agreements linking economic, trade, social, governance and environmental objectives. Multi-sectoral perspective in local development (education, employment, environmental protection, risk management and prevention measures). Ongoing decentralization processes in NA. New decentralized cooperation mechanisms (i.e. cross-border cooperation, support to civil society, etc.).

11. Is LEADER approach applicable in North Africa? Preliminary requirements for: Multi-stakeholders dialogue; Bottom-up and participatory strategy development Access to technical and financial services Social cohesion for territorial planning

12. For more information about LEADER: GAL contacts Policy papers Project Database Best practices Partnership requests and proposals Knowledge sharing opportunities http://enrd.ec.europa.eu/rural-development-policy/leader/en/leader_en.cfm

13. Thank you for your attention