Implementation Roadmap

Local implementation of the Support to Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) LEADER initiative started in ATU Gagauzia, Taraclia district and neighbouring villages during the second part of 2016. In 2018, each of the eight SARD local action groups (LAG) has approved its strategy, established its office and management team, and implemented the first run of the locally selected rural development projects. To achieve these results, implementation of SARD LEADER involved significant Implementation Milestones including eight main Steps.

Step 1 – Setting up the SARD LEADER Plan and Team. The SARD LEADER Implementation Plan covers 30 months (August 2016–December 2018). The team includes: the European rural development expert and  the members of the Local Implementation Team, including the team manager, four community coaches and four local rural development experts.

This time frame and team capacity is needed to ensure an inclusive/participatory local implementation process and the sustainability of the results after programme closure.

Step 2 – Implementing a local awereness campaign (September–November 2016). The Local Mobilization Campaign was implemented by SARD office and the Rural Development Expert during the second part of 2016; it included meetings and discussions regarding the introduction of the LEADER approach and for mobilizing potential local partners. Information on the LEADER approach and the criteria for establishing SARD local action groups (LAGs) was disseminated through conferences and local meetings, and via a media campaign.

Outputs: informed and mobilized local stakeholders, whose cooperation and interest forms the “seed” of the potential LAG initiative. A preliminary decision was also taken by interested local stakeholders on the territorial delineation of the given LAG. Interested municipalities signed a preliminary agreement in the name of their villages on the delineation of territorial partnerships (i.e., which village will form a part of which LAG).

Outcome: the bottom-up creation of the eight preliminary SARD LEADER territorial partnerships in December 2016. READ MORE

Step 3 – Providing coaching, mentorship and rural development expertise to the identified SARD LEADER partnerships, aiming to empower them. With the facilitation of the community coaches, voluntary LAG Working Group was created territorially in each LAG initiative to identify common needs and goals and to experience and implement participatory strategic planning. These volunteer groups have equally represented the three stakeholder groups (local authorities, local businesses and local civil society) of the relevant municipalities. (January–March 2017). The result was the bottom-up creation of the eight preliminary SARD LEADER LAGs in March, 2017. READ MORE

Step 4 – Learning from example: Travelling Training organized in Tuscany, Italy for studying local rural development planning, projects and LAG organization, with the aim of adapting the lessons learned in the target territory in future. All SARD LAG initiatives elected their representative in the travelling training group and prepared leaflets to introduce their LAG. The LAG leaflets were translated into Italian and disseminated to Italian partners. After the trip to Tuscany, each LAG representative prepared a detailed report on the Italian study tour, including recommendations for the potential adaptation of the Italian experiences at the local level. These reports were introduced and discussed at the LAG Working Group meetings. Media coverage was provided by SARD to create and distribute a documentary film about the travelling training (July 2017).

Step 5 – Providing technical assistance for the LAG strategic planning process at the local level

• Prepare the five-year participatory Strategic Action Plan for each LAG READ MORE (Territorial Assesment), READ MORE (Strategy Contents)
• Prepare the two-year SARD LEADER Implementation (Action) Plans
• Prepare a Project Folder for each LAG containing a minimum of 50 project fiches READ MORE

The participatory planning process takes time. The process started in April 2017 and finished in 2017 November.

Step 6 – Establish formal LAGs

This step included the signature of the Territorial Partnership Agreement for each LAG; the election of the LAG decision-making bodies; approval of the LAG strategy and Action Plan; and submitting the Action Plan to SARD for approval and financing. READ MORE (Call for Proposals), READ MORE (Evaluation Sheet).

Members of the eight SARD LAGs signed the Partnership Agreement in frame of the Second SARD LEADER conference held at Comrat in November 2017. READ MORE

Step 7 – Establishing the LAG Office and Management, and announcing the LAG local Call for Proposal

Establishing the LAG office and Management Team represents an important moment in the institutionalization of the LAG, resulting in the establishment of a small local development agency covering the given LAG territory through its activities. SARD LEADER offices and two-member LAG management teams were established between February and March 2018.

On the basis of SARD’s support, each LAG announced their local Call for Proposals, addressing local partners, including private persons, local business, civil society and public organizations, who were invited to submit applications.

Step 8 – Project implementation to realize the LAG strategic objectives.

Each LAG has evaluated the submitted local project proposals and selected the local projects for implementation in April 2018. 78 LAG projects will have been implemented in 2018. READ MORE