LAG Zhemchuzhina Juga – Pearl of the South

The territory of LAG Zhemchuzhina Juga is in the south-west of the Republic of Moldova. It comprises of 20 small multi-ethnic rural communities of Bulgarians, Gagauzians, Moldovans and Ukrainians in Vinogradovca, Budai, Musaitu, Salcia, Albota de Sus, Albota de Jos, Carbalia, Burlaceni and Moscovei, part of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and the districts of Taraclia and Cahul (13,850 inhabitants).

The landscape combines hills and valleys, with Salcia Mica, Salcia Mare and other small rivers flowing along them. Two natural reserves and several lakes are located in the territory.

The main economic activities are growing grain and wine grapes and livestock farming, mainly sheep. Ciumai Winery, one of the most well-known winemakers in the Bugeac steppe, is also situated here. Bee-keeping is becoming more widespread within the territory.

The fruit preserving (table grapes, plums) infrastructure, and local food processing (dry plums, juice making, etc.) are to be developed in several localities. The communities plan to update public utilities and social infrastructure to ensure better living conditions for the residents and to support service providers (commerce, craft, accommodations) and cultural initiatives to increase the tourist attractiveness of the region. The strategic objectives of the LAG are the ddiversification of economic activities in the microregion, ensuring access to quality public services and utilities and the revitalization of the public spaces and sustainable development of the natural resources.

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Towards Prosperous Rural Areas

Handbook on implementation of LEADER/CLLD – community-driven rural development initiatives, in the Republic of Moldova.

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LEADER/CLLD Principles

The European LEADER approach is based on seven specific principles, which must all be present simultaneously in order to apply the method correctly. It is these seven characteristics that define LEADER as a methodology and distinguish it from other funding programmes

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Community Coaching

Everyone can do something to change his or her own life and this process will be more efficient and sustainable if potential change-makers in any given community are strengthened and empowered to be able to identify with the ‘culture of co’ – cooperation, co-creation, community leadership, caring for the commons and business collaboration. This approach is called community coaching. Through the SARD LEADER/CLLD community, coaching interventions have been employed to ignite the spirit of change in the targeted local communities and encourage them to be active in the implementation of current and future development programmes.

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LAG Partnership Agreement

In November 2017, members of eight Local Action Groups (LAGs), created by local stakeholders with the assistance of SARD, signed the formal Partnership Agreements, which are the basis of their common work.

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Introduction LAG by LAG

The SARD LEADER initiative supports the creation, functioning and management of the local stakeholder-created LAGs in the targeted regions and neighbouring districts. The programme helps with all necessary human resource development, technical assistance, legal aspects, co-financing and governance.