EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos attended the conference on ‘Balanced Development of Rural and Small Urban Areas in Armenia through the LEADER Approach’.
Organised within the EU-funded LEAD4Lori and Tavush project, the event brought together government representatives, international guests, development partners and local actors to showcase five years of LEADER localisation in Armenia and to discuss the future of Local Action Groups.
The EU LEADER methodology aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable growth and improved livelihoods of rural population is piloted in Lori and Tavush regions by the United Nations Development Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and in Shirak region by the Austrian Development Agency.
The LEADER methodology implementation is anchored on Local Action Groups bringing together local authorities, local businesses and civil society organisations to drive local development and deliver tangible results based on the model of partnership and innovation.
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Eight LAGs are currently operational in Tavush, Lori and Shirak, providing financing for local development initiatives in their territories based on jointly identified priorities.