LEADER is a local development method which has been used for 30 years to engage local actors in the design and delivery of strategies, decision-making and resource allocation for the development of their rural areas.
It is implemented by around 2 800 Local Action Groups (LAGs), covering 61 % of the rural population in the EU and bringing together public, private and civil-society stakeholders in a particular area (situation as of end 2018 – EU-28).
In the rural development context, LEADER is implemented under the national and regional Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) of each EU Member State, co-financed from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
All residents, entrepreneurs and municipalities from the Kop van Noord-Holland can submit projects within this programme. For this region, Hollands Kroon, Schagen, Texel and Den Helder (only the rural area) form the working area. The projects must be carried out in and contribute to the operating area.
The projects must meet certain conditions. For example, they must fit within the themes of the ‘Kopkracht’ development strategy for the Kop van Noord-Holland and Texel. The themes are:
In addition, they must fit in with the LEADER philosophy: initiated and executed bottom-up, in a partnership, with public and private money.; then they have the best chance of receiving a LEADER subsidy.
The Local Action Group (LAG) is a broad representation of the LEADER area of Kop van Noord-Holland. The LAG consists of a good representation of organisations, entrepreneurs and local administrators from the region. Each member participates in the LAG in a personal capacity. The LAG is supported in its tasks by the LEADER coordinator and the secretariat. The LAG determines which projects submitted are eligible for supervision and subsidy. In addition, the LAG plays an important role as a driver and connector for initiatives in the region.
The coordination of the LAG lies at the Noord-Holland Noord Development Agency.
For more information, please contact LEADER@nhn.nl or call 072 519 5774.
