Estonian National Estonian National Rural NetworkRural Network

The experiences and best practices of the LEADER programme and the

activities of the National Network in Estonia

12. December, 2011

Vajdahunyad castle, Budapest

The total Estonian RDP budget of the The total Estonian RDP budget of the programmprogramminging period 2007-2013 period 2007-2013

The total Estonian RDP budget is 924,8,9 mln EUR Axis I Improving the competitiveness

37,6% - 347,6 mln EURAxis II

Improving the environment36,2% - 334,4 mln EUR

Axis IIIQuality of life

12,9% - 118,9 mln EUR Axis IV

LEADER LEADER 10 10 % - 8% - 866 mln EUR mln EUR Technical support4% - 38,1 mln EUR

Axis III

Axis II

Axis I

LEADER TA

LeaderLeader start start in Estoniain Estonia

2004-2006 – LEADER-approach by the measure 3.6 “Local initiative based development projects – LEADER” within the framework of the Estonian National Development Plan

Leader-measure was implemented by two options: acquisition of skills the adoption of integrated rural area development

strategy. 24 LAGs

NationalNational criteriacriteria

LAG’s legal status = non-governmental organisation Objective of status must be development of rural life Area of LAG = minimum 2 municipalities Small towns up to 4000 inhabitants Municipality can enter to LAG only together with at least 1

community-based organisation + 1 entrepreneur from their area.

LAG should be open for new members LAG must have developed or must intend to develop a local

development strategy Members of the LAG must not be members of any other LAG

at the same time

MainMain tasks carried out by the LAGstasks carried out by the LAGs

Elaboration of calls including definition of local selection criteria

Publication of calls Reception of applications Project assessment Project ranking Final list of selected projects

proposed on the PA including fixing the amount of support

TODAY – Leader covers 99,99% of Estonian TODAY – Leader covers 99,99% of Estonian rural areasrural areas

• Number of LAG’s: 2626• Number of inhabitants in Leader areas: 504 363504 363• The territory of Leader area: 42 827 km²42 827 km²• The average number of inhabitants of Estonian LAGs is

19,41119,411 people per LAG’s are• The biggest number of inhabitants among LAGs: 36,56336,563• The smallest number of inhabitants among LAGs: 7,2407,240

– 24 LAGs – started implementation in 2009; 2 LAGs – started in 2010

MembershipMembership

• Number of LAG-members: 1 5541 554– public sector 13 %public sector 13 %– entrepreneurs 37 %entrepreneurs 37 %– non-profit sector 50 %non-profit sector 50 %

Every LAG has 6060 members on the average

FinancialFinancial execution ofexecution of ERDP ERDP(31.10.2012) - 1(31.10.2012) - 1

• As if 5. December 2012 paying agency (Agricultural Registers and Information Board – ARIB) has approved 5,999 Leader projects - support in total of 65.1 mln EUR, which:– 3% of RDP Axis 1 - 224 projects and support in total

of 2.7 mln EUR– 96% of RDP Axis 3 – 5,716 projects and support in

total of 57.9 mln EUR– 1 % cooperation projects - 52 projects, 23 of them are

transnational cooperation projects+ 2 TNC projects is in process of apporval

FinancialFinancial execution ofexecution of ERDP ERDP(31.10.2012) - 2(31.10.2012) - 2

• PA has finished and payed Leader – projects: 52.7 %

– administrative costs to LAG-s 58,1 %

Leader implementationLeader implementation(01.11.2012)(01.11.2012)

17%

9%

74%

Private sector Local government Third sector

Transnational cooperationTransnational cooperation

Approved TNC: 1. Cooperation in Cultural Heritage

Exploitation2. Traditional sailing and maritime

heritage3. Clower Power. 4H twinning

people.4. From Salla to Salla5. International Theme Routes6. Dare to Dream7. Loving Local Values8. Planet said to me…9. ECOLAND Leader

Transnational cooperationTransnational cooperation

Estonian LAG-s have partners in 16 countries: Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Luxemburg, France, Austria, Italia, Russia, Portugal, Lithuania, Spain, UK

Avarage TNC budget 223 641 EUR.

Main subjects are: national cultural heritage, expirience exchange, youth, tourism, cooperation between enterpreneurs.

Leader TNC 2007-2013Leader TNC 2007-2013

TNC main procedures are regulated by the national Leader legislation.

TNC projects are part of the LAG strategy and budget. LAGs had to specify their project ideas in their LDS

without naming the potential project partners. Maximum support per project is up to 200 000 EUR and

up to 90%. The eligibility criteria are the same as for local projects under the LEADER measure.

Preparatory technical support is part of LAGs administrative costs (visits, hosting and meetings with potential partners).

Refund rate for the TNC project is up to 90% Application procedure: on-going

Success of Leader in EstoniaSuccess of Leader in Estonia

LAG’s and Leader is visible

LAG = important regional development unit

LAG = real cooperation of sectors

LAG = active internationally

LAG = adviser

LAG = administrative capacity (230 positive applications)

RRegional food networkegional food networkss

• 13 LAGs have established regional food networks to raise the competitiveness of local small producers.

• The most well-known networks in Estonia are Delicious South-Estonia (Maitsev Lõuna-Eesti), Local Taste (Uma Mekk), The Greener Mark of Põlva county (Põlvamaa Rohelisem Märk) and marketing association that joins small-producers of Saaremaa island.

Rural Rural tourism networkstourism networks

• 11 LAGs have improved the potential of rural areas through creating new tourism networks.

• The most successful ones are for example Romantic Coastline (Romantiline Rannatee) in Pärnu county, Onion Road (Sibulatee) in Tartu county and Post Road (Postitee) in Põlva county. Active people have started or are going to start many projects that are unique in the whole Europe, like Peter the Great's Naval Fortress as a military tourism object, geo-park in Tartu and Jõgeva county, Alutaguse Adventure Park and rowing watercourses in old oil shale pit in Aidu.

UUse se of of alternative energyalternative energy

• There have been investments in many different sustainable solutions that use alternative energy. For example, Leader measure has supported

• straw-briquette manufactory in Peipsi-Alutaguse and East-Harju county,

• the first solar panel manufactory in Estonia situated in North-Harju county,

• and bio-granules manufactory in Viru-counties that uses waste-paper, straw and turf for production.

Regional cooperationRegional cooperation

• Leader is a programme that facilitates regional cooperation between more than two LAG’s. For example:

• place-marketing cooperation near lake Peipus between five Local action groups (including Peipsi fisheries area),

• West-Estonian food network between three LAGs, small-producers cooperation between five South-Estonian LAGs,

• cooperation based on local food between three LAGs from Ida-Viru county.

Leaderi future discussionsLeaderi future discussions

• Since September 2011.a Ministry of Agryculture – Since September 2011.a Ministry of Agryculture – Steering Committee and 11 thematic working groups Steering Committee and 11 thematic working groups for programming RDP for 2014-2020for programming RDP for 2014-2020

– started also Working group of COMMUNITY-LED LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND Leader 2014+ preparationWorking group meetings in 2012.a: 5.October, 25.October, 14.November and 12. November

– Representaives from different ministries and organisations (Rural Parliament, universities, etc).

Activities to show positive of Leader-method – Activities to show positive of Leader-method – organised by ENRNorganised by ENRN

– Leader seminars – speakers from different ministries– Leader conference + fair “Europe Day with Leader conference + fair “Europe Day with

Leaderiga” Leaderiga” – more than 260 participants, exhibition of Leader projects (different ministries, rural actors)

– Study tour to Finland Study tour to Finland to introduce with Leader and CLLD preparation – participants from other ministries

– Leader-study tours in Estonia Leader-study tours in Estonia – 5 different in 5 days – 3-5 project visits + 2 h discussions with LAG representatives.

Estonian Rural Network UnitEstonian Rural Network Unit

Overall structure – where is NRN?Overall structure – where is NRN?

Managing Authority (MA) Ministry of Agriculture

Paying Agency (PA)Agricultural Registration and Information Board (ARIB)

Rural Economy Research Centre

Department of Rural Network and Fisheries

Network

Department of Analyses of Agricultural Sector (FADN)

National Rural Network (NRN)Bureau of Rural Network

Bureau of Fisheries Network

Estonian Estonian National National Rural Network Rural Network

• Estonian Rural Network Unit was established by the Rural Economy Research Centre (an authority under the administration of the Ministry of Agriculture) and started its activities in May 2007.

• The main objective of the Estonian National Rural Network is to add value to the implementation of the Estonian Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP).

Structure of Estonian Rural NetworkStructure of Estonian Rural Network

• Estonian Rural Network Unit – no formal membership, at the moment 7 full time employee

• Network Cooperation Chamber – involves associations and organizations representing programme beneficiaries and organizations and authorities engaged in rural development. The members are selected according to the objectives of the axes of the Rural Development Plan

• Budget – for the period 2007-2013 max. 4,480,000 € from RDP technical assistant

NRN in next periodNRN in next period

• Infomation source for CSF partners about LEADER-method and best practices;

• Information and assitance for new stakeholders, LAG-s and regions;

• Support for monitoring;

• Assistance for inter-territorial and transnational co-operation.

TThe he actual roles of NRNactual roles of NRN

• More non-formal position than MA or PA-s.• Trustful partner for stakeholders• Communicates with stakeholders in more

understandable language• Possibility to be active internationally• NRN = LEADER; 7 LEADER principles are

important also to NRN• Can initiate new (innovative) actions…

NRN tools:NRN tools:

• Trustful information

• Flexibility in actions

• Possibility to initiate new actions

• ….

• RESOURSES

• Very important that NRN will keep these operation principles and tools also for next period

NRN and LNRN and LEADEREADER in 2007-2013 in 2007-2013

• NRN brings parts together,

• Keep dialogue between parts on-going

NRN 2014-2020NRN 2014-2020

• NRN will bring more parts together

• keep dialogue continued

• Look and spread information for and about new CSF parts

Estonian NRN ActivitiesEstonian NRN Activities

Website of LeaderWebsite of Leader

• Mainly 3 bigger target groups:1) 26 Local Action Groups (RDP Axis 4)2) wider rural development (RDP Axis 1-3)3) authorities related with implementing RDP

(Axis 1-4)

• Keywords:– Step by step widening the target group (axis 1-

3)– consideration of bottom-up initiative and

cooperation

Website of CAP future issuesWebsite of CAP future issues

NRN collects, stores and disseminatesNRN collects, stores and disseminates

Databases on NRN website:- RDP 2007-2013 project examples database, also in English

- Articles of weekly e-newsletter Võrgukiri are archived in database, so the articles are available by themes and sub-themes

- Information about all Estonian RDP measures are collected in the database – it is like a history of measures (beneficiaries, regulations etc) and all articles about project examples can be found from the database through keywords

- Database of Estonian LAGs (also in English) with interactive map and all articles about specific LAG can be found from the database through keywords

• Database of Leader transnational cooperation offers

Cooperation with Estonian Public BroadcastingCooperation with Estonian Public Broadcasting

• Started 2008, continued 2010 and 2011.• Summer 2011:

– TV show “Estonian Game” (Eesti mäng) where NRN helped to search participants from LAGs, helped to find questions (incl. video-questions) and gifts (through LAGs)

– 30 videoclips about different Leader projects from all over the Estonia, each of them are 7-10 minutes long and will be on air during autumn in every Saturday and Sunday at 18.20 in broadcasting named “Beautiful country” (Ilus maa).

– All the videos will also be available on the NRN website through YouTube.

TV show “Estonian Game” and TV show “Estonian Game” and video clips “Beatiful Country”video clips “Beatiful Country”

The Best Leader projects in 2011 “Notice The Best Leader projects in 2011 “Notice Leader”Leader”

• 31.03-30.04.2011 A project proposals call was opened – everybody was allowed to make proposals

• 14.-16.04 – NRN disseminated leaflets about the contest in Rural Fair

• All together 64 project proposals in 5 categories (agriculture, rural entrepreneurship, environment, youth, cooperation)

• Lessons learnt: a new category for development projects is also needed

The Best Leader projects in 2011 “Notice The Best Leader projects in 2011 “Notice Leader”Leader”

PrizeBrochure with all 20 nominees

The Best Leader projects in 2011 “Notice The Best Leader projects in 2011 “Notice Leader”Leader”

Thank you for your attention!

Estonian Rural NetworkEstonian Rural Networkseminar@maainfo.ee

www.maainfo.ee