Field Research on the Implementation of the LEADER Approach in Georgia 2020 This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the “Accion Contra el Hambre” (Action Against Hunger) AAH and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. PROMOTING LINKS BETWEEN THE RURAL ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIONS: LEADER APPROACH IN EAP REGION Field Research Report on the Implementation of the LEADER Approach in Georgia © 2020, EaP CSF Secretariat, Support to the activities of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum II The study was conducted by “Accion Contra el Hambre” (Action Against Hunger) AAH within the framework of “Promoting Links between the Rural Economy and Development Actions: LEADER Approach in EaP region” project. 37 Mtskheta str. III floor, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia E-mail: [email protected] Author of the Research is: WeResearch Non-governmental organization (NGO) 2 Preface The research was conducted by WeResearch on behalf of Action Against Hunger within the framework of the European Union-funded project: “Promoting Links between the Rural Economy and Development actions - LEADER approach in EaP region” implemented by “WINNET Armenia” Network of Women Resource Centers (Armenia) in partnership with Action Against Hunger and the National LEADER Network in the Republic of Moldova (Moldova) This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of WeResearch and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. The research team wants to thank the interviewees and focus group participants for taking part in the research and for their time spent on it. We would like to express our special thanks to the staff of Action Against Hunger for their valuable contribution to the research. Author: Nana Chabukiani 3 Contents Field Research on the Implementation of the ................................................................................................. 1 LEADER Approach in Georgia ......................................................................................................................... 1 Field Research on the Implementation of the ................................................................................................. 1 LEADER Approach in Georgia ......................................................................................................................... 1 Preface .............................................................................................................................................................. 1 Contents .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................................... 5 1. Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. 1 2. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 2 3. Research Design and Methodology .......................................................................................................... 4 3.1 Desk Review ............................................................................................................................................ 4 3.2 Qualitative Study .................................................................................................................................... 4 Preparation of the Research Instruments ................................................................................................ 4 Target Groups and Sampling ................................................................................................................... 4 Data Collection ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................................................... 5 3.3 Ethical Considerations ........................................................................................................................... 6 3.4 Limitations ............................................................................................................................................. 6 4. Main findings ............................................................................................................................................ 7 4.1 Motivation of participants to actively engage in the strategic development of their locality................ 7 4.2 Composition and cooperation of sectors/interest groups within the LAGs ................................... 9 Private, Public and Civil Sector collaboration ............................................................................. 9 Interest groups in the LAGs ............................................................................................................ 11 4.3 LAG structure and management and leadership processes / models ........................................... 13 Elaboration of the Local Development Strategy (LDS) ........................................................... 16 Sub-Grant Programme ..................................................................................................................... 18 4.4. Sustainability of LAGs .................................................................................................................... 22 5. Recommendations: ................................................................................................................................24 Annexes: .........................................................................................................................................................26 Annex #1: The list of the reviewed documents: .....................................................................................26 Annex #2: Key Informant Interview and Focus Group Discussion Guides: ......................................... 27 FGD Guide ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 (FDG with the members of the LAGs) ................................................................................................... 27 KII Guide ....................................................................................................................................................... 28 Annex #3: The list of LAGs ................................................................................................................... 30 4 Abbreviations AAH - Action Against Hunger EB – Executive Board ED – Executive Director ENPARD – European Neighborhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development EU – European Union GA – General Assembly GALAG – Georgian Association of Local Action Groups KII – Key Informant Interview LAG – Local Action Group LDS – Local Development Strategy LEADER – Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l'Économique Rurale PAC – Project Assessment Committee FGD – Focus Group Discussion 5 1. Executive Summary The aim of the research was to study the as women, youth, IDPs, people with adoption and implementation process of disabilities, eco-migrants and people from the LEADER approach in Georgia and to reveal remote villages are represented in the LAGs. the main obstacles as well as identify best Youth and Women are the best practices. In particular, the study examined represented groups compared to other the following core pillars: 1) Motivation of groups, while people with disabilities are participants to actively engage in the strategic the least represented. development of their locality; 2) Composition Sub-grant programmes are the largest and cooperation of sectors/interest groups component of the LAG’s activities. LAG within the LAGs; 3) LAG structure and members make a significant effort to spread management and leadership processes / information about the grant programme in models; 4) Sustainability of Local Action their respective municipalities/districts. The Groups (LAG). With this aim the research grant programmes aim to give equal team applied a desk review and qualitative opportunities for all the groups. however due research methods – focus group discussions to the structural inequalities already and key informant interviews. existing in the society some groups have The research revealed that motivating local less access to the programme. This might community members to participate in the deepen existing social and economic project activities is a challenge at the initial inequalities. stage of the project. Several reasons were The structure and the membership of the LAG identified behind this low level of motivation, is regulated by the LAG charter. Although which are: 1) the LEADER methodology and there are slight differences in terms of particularly bottom-up approach is rather new structure, management and decision for Georgian community; 2) There is a general making within the LAGs, this does not pessimism among the community members, influence the results of the LAG actions. who do not believe that their voices matter;