What is the Leader Method?

The leader method is an established way of working for locally led development. The method is both a way of working and an approach that brings together actors from the local area in cooperation beyond the usual boundaries.
Leader has been in the EU since 1991. Leader is a French abbreviation for Liaison Entre Actions de Dèveloppement de l´Economie Rurale. This means coordinated activities for economic development in rural areas.

Characteristics of the Leader method

Fundamental to the Leader method is that there are residents and operators in an area that will drive and influence development. It means creating consensus between people and organizations about the development in an area in the form of growth, jobs, entrepreneurship and quality of life. Characteristic of the Leader method are:
• Bottom-up perspective
• Local knowledge
• Cooperation
• Tripartite partnership
• Innovation
• Locally made decisions