The experiences and best practices of the LEADER programme and the activities of the National Network in Italy Budapest 12th December 2012 Massimo Di Rienzo (m_dirienzo@hotmail.com) Raffaella Di Napoli (dinapoli@inea.it) Laura Guidarelli (guidarelli@inea.it) Stefano Tomassini (tomassini@inea.it) Riccardo Passero (r.passero@mpaaf.gov.it)

Leader I (1989-1993) n. GAL 29 Risorse: 100,3 meuro Leader II (1994-1999) n. GAL 203 Risorse: 471,4 meuro Leader + (2000-2006) n. GAL 132 Risorse: 473,8 meuro Asse IV (2007-2013) n. GAL 192 Risorse: 1.372 meuro

The results of Leader in Italy Generally, the Leader Programme in Italy besides improving the financial management of the projects (in different phases of the programming period, the LAGs have spent all the resources allocated), has contributed to - Improving the governance programmes al local level, favoring a major transparency and communication, the widespread distribution of the information, the participation of all the levels, including the citizens, to the elaboration and implementation of the policies, the responsibility, a major effectiveness of the investments and a major coherence between the development policies; Strengthen the capacities of projecting, investigating and interpreting the local phenomena, facilitating the initiation of real bottom-up processes and the sharing of strategies with the local policy makers and, generally, with all the actors from the territory; Diversification of the interests on the territory and of the beneficiaries regarding the “new” issues, previously less appreciated and spread (e.g. chain projects for products and intersectoral chains, interventions in favors of the rural tourism, of the new forms of energy and of the social agriculture); Diversification and coordination of the instruments and of the sources for financing the development strategies (the LAGs have tried to reach a major coordination and complementarity with other intervention instruments from the regional, national and community’s policies, even of sectoral type); Strengthen the communication capacity of the rural territories.

The Leader in Italy has allowed the achievement of important results, which consist in; a progressive distribution of the Leader method in all the Italian rural areas (in the current programming phase 2007-2013, it involves about 87% of the Italian territory with more than 30% of the Italian population); the realization from 1990 to 2006 of development actions in the rural territories for a global amount of 1.045 millions of euro; the programming, for the period 2007-13, of investments for the realization of local development strategies of 1.346 millions of euro, managed by 190 Local Action Groups.

Quota pubblica (UE+nazionale) REGIONI N GAL Dotazione complessiva Media GAL Abruzzo 5 39,916 7,983 Basilicata 8 31,108 3,889 Calabria 14 64,139 4,581 Campania 13 85,515 6,578 Emilia Romagna 46,797 9,359 Friuli V.G. 16,106 3,221 Lazio 46,727 5,841 Liguria 7 27,192 3,021 Lombardia 16 65,066 4,067 Marche 6 23,071 3,845 Molise 3 10,166 3,389 P.A. Bolzano 4 15,633 3,908 P.A. Trento 1 17,143 Piemonte 47,817 3,678 Puglia 25 294,827 11,793 Sardegna 164,112 12,624 Sicilia 17 118,249 6,956 Toscana 41,401 5,914 Umbria 20,810 4,162 Valle d' Aosta 7,622 2,541 Veneto 100,828 7,202 Totale complessivo 192 1.284,242 6,620 Risorse finanziarie pubbliche PSL 2007-2013 (meuro) Quota pubblica (UE+nazionale)

Fincial Table (FEASR + national resources) Regioni / 410 Quota Media Asse 4 421 431 Totale PSR n. GAL Province 411 412 413 Asse 4 risorse Abruzzo 19,194 15,0% 20,0% 40,0% 5,0% 20,0% 383,889 5,0% 6 3,2 Basilicata 38,885 15,0% 7,5% 52,5% 5,0% 20,0% 648,087 6,0% 8 4,9 Bolzano 15,634 0,0% 17,7% 67,6% 1,9% 12,8% 312,670 5,0% 4 3,9 Calabria 65,044 15,4% 3,1% 6,1% 7,7% 12,4% 1.084,071 6,0% 14 4,6 Campania 94,117 15,4% 21,4% 40,2% 7,6% 15,4% 1.882,346 5,0% 12 7,8 Emilia R. 47,727 17,4% 10,0% 49,5% 8,1% 15,0% 934,661 5,1% 5 9,5 Friuli V.G. 16,069 11,0% 18,0% 42,0% 5,0% 24,0% 247,211 6,5% 5 3,2 Lazio 39,325 24,0% 8,0% 48,0% 5,0% 15,0% 655,418 6,0% 8 4,9 Liguria 54,383 26,0% 20,5% 35,9% 14,5% 3,1% 276,562 19,7% 9 6,0 Lombardia 35,995 27,8% 9,9% 36,8% 5,6% 20,0% 899,757 4,0% 10 3,6 Marche 27,589 0,0% 0,0% 71,8% 8,2% 19,9% 459,818 6,0% 6 4,6 Molise 9,744 0,0% 25,7% 47,4% 12,3% 14,6% 194,977 5,0% 3 3,2 Piemonte 58,409 16,5% 5,5% 55,0% 3,0% 20,0% 896,591 6,5% 12 4,9 Puglia 279,000 0,0% 0,0% 76,3% 4,3% 19,4% 1.480,569 18,8% 25 11,2 Sardegna 169,926 0,0% 0,0% 85,3% 2,9% 11,8% 1.252,841 13,6% 15 11,3 Sicilia 126,382 0,0% 0,0% 73,1% 15,0% 11,9% 2.106,312 6,0% 17 7,4 Toscana 83,911 6,0% 0,0% 75,9% 9,1% 9,0% 839,114 10,0% 7 12,0 Trento 17,143 35,8% 0,0% 52,5% 3,3% 8,3% 256,153 6,7% 1 17,1 Umbria 38,003 0,0% 0,0% 70,0% 10,0% 20,0% 760,068 5,0% 5 7,6 Valle d'Aosta 8,875 0,0% 0,0% 77,2% 10,2% 12,6% 118,684 7,5% 4 2,2 Veneto 100,614 8,1% 8,1% 64,9% 8,9% 9,9% 914,675 11,0% 14 7,2 ITALIA 1.345,969 7,9% 5,3% 62,5% 7,1% 14,7% 16.604,474 8,1% 190 7,1

Risorse assegnate all’Asse IV per Regione (rimodulati 2009) Fonte: Elaborazione INEA su dati PSR 2007-2013

Spazi per l’esercizio dell’autonomia decisionale(2/3) Cambia il ruolo della strategia di sviluppo locale Le strategie di Sviluppo Locale diventano una modalità alternativa di gestione della politica “ordinaria”? La capacità di apportare valore aggiunto è direttamente proporzionale al grado di autonomia decisionale e funzionale conferito ai GAL Solo 413 411 - 413 412 - 413 411 – 412 -413 La possibilità di finanziare progetti sperimentali o innovativi dipende molto dalla misura in cui i PSR si sono avvalsi della possibilità del regolamento del Consiglio per finanziare progetti al di fuori del menu standard di misure da assi 1 - 3 (articolo 64). LINEE GUIDA CE “Guide for the application of the leader axis (revised version presented on 08.03.2011)”

Centri di competenza tecnica Diversità di espressione di Leader 1 Z F C B G Q D O S P E T L N A R U M V I H 1,5 0,5 2 - 0,5 -1 -1,5 -2 AF AD Centri di competenza tecnica (gestionale - amministrativa) Approccio Leader (strategica - tematica) Centri di competenza tecnica (informazione e animazione) Matrice di “Leaderabilità”: l’attitudine del quadro regolativo di integrare i principi di Leader nel PSR è analizzata su due dimensioni: a - Autonomia decisionale b - Autonomia funzionale DOSSIER TF LEADER La valutazione dell’approccio Leader nei programmi di sviluppo rurale 2007-2013: un contributo metodologico

Spazio offerto ai Gal per esercitare la propria autonomia decisionale La definizione dei territori è vincolata dall’AdG? Sono posti vincoli alla costituzione ed alla forma del partenariato? Le misure attivabili nell’ambito dell’Asse 4 consentono ai GAL di elaborare Piani caratterizzati da innovatività ed originalità? Le modalità di attuazione dell’Asse 4 consentono ai Gal di selezionare in piena autonomia proposte progettuali coerenti con i rispettivi PAL? Ai Gal è assicurato un adeguato sostegno per le attività di animazione? Compiti e funzioni attribuiti ai Gal Il quadro di regole è definito con chiarezza in tempi adeguati? In che misura i Gal intervengono in fase di controllo delle domande di aiuto? … e in fase di controllo delle domande di pagamento? In che misura i Gal intervengono nelle attività di monitoraggio? Ai Gal è assicurato un adeguato sostegno per le spese di funzionamento?

formazione sulla nuova programmazione (seminari, focus, gruppi di discussione) Strumenti di autovalutazione per i GAL (metodologie e indicatori di facile uso costruiti da gruppi misti con noi, valutatori, rappresentanti GAL e regioni). Valutano il valore aggiunto di Leader: - Metodo Leader (bottom up; partnership; innovazione; ecc.), cioè l’azione svolta dal GAL e il suo ruolo a livello territoriale; - contributo di Leader al conseguimento degli obiettivi degli altri Assi (cioè i progetti) Ogni specificità ha un set di indicatori (tipo leadarability) Per ogni specificità si stanno elaborando casi studio per favorire il trasferimento di BP Perché: a. aiutare i GAL a concludere bene questa fase di programmazione e migliorare il tiro per la futura programmazione prosegue il lavoro già avviato con i valutatori, 7 dicembre incontro valutatori 1° settimana di marzo winter scholl “valutare le specificità di Leader 3) Migliorare la capacità di comunicazione dei GAL e la trasparenza di Leader (prosegue summer school) a gennaio sistema avanzato geogal 4) Approfondimenti sui temi “nuovi” della prossima programmazione “inclusione sociale vs innovazione sociale” settembre worskhop

no point is privileged over another (Serres) "Network" – a definition Subjects: - primary Network - institutional Network - secondary Networks - animation Unit - Informal networks Functions and tasks Instrumental support (to create organizational context; to provide for services, to provide for resources, to simplify communication). Social support (listening, keeping participation and “momentum”, enhancing the contributions of actors) Structural properties - form of network - operation of links and processes - operational properties - Governance Tools communic ation Training Thematic Focus no point is privileged over another (Serres) A network is formed for a given instant by a plurality of points (nodes) connected together by a plurality of tracks (Serres) facilitate the combination and mitigate tensions between organizational and professional “creativity” (Butera) Promote mutual understanding, sharing, participation, cooperation, experimentation. Create a community.

Leader Network : the composition NETWORK GROUP social groups connected directly or indirectly, With some common links: status shared by group; group functions similar or shared; geographical or cultural connections. Leader Network : the composition LEADER NETWORK INSTITUTIONAL Italian Ministry of Agriculture (Mipaaf) UE – DG AGRI 21 MA RDP 7 PA 8 LEADER evaluators SECONDARY NETWORK European LAGs PRIMARY NETWORK Contact Point Other National NRN INFORMAL Thematic Groups, LAGs; Rural Development expets; Others. 21 AXIS IV RDP Regional Managers 7 Paying Agencies 11 LAGs Regional Associations 7 LEADER evaluators Regional RDP Manager –referenti delle misure dei PSR (MeasureThematic ) experts RDP evaluators Technical Assistance Stakeholders LAGs, rural areas representatives Stakeholders, other Ministries, etc. actors 192 LAGs

The Italian «Leader» Network - Features LAGs Improve the skills of LAGs Increase the transparency of LEADER MA Improve the skills of MA EU (EC-MS-LAGs) Promote and increase the listening to the needs of the territories Improve the image of LEADER Other Enhance the quality and accessibility of information Enhance the ability to interpret the results Communication is a central function in the activities of the Leader Network and a key element of its mission. The function of TF Leader is to provide communication, resources and promotion of identity to all Leader actors

Italian Leader Network - Structural evolution Leader II 1 SINGLE CENTER OF GRAVITY Leader PLUS MULTIPLE CENTER OF GRAVITY Axis IV RDP 2007-2013 Towards...ὅλον « HOLONIC » NETWORKS … It is a plurality of subjects, carriers of different needs. Many of these needs can be solved using and combining skills and experience already held within the Network. The mission of the Leader Network is to encourage and to support a process of learning "among equals“. A process based on flows relations, resulting from the sharing of experiences and the socialization of knowledge and perceptions, oriented to the identification, from time to time, of the best practices to solve the problems.

= + = Italian «Leader» Network – our Organization TF Rete Leader Scientific Committee defines the annual program; identifies the networking methods; propose new thematic groups. Thematic working groups (long term or short term as needed) they deal with thematic analysis; Participation to the definition of program activities and the preparation of "products" (on-line thematic area in the portal, meetings / seminars, case studies, white papers, training courses; etc. ) Technical Secretariat facilitates the flow of communication between the participants to the LEADER network, calls meetings, collect the reports on the progress of activities, etc.; Dealing with organizational aspects, creates tools and products basics, supports thematic groups; databases, organizing seminars and meetings, management of on-line sections in the website. Segretariato tecnico TF Rete Leader Comitato Scientifico = 2 Seniors 4 Technical support Full time staff (12 man-month) + 13 Regional Antennas = 2 Seniors 3 Technical support

The Italian Leader Network – our Tools National Study visits for good practices exchange Thematic Dossiers Data base on LEADER actions and practices VIDEO interviews with experts Social network on-line «AL» : the Monthly Report Leader Workshops Juridical On Line support for LAGS Coordination Meetings, Focus, Thematic Experts Common National System of Monitoring Geo-referenced info-system of calls; LAGs WEB Portal VIDEO Documentaries on good practices The Good Practices «AWARD» E.S.E.M.P.I. Coordination meetings, working groups, open space, social networks  to allow the comparison and mutual understanding Training, conferences, seminars, workshops, study visits  to facilitate the sharing of practices, knowledge ​​and exchange of experiences Information services (portal, newsletters, databases, archives and documentation) and proper Consulting (technical, legal and administrative branches)  to provide for services Research and surveys, focus groups  to offer the opportunity to explore new ideas and solutions, and detect the needs

- How the Regions have set Leader (axis IV) NETWORK LEADER: the TOOLS The Tools put in place by the Animation unit of a Network. It is important that they are not just "innovative“…. but they need to have the ability to promote a practical and effective participation of all stakeholders Always evaluate the context and resources available Taking into account the following characteristics: - actors (mode of action, knowledge); - structure (characteristics of the network); - interactions (operation and processes); - How the Regions have set Leader (axis IV)

Centri di competenza tecnica Centri di competenza tecnica How the Regions have set Leader (axis IV) 1 Z F C B G Q D O S P E T L N A R U M V I H 1,5 0,5 2 - 0,5 -1 -1,5 -2 AF AD Centri di competenza tecnica (gestionale - amministrativa) Approccio Leader Centri di competenza tecnica (informazione e animazione) Centri di competenza tecnica (strategica - tematica)

The "number" indicators say little about the good networking processes Rete Leader some DATA … n. 19 Report AL n. 4 Reports on progress n. 8 methodological documents n. 77 events organized by the Italian Rural Network + n. 45 meetings held with LAGs and Regions n. 22 participation in events organized by "others“ n. 5 Working Groups - 1. procedures Leader 2. monitoring 3. evaluation 4.Leader transparency 5. Leader after 2013 Comprehensive database of LAG areas leader, PSL, Financial Plans Axis IV 1400 calls LAG archived and georeferenced WEBSITE Leader - access 12,157 (2009 = 906, 2010 = 2865, 2011 = 5430, 2012 = 2975) . The "number" indicators say little about the good networking processes To "give an account" of the system network and networking processes, the first step is to give form to relations system that is not prescribed and that it is constantly evolving. Structures that interact for a proper "Institutional duty" (eg DG Agriculture, European Rural Network and Leaders Sub Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, National Rural Network and Task Force Leader) can not be considered outright "Network system"

“Extended Report on the Implementation on Leader Approach” Our Participatory process example (1) “Extended Report on the Implementation on Leader Approach” (November 2010) Questionnaires completed by MA and national networks of the 27 Member States relating to 88 PSR Questionnaires by MA and National Networks of 24 SM on the organization of 66 PSR , functions and tasks assigned to the MA, LAG and PA Case studies by MA and national networks of 20 SM for 16 PSR on "complex projects / provided in the Local Development Plans" Case studies developed by MA and National Networks of 6 MS relating to the "small scale projects" fiches prepared by the MA and National Network of 21 member states relating to "eligible expenditure under Axis IV"

Our Participatory process

Italian LEADER Network: the monitoring “they use” the Network for…. Since 2009 n. 436 technical support requests n.1.995 requests for diffusion of information on events, calls, projects, etc. N 2.415 participants to workshops, seminars; etc. “behaviour” of LEADER operators

Contact density - Regions 2009 2012 Contact density - Regions MEDIUM LOW In particular Participations to seminars Information requests for the Network HIGH Monitoring

Contacts pattern - LAGs Network Monitoring 2009 TODAY Annual average Support requests / diffusion = 6 Annual average participation in events = 4 Contacts pattern - LAGs n. LAGs % on tot. LAGs 2009 2012 High 25 39 13 20 Medium -contacts 17 22 9 11 Medium -events 63 48 33 Low 72 None 87 45 6

Needs analysis and intervention planning  in the start-up phase. 25/03/2017 Needs analysis and intervention planning  in the start-up phase.

Needs analysis and intervention planning  in the start-up phase. 25/03/2017 Needs analysis and intervention planning  in the start-up phase. The issues and activities of the LEADER TASK FORCE are periodically reviewed in relation to the phases of the RDP Axis IV implementation. N. Of LDS (Local Development Strategy) Selected and approved. Time LAG & LDS selective process Starting Up of LDS «Local Development Strategy». LAG Learning needs. Learning needs - Methods and Programming practices - Legal aspects - RDP Administrative and Financial Procedures - Communication with the local territory - LAG/Relational (its communication, self-assessment) - Specific Thematic analysis - Specific update needs HIGH RELEVANCE LOW Focus Group : needs analysis. 2009 2010

THE SUPPORT OF THE ITALIAN RURAL NETWORK : the LAGS START UP – example Focus Group for analyzing the needs WORKSHOPS : a. Local Actions Groups: «Legal and institutional OPTIONS for the management of local development plans” b. “HOW to Develop a strategy for local development with the Leader method: key elements for quality in Programme planning ” c. “The operational planning of activities and the administrative and financial management” d. “The planning of communication activities, animation and technical support" e. "The selection of the beneficiaries of Local Development Plans” f. “Evaluating and Monitoring Leader” g. “Signals of Leader: to invest in transparency, communication and evaluation for the future of Leader” f. Evaluating the animation capacity of LAGs. National Study Visits : Renewable energy (LAG Valli di Tures e Aurina) Sustainable Tourism (LAG DELTA 2000) Networks and local food chains (LAG TERRE SHARDANA; LAG Maiella Verde) Cultural heritage ( LAG Basento Camastra Rocca di Cerere, LAG Area Graganica; LAG CILSI) TOOLS : 1. “AL” : our Monthly Report 2. Methodological documents on local animation Technics 3. Projects Reviews 4. Juridical on line consulting 5. Report AL 6. Analysis of the tools for communication and animation for the LAGs 7. Projects Data Base 8. AWARD “E.S.E.M.P.I” 9. LEADERBOOK social network 10. Methodological documents 11. Monitoring system 12. Test of development methodologies in LAG areas 13. Geo-referencing TOOLS Thematic Groups n. meetings n. LAGs n. Regions involved n. of Region Managers Focus Groups 9 86 11 40 Training 19 187 21 59 Seminars 30 139 174 Study visits 7 -

Network monitoring Participants Meeting tipology n. meetings Focus Group 9 meetings with other Member States 5 Training 19 Meeting -Workshop 30 Study visit 7 W.G. Meeting 45 Coordination meetings Tot. 77