After the initial promotion of EU LEADER approach in Dojran and Shtip, the Rural Development Network of the Republic of Macedonia started organizing workshops for detailed presentation of LEADER methodology and its seven characteristics:
- local development strategy based on territorial approach;
- “bottom-up” approach;
- public-private partnership: Local Action Group (LAG);
- innovation activities;
- multi-sectorial approach;
- networking and
- implementation of projects for cooperation.
After the first workshop in Gevgelija, on March 14th, another workshop of this kind was held in Shtip. Representatives of local self-government, civil and business sector from the southeast and east planning region of the Republic of Macedonia were invited to these events.
Through the capacity building component of the USAID Adaptation to Climate change in Agriculture project, a range of activities are envisaged to strengthen the capacities of all stakeholders in rural areas and increase their participative planning in the decision making process, important for the community.