Leader France : the national network dedicated to the LEADER programme in France
Since its creation in 1997, the federation has embodied networking between LAGs and stakeholders involved in the LEADER programme, through projects and partnerships with regional and national actors. Its aim is to create a national network that is strongly committed to the LEADER programme.
Leader France: the voice of French LAGs
Leader France represents the French LAGs before national and European institutions, in order to defend the role of rural development and the LEADER programme.
This local stakeholders’ representation also takes place through partnership agreements, projects, and advocacy actions with managing authorities as well as national and European institutions.
The LEADER programme
LEADER (in French: Liaison entre Actions de Développement de l’Économie Rurale) is the European programme dedicated to rural areas. It supports the development of these areas.
Local Action Groups (LAGs)
Local Action Groups (LAGs) bring together local stakeholders working on a local development strategy through innovative projects that focus both on community engagement and territorial planning.
Leader France aim is to defend the application of the fundamental principles of the LEADER approach and of Community-Led Local Development (CLLD), in order to ensure a more coherent implementation of the programme, firmly rooted in territorial realities.
Networking
The federation is commited into the creation of a strong and engaged national network around the LEADER programme.
Leader France works to network French LAGs through projects and partnerships with regional and national stakeholders.
Advocating and representing
In order to advocate for rural development and the LEADER programme, Leader France represents LAGs within national and European institutions.
The federation also works with stakeholders in order to identify their needs and the challenges of the different programming periods.
To represent and inform
In order to best support the LAGs, Leader France offers training activities, through webinars and conferences.
The federation also provides various communication materials aimed at informing about the LEADER programme, as well as other existing funding schemes at both national and European levels.
Promoting Best Practices
The success of the LEADER programme, driven by the actions of the LAGs, reflects the commitment and tangible results achieved on the ground.
Throughout programming periods, Leader France highlights various successes, such as official visits, events, and projects.
French Presidency of ELARD (European LEADER Association for Rural Development) in 2023 and 2024
In 2023 and 2024, Leader France has ensured the presidency of ELARD (European Leader Association for Rural Development) which brings together 24 national networks representing 2,600 European LEADER territories. The French presidency of this European network provided Leader France with an opportunity to promote the LEADER programme at the European level, and more broadly, Community-Led Local Development (CLLD).
This presidency has also been marked by the organisation of two European LEADER congress, held in Brussels in December 2023 and in Poitiers in October 2024.
These events gathered all LEADER stakeholders in Europe, as well as European decision-makers, and allowed the LEADER programme, and more broadly the role of rural development in European policies, to be highlighted.