Delivering CLLD effectively: a new guide on how to design delivery systems that strengthen the bottom-up approach

FARNET has just published its latest guide, on “Delivering CLLD effectively”. Although labelled “A guide for EMFF Managing Authorities”, in fact, it can be useful for the managing authorities of CLLD under any of the ESI Funds and it is, of course, of considerable interest to local development experts.

The guide aims to address one of the key issues identified by CLLD stakeholders, that of delivery systems not adapted to the bottom-up character of CLLD, creating bureaucratic obstacles and delays. It is written on the basis of our experience working with MAs, analysing in-depth some of the delivery systems and talking to LAGs and FLAGs about what works and what doesn’t. It is meant to be very practical and easy to use, with a lot of examples.

As explained in the introduction of the guide “Over ten years of implementation of fisheries CLLD has shown that the quality of delivery systems is a key factor determining the success of CLLD, i.e. enabling people to make a positive change in their area. By delivery systems we mean the set of rules and procedures which define the steps, tasks and roles of different stakeholders involved in the implementation of the programme. These systems are to a large extent designed at the national (and sometimes regional) level and vary greatly between Member States (MS).

This diversity of delivery systems across the EU leads to considerable differences in the speed of implementation and very different results achieved on the ground. While in some MS the systems are designed to facilitate access to funding for the “unusual suspects”, flexibility to react to local needs and speedy decision making, in others FLAGs and beneficiaries are confronted with complex rules and administrative barriers that discourage many local stakeholders from presenting projects. This guide provides practical suggestions and examples of how to design delivery systems that strengthen the bottom-up approach, while ensuring transparency and accountability for EU funding”.

The guide is already available in English, French, Spanish, German and Polish – click here – and very shortly in Italian and Croatian.