According to Konečný, although people can perceive groups mainly from the perspective of subsidies and the issuance of calls, many LAGs develop the countryside with their activities beyond subsidies. “They connect important actors in the countryside, encourage them to take action and, in particular, the group itself carries out a number of activities beneficial to the development of the territory. It depends on how people in the group understand its role, “said Konečný, who is currently working with the GaREP team to publish a book called Local Action Groups: Rural Leaders. , which was supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic and tried to map the current activities of the groups and look for their new roles.
The groups have already established themselves sufficiently in the Czech Republic, have gained respect and recognition and are to play an important role in rural development in the next EU programming period from 2021 to 2027. The groups participate in projects usually in the field of education, tourism, social and community services, take care of improving the environment or promote regional products. They use money from the EU the most, but they also have support from their own partners, from the region and from the state.
According to Konečný, many projects are very inspiring, some even abroad. For example, the Brdy-Vltava LAG operating in Central Bohemia coordinates the activities of social services so that each municipality does not have to have its own contract with service operators, which reduces administration and makes operation cheaper. Other groups are trying to strengthen community services so that the need for institutionalized social care is a last resort, as it is also usually the most expensive aid. LAG Rožnovsko, in turn, initiated the creation of micronesli, which help parents of the youngest children. Konečný also named some other stimulating projects that are worth following. For example, in Brandýs nad Labem, a charity shop was established, where people carry functional, unnecessary things that others can buy. A costume rental shop was established in Starý Poddvorov.
LAGs can include municipalities with less than 25,000 inhabitants, the whole group must have a minimum of 10,000 and a maximum of 100,000 inhabitants. In addition to the municipality, the groups also have other partners from the public, non-profit and private sectors or individuals who work with them and help to develop the countryside together. Group chairmen have been and often are mayors who are among the most active in the countryside and are often natural leaders in development and come up with new ideas, or they can take them on board and help promote them. “In the beginning, the LAG cost much more to volunteer than it does now. I am based on the assumption that the external support for group management has gradually expanded and now the so-called LAG office consists mostly of professionals for whom it is a “full-time” job, “said Konečný.
Contact for more information: Mgr. Ondrej Konecny, Ph. D., e-mail: ondrej.konecny@mendelu.cz, Department of Regional Development, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies
More news
-
MENDELU International Week will take place from 28 March to 1 April. Don't miss the lectures that our faculty will participate in.As part of the International Week, we prepared an offer of open classes in English for all of you who are thinking…20. 3. 2023
-
Faculty celebrates its 15th anniversary!
On 28 March it will be exactly 15 years since our faculty was founded. And so we will celebrate! All year long. The program and more information you can find HERE. We also recommend to following our facebook and the Academic Union.16. 3. 2023 -
International scientific conference New Challenges in Agricultural Development
We are pleased to invite you to our special international scientific conference “New Challenges in Agricultural Development”. The aim of this conference is to share new theoretical and practical knowledge from the field of agriculture, rural…6. 3. 2023 -
Office hours on 8 February in the morning only!
On Wednesday 8 February, office hours will be in the morning only. If you can't make it, plan a visit on another day. Thank you for your understanding!7. 2. 2023 -
Initial meeting of representatives of the joint project of FRRMS Mendel in Brno…
On 21-22 November 2022, the kick-off meeting of the joint project of FRRMS MENDELU in Brno and UAK in Krakow called "BIOMASTER" took place in Krakow. There was a meeting of the deans and vice-deans of the represented institutions, namely the…13. 12. 2022 -
Study department closed
The Study Department will be closed on 6-8 December and 26-28 December 2022. Please use the other days to visit. Thank you for your understanding!5. 12. 2022 -
We held a course "Innovation Policy and Regional Development in Central Europe"
From 7-11 November 2022, we organised an intensive course at the Faculty within the framework of the Blended Intensive Programme initiative of the Erasmus+ programme. The course was attended by 19 students from three Central European…24. 11. 2022 -
2ND MEETING AND WORKSHOP OF THE VIMOMA CONSORTIUM
The second workshop of the VIMOMA project was held between the 24 - 25th of October in Křtiny (Brno-Country District, Czech Republic). It aimed to introduce and discuss possible tools and methodologies for quantitative monitoring of visitors in…14. 11. 2022 -
Call for PHILIPPINES 2023 research expedition
Are you planning to gain experience in research in the Philippines? Can you contribute to the development of local communities? Are you an active person with a special interest in the region of Southeast Asia? We are delighted to announce a call…8. 11. 2022 -
INTERNATIONAL WEEK MENDELU
Don't miss our International week Mendelu with many attractive lectures! As part of the International Week, we prepared an offer of open classes in English for all of you who are thinking about an Erasmus mobility or any other stay abroad… …7. 11. 2022