The LEADER Workshop of the IPARD III Program was organized by the Managing Authority of the EU Structural Alignment at the Directorate General of Agricultural Reform in Ankara on August 26-27, 2024.
Approximately 300 participants attended the workshop, including representatives from the 26 Regional Coordination Offices of the Turkish Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Network, Provincial Directorates of Agriculture and Forestry, central and provincial representatives of the Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution (ARDSI), Local Action Group (LAG) representatives, development agency representatives, and academics. The workshop featured thematic sessions aimed at preparing Local Development Strategies (LDS) and establishing potential Local Action Groups (LAGs).
In his opening speech, Mr. Hasan Hüseyin HAN, Head of the EU Structural Alignment Managing Authority Department, stated that, similar to IPARD I, the IPARD II Program will close successfully with almost 100% utilization of funds. He also announced that the IPARD III Program and the LEADER measure will be implemented across all 81 provinces, that the public contribution rate will be increased to 50%, raising the IPARD III fund from €556 million to €785 million, and that the LEADER budget of the IPARD Program has been set at €50 million.
The program commenced with a presentation on the structure of the Turkish CAP Network and the LEADER approach by Dr. Şenay SEVENGÖR, Coordinator at the EU Structural Alignment Managing Authority Department. Further presentations were given by Mr. Sebahattin KESKİN, Coordinator of the Integrated Administration and Control Department of the Directorate General of Agricultural Reform, on production planning; Mr. Özgür DEMİR, Inspector Coordinator from the Directorate General of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Interior, on association legislation; Ms. Berna GİRESUNLU from the EU Structural Alignment Managing Authority Department, on the establishment of potential Local Action Groups; and Ms. Figen ERCAN, on the preparation of Local Development Strategies.
In the afternoon, a presentation on rural development strategies was delivered by Prof. Dr. Erdoğan GÜNEŞ from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Ankara University’s Faculty of Agriculture, followed by parallel sessions on five thematic topics with participant discussions. On the second day of the workshop, ARDSI experts conducted detailed presentations on LEADER application procedures and payment request processes. The program concluded with a general evaluation where draft local development strategy templates were prepared, followed by a question-and-answer session.