Responsible planning in Finland’s LEADER

Planning experiences in Finland’s LEADER emphasise the importance of taking local knowledge, peculiarities and situations into account. It is worth awakening and setting in motion the creativity of participants with the aid of numerous meetings, discussions, workshops and other communication tools. Based on what has gone before, the following are important in local strategic plans: clarity, acceptance by local inhabitants, the supportive understanding of the authorities, and the clear reflection of local demands directed toward improving the quality of life in the countryside.