Investigation of integration and participation in decision-making within Leader Local Action Groups

Katarina Kubinakova, a PhD Student from the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), is investigating degree of integration and different participatory approaches within the different stages of rural development strategy design and implementation, in Leader groups.

The title of the project is "Investigation of integration and participation in decision-making within Leader Local Actions Groups in Great Britain and Slovakia."

The aim of the research is to investigate the degree of integration achieved and extent and impacts of the participatory approaches apparent in the decision-making processes within the different stages of rural development strategy design and implementation, in Leader groups. Through this, it should be possible to produce new insights into how these factors affect the relative performance of Leader, in different contexts within the EU.

More specifically the research project will:

• explore the processes of preparing and implementing integrated rural development strategies;
• compare the approaches of selected Leader Local Action Groups (LAGs) in Slovakia and Great Britain; 
• analyse the forms of participatory decision making processes involved; 
• examine the level of integration and its perception by stakeholders, within the LAGs and in the respective development strategies; and 
• identify methodological shortfalls and good practice in the contrasting participatory methods employed, and consider their implications for Leader performance.

If you would like more information or have ideas that you would like to contribute this piece of evolving research. Please contact Katarina using any of the details below.

Katarina Kubinakova
CCRI
Dunholme Villa
The Park
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 2RH

E: kkubinakova@glos.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1242 715397
F: +44 (0)1242 714395