Impact Analysis of the Local Action Group “LAG – Lom” on Rural Development in Northwestern Bulgaria
Impact Analysis of the Local Action Group “LAG – Lom” on Rural Development in Northwestern Bulgaria

Author(s): Adelina Angelova
Subject(s): Economy, Business Economy / Management, Micro-Economics
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: Local Action Group (LAG); LEADER approach; Community-Led Local Development (CLLD); rural areas; sustainable development
Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this report is to analyze the impact of the Local Action Group (LAG) – Lom as a successful model for implementing the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) approach in the context of sustainable rural development. The selection of LAG Lom as the subject of this study is based on the fact that the Northwestern Planning Region is one of the least socio-economically developed regions not only in Bulgaria but also within the European Union. This region is characterized by extremely unfavorable demographic trends, while at the same time possessing a rich variety of natural resources. These contrasting features prompted our interest in exploring the influence of the LAG’s activities on harnessing local potential and improving the living standards of the local population. Understanding the trends and intensity of ongoing processes is of particular importance for revealing regional development disparities and for identifying the need for appropriate measures to reduce and mitigate them. In this context, the report presents an analysis of the activities of LAG – Lom, identifying several key achievements, including the promotion of entrepreneurship, diversification of the local economy, and activation of social capital. It has been established that innovative aspects in the management and implementation of the CLLD Strategy – such as new forms of partnership, digitalization, and support for social entrepreneurship – contribute to greater competitiveness and social cohesion. The use of a SWOT analysis to outline the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and potential threats during the previous programming period (2014-2020) helped minimize challenges, although it did not eliminate them entirely. These challenges are generally linked to external factors that hinder the development of LAG – Lom. The preparation of the new Strategy for the 2025–2029 period builds upon accumulated experience, newly acquired knowledge, and competencies, with the clear aim of enhancing the organization's capacity for future initiatives. Thus, the implementation of the CLLD approach in the territory of Lom Municipality demonstrates the high potential of local communities to act as active agents of change and provides a solid foundation for achieving strong results by the end of the current programming period (2025-2029), with promising prospects for sustainable growth and innovative rural development.

• Details
• Contents