Développer l'engagement européen dans les Régions d'Outre-Mer

<< Background >>We applied for this project because the LEADER programme represents one of the European Union’s major successes on the ground, particularly in the most remote areas. Based on the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) approach, LEADER enables rural territories — whether continental, mountainous, coastal, or outermost — to carry out projects tailored to their specific needs. However, outermost regions face unique challenges due to their geographical distance, time zone differences, and more limited access to training opportunities. Eight Outermost Regions (ORs) currently implement the LEADER programme, yet the technicians and members of Local Action Groups (LAGs) in these areas often express a strong sense of isolation and find it difficult to connect with a broader European dynamic. This project was therefore designed to create opportunities for exchange between outermost LAGs and their European counterparts, to strengthen their sense of belonging within the LEADER network, to showcase their practices, and to support the development of their skills.<< Objectives >>The central objective of the project was to create spaces for exchange between all Local Action Groups (LAGs) from the Outermost Regions (ORs) at the European level. Aware of the specific challenges faced by these territories—such as isolation, geographical constraints, and diverse administrative contexts—the project aimed to facilitate dialogue among local stakeholders and foster mutual understanding between OR LAGs. Through dedicated sessions for sharing good practices, participants were able to exchange experiences on implementing Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) in insular or tropical environments that often differ significantly from continental realities. The project also sought to promote cooperation by encouraging the creation of lasting connections between the outermost territories of the three partner countries—France, Spain, and Portugal—thus strengthening their integration within the European LEADER network and paving the way for future joint initiatives.<< Implementation >>The project made it possible to organize three mobilities in Outermost Regions, each led by one of the national federations partnering in the project: France, Spain, and Portugal. These mobilities offered participants the opportunity to explore the management systems specific to each country in relation to the implementation of the LEADER programme, while also discovering concrete projects and good practices developed locally in the Outermost Regions (ORs). These exchanges helped highlight the diversity of approaches while identifying transferable elements between territories. Additionally, the project provided a framework to better understand the specific needs and expectations of OR LAGs. In response, a series of thematic webinars was developed to address the questions and challenges raised by local stakeholders. As a conclusion to the project, an advocacy document was drafted to support the creation of a dedicated exchange platform for OR LAGs, with the aim of sustaining the connections built and providing long-term tools for cooperation.<< Results >>The project created valuable opportunities for collective reflection on the specific needs of Local Action Groups (LAGs) in the Outermost Regions (ORs) and led to the development of an advocacy document supporting the creation of a dedicated exchange platform for these LAGs. This in-depth work highlighted the unique challenges faced by OR LAGs, which differ from those of their continental counterparts due to geographical distance, and specific administrative and socio-economic contexts. To better understand and document these differences, a needs assessment was conducted among the OR LAGs. The results helped identify priority topics for supporting these teams. In response to the findings, two thematic webinars were organized, directly addressing the issues raised by the LAGs. These webinars aimed to provide concrete tools, foster experience sharing, and strengthen the capacity of OR LAGs to implement Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) more effectively.