The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Environment, promotes, in collaboration with MinhaTerra Federation, the 1st Community-based Rural Development Meeting. Held between May 13 and 14, the event brings together Local Action Groups (LAGs) from all over the country.
 
The initiative, which will take place at Angra do Heroísmo Cultural Congress and Centre, is an opportunity for analysis and reflection on the local development strategies that LAGs are implementing in their territories under the Partnership Agreement - Portugal 2020 and Europe 2020 goals.
 
"Cooperation" and "Assessment" are two topics under discussion at this meeting, which will be also attended by representatives of the European Network for Rural Development, the Institute of Social and Economic Studies, the European LEADER Association for Rural Development and also of the European Commission.
 
Portuguese Local Action Groups have cooperated in different areas, from active tourism, accessible tourism and heritage, to the agri-food short circuits, sharing experiences and knowledge that promote and improve territories.
 
The main goals of this national meeting, which is promoted by the Regional Directorate for Rural Development, as the Managing Authority of PRORURAL +, concern the improvement of the implementation capacity of assessment and sharing of knowledge in evaluation.
 
Participants in this meeting will still have the opportunity to visit some projects financed under EAFRD - European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development in the previous programming period.