Know-how for local rural development: knowledge and innovations in LEADER Local Development Strategies in Croatia

The paper examines perspectives of knowledge and innovation in projects envisioned by local residents and actors in rural Croatia in their LEADER Local Development Strategies (LDS). Knowledge and innovation are generally considered to be key drivers of development in contemporary society. Traditionally both concepts have been linked to exogenous scientific and expert learning, mainly in urban settings. However, in terms of the more participative approach to rural development in the EU since the beginning of the 1990s, expert exogenous knowledge (e.g. EU structures, developmental agencies) has been expected to be combined with endogenous and often tacit knowledge and social capital embedded in the local context. Thus, learning and innovation in this newly-emerging discourse are not considered necessarily in terms of developing completely new products or services, but also in a search for novel, integrative solutions in development of territory predominantly by networking and a participative approach. This might, for example, include activities that recombine or adapt existing forms of knowledge. Eventually, it is expected that this approach would lead to capacity building and usage of local resources as long-term strategies for sustainability. Although EU wide experiences concerning the outcomes vary considerably and there is no lack of criticism, LEADER is usually viewed as a successful EU initiative with transformative effects in knowledge and innovation creation in rural development. In 2013 Croatia officially started implementing the LEADER approach through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for Rural Development (IPARD), although activities based on community-led local development (CLLD) in rural areas have been initiated by civil society since mid 2000’s. Until now, 61 Local Action Groups (LAG) have been formed in 451 municipalities and administrative towns equaling 81% of all LAU2 in the country. Although it can be argued that such a great number of LAGs in a short period of time is partly the result of the intention to participate in a recently open call for the first financial support, all of them have nevertheless created Local Development Strategies (LDS). According to EU, Local Development Strategy plays a vital and integral role at the heart of the LEADER approach. If created successfully it builds on “the unique knowledge that local actors have of their area and the essential involvement of strategic and delivery partners within the wider sectoral and territorial development chain”. For that reason, this paper examines a sample of LDS in Croatia and aims to identify objectives and projects recognized as important for local rural development by participants of the process. Furthermore, it reflects the local know-how towards sustainable rural developments and discusses them in a wider demographic and socio-economic context of rural Croatia. Finally, it critically re-examines recognized objectives within the knowledge and innovation concepts presented and questions the relationship between endogenous local knowledge and exogenous resources (e.g. development agencies, consultants).