Download the investigation here
The investigation on Increased clarity, strengthened collaboration – conditions for the future's development policy from the investigation for Sweden's cohesive development, SVESAM, has submitted its interim report. The report outlines fundamental conditions for a new policy that utilizes all of Sweden's ability to contribute to development and prosperity to be effective. The investigation also presents a proposal for clearer rules regarding the regions' consultations with civil society. LUS is involved as a partner in the investigation.
In the interim report that includes Leader and the Leader method, one can read on page 19 (Interim report by SVESAM – Investigation for Sweden's cohesive development):
”We believe that the methods and working practices used within the framework of the Leader method are interesting, especially for opportunities for enhanced collaboration, and we will look further into how they could be utilized on a larger scale. Evaluations have pointed to both advantages and development opportunities with the Leader work, including that structural effects of the interventions could increase in several ways.”
An important aspect that the investigation examines more closely is the role of Leader in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP):
During the last programming period, the focus for the implementation of CAP in Sweden has not broadened towards more general rural initiatives but instead narrowed towards agriculture and food production. Sweden currently does not have a separate rural program but a common document for the implementation of CAP in Sweden; Sweden's strategic plan for the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027 (the strategic plan). All member states must work based on three general and nine specific goals, where one general goal is to improve life in rural areas and one specific goal is to contribute to a vibrant countryside. It is primarily measures within Leader that are directed towards rural development. The budget proposal for 2023 indicates that the government's intention was for several measures that have so far been handled within CAP to instead be designed as national support.
Read more on page 58 and onwards in the report.
Experiences from locally led development of interest for working methods and collaboration
The report also highlights Leader in terms of financing from multi-fund versus single-fund:
”Of interest for the investigation is the method for development through locally led development (Leader), and particularly how working methods and collaboration have developed into tools for local and regional development. There are 40 leader areas in Sweden during the program period 2023-2027 and they cover about 86 percent of the country's total area. In most leader groups, the actors meet across municipal borders, and sometimes even across county borders. The groups are based on local needs and through the so-called three-party partnership between the private, non-profit, and public sectors, they work together to develop an area or a community. During the previous program period, a so-called multi-fund solution was applied within Leader, with funds from the rural development fund, regional fund, social fund, and maritime and fisheries fund. In the current period, Leader is financed solely with funds from the rural development fund. The investigation believes that the methods and working practices used within the framework of the leader method are interesting, especially for opportunities for enhanced collaboration, and we will look further into how they could be utilized on a larger scale. Evaluations have pointed to both advantages and development opportunities with leader work, among other things that the structural effects of the initiatives could increase in several ways. In the continued work leading up to the final report, we will examine how experiences from leader work in both Sweden and other countries can be utilized in a renewed territorial policy.".
(p. 123-124)
More about SVESAM
- The investigation highlights that clarity in the goals, responsibilities, and governance of the policy as well as forms for effective collaboration are the foundations for creating a policy where the potential for sustainable growth and development in all parts of Sweden is utilized. They also particularly highlight the opportunities for rural areas to contribute to societal development.
- The government decided on July 11, 2024, to assign a special investigator to propose how future regional development policy and rural policy should be directed and designed. Martin Olauzon was appointed as the special investigator. The investigation has adopted the name SVESAM – The Investigation for Sweden's Cohesive Development.
The investigation has formulated three main areas of inquiry
- Responsibility and governance: The investigation assesses that the goals for future policy need to be clearer and more concrete. The government's governance of state authorities and regions needs to be strengthened and clarified.
- Coordination and collaboration: The investigation states that enhanced collaboration is necessary, barriers to collaboration must be removed, and opportunities for collaboration must be strengthened.
- The design of the policy: One of the questions that the investigation will answer is whether the regional development policy and rural policy should be merged and have a new common goal. The investigation believes that a merger could mean increased clarity, better coordination of initiatives, and simplification of implementation.
For a deeper understanding of the assignment, please read more here:
SVESAM investigation