With significant experience and expertise in designing development strategies—and having recently developed the Special Development Program (SDP) of Agrafa, the first inter-municipal and interregional special development program for mountainous municipalities in Greece—Lever S.A. has been selected by six Local Action Groups (LAGs) as a Technical Support Consultant for the design of their Local Development Strategies (LEADER Program), tailored to the specific characteristics and needs of each intervention area, which shape the priorities of each strategy.

For example:

In Florina, emphasis was placed on improving social cohesion by reducing inequalities, addressing poverty, and enhancing the area’s attractiveness.

In the Trichonida region, the main priority is the gradual adjustment of the local economy’s production model to new spatial planning conditions and development prospects.

In the broader Ilia region, the key focus is the protection and promotion of the rich cultural and natural environment, as a core element of the area’s distinct identity.

In island regions, the priorities differ from those of mainland Greece:

The Zakynthos strategy emphasizes enhancing the developmental self-sufficiency and independence of the region, highlighting synergies that promote competitiveness and sustainability.

In the Kefalonia-Ithaca area, priority was given to strengthening the relationship between quality tourism and the production of high-quality agricultural products, supported by scientific research and incorporating a spatial, multi-sectoral, and integrated approach.

Regarding the Regional Unit of Islands of Attica, the strategy seeks to leverage the area’s unique assets, prioritizing sustainable management of natural and cultural resources in combination with tourism development.

For over thirty years, the LEADER programs have been a deliberate choice of the EU for developing the rural economy, and experience has shown that they can truly improve the daily lives of people in rural areas. They serve as a key tool for building local capacities and introducing new and innovative ways to meet the needs of rural communities.

During the 2023–2027 programming period, LEADER will once again be a central development tool for rural areas, as a distinct intervention within the CAP Strategic Plan, but this time adapted to new realities and needs, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, and the impacts of climate change, all of which have had adverse effects on these regions.

A core element of the local strategies during this programming period will be the implementation of actions aligned with:

the goals of the European Green Deal, the Green Paper for Rural Development, innovation to address socio-economic challenges, the promotion of the circular economy and bioeconomy, the use of ICT, and the development of Smart Villages policies for the integrated resolution of chronic problems in small sub-areas within the LEADER regions.