DOI: 10.53443/anadoluibfd.1767891 ISSN: 2687-184X

AN EVALUATION OF THE ROLE OF THE “LEADER” APPROACH IN TÜRKİYE’S RURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND EMPLOYMENT DIVERSIFICATION

Merve Bozdemir Akçil, Kaan Akçil
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The “LEADER” approach, developed within the European Union’s rural development framework, promotes sustainable development in rural areas through local participation in decision-making. Türkiye adopted this approach via IPARD programs during the EU accession process, and after the IPARD II period it began to be implemented in pilot regions. Local Action Groups (LAGs) were established, preparing Local Development Strategies (LDS) that encouraged micro initiatives in non-agricultural sectors. This process triggered not only economic but also social and institutional transformations. This study analyzes the coherence between the “LEADER” approach and Türkiye’s rural development strategies through its seven core principles. Findings show that Türkiye has embraced a participatory, resource-based structure in rural planning, but needs improvement in areas such as participation, institutional capacity, public coordination, and networking. At the same time, “LEADER” holds strong potential for integrating idle labor into the economy, empowering women and youth in agricultural production, and diversifying non-agricultural employment. Skills such as digital literacy, environmental awareness, entrepreneurship, and multi-sectoral abilities are essential for its success. Overall, “LEADER” is both an economic and social transformation tool. It aligns with Türkiye’s rural policies and can significantly enhance employment diversity if local actors are further activated, institutional capacities strengthened, and collaborations expanded.

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