The Role of LAGs in Rural Governance: Political Participation and Decision-Making at the Municipal Level | LAGGo

Project Overview

The project aims to study the political participation of rural residents in governing their living spaces in the context of the LEADER/CLLD approach. The study objectives include examining regulations and responsibilities underpinning LAGs, analyzing their structure and governance mode, studying the socio-economic composition of LAG boards, identifying stakeholders and assessing their roles in decision-making, investigating levels and forms of political participation, and analyzing the capacity- building mechanism provided by LAGs. To inform the research aim and objectives, the empirical research will utilize an innovative combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, specifically through (i) an online survey with members of all LAGs in Georgia, (ii) in-depth interviews with various stakeholders in two case study areas (Kazbegi and Khulo municipalities), and (iii) administrative data collection from all existing LAGs.

Partner Universities

LAGGo is implemented in partnership with Tbilisi State University (TSU) and International Black Sea University (IBSU). The project includes foreign collaborators from the following universities:

1. The University of Innsbruck (UIBK), Austria
2. Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Finland
3. The Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), Switzerland

The project is funded by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (FR-23-489)