04Nov
Rural Development Policy Forum of South Eastern Europe countries 2018
Тhe Rural Development Policy Forum of South Eastern Europe countries 2018 focusing on “Diversification of economic activities in the rural areas and role of CSO in supporting diversification”, was held in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 16, 17 and 18 October 2018. The RDPF 2018 was organized by the Balkan Rural Development Network and Development Foundation of Turkey within the project ALTER – Active Local Territories for Economic development of Rural Areas. The RDPF participants also had the opportunity to participate in the Agricultural Policy Forum (APF) 2018 “Agricultural Policy: Determinant of the Regional Rural Development and EU Perspectives of SEE” organised by the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in SEE.
The Rural Development Policy Forum of South Eastern Europe countries 2018 served as a platform for dialogue on perspectives of diversification of economic activities in rural areas of SEE countries and provided possibility for dialogue between all relevant stakeholders. After sharing experiences in diversification of economic activities in rural areas in Western Balkan countries, Turkey and EU, the participants were divided in three working groups on the following topics:
- Diversification of economic activities in rural areas – how to establish stimulative environment;
- Role of civil society organisations in supporting diversification of economic activities in rural areas;
- Social entrepreneurship as possibility for diversification of economic activities in rural areas and support employment marginalized groups.
Within each of these topics, the groups identified the key issues and problems, giving appropriate policy recommendations related to the diversification of the economic activities in rural areas in the region. Finally, the participants of RDPF 2018 had the opportunity to participate on the plenary session of the Agricultural Policy Forum (APF) 2018, with possibility to contribute to Policy recommendations.