LEADER Funding in North Rhine-Westphalia
Since 2023, LEADER funding in North Rhine-Westphalia has supported innovative and sustainable projects for the development of rural areas. Applications can be submitted continuously until December 31, 2027, in one of the 45 LEADER regions.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The LEADER funding aims to make rural areas sustainable for the future. The focus is on sustainable projects that strengthen innovation and economic strength in the regions, promote inter-municipal cooperation, and develop and test solutions to challenges such as demographic change, climate change, and resource conservation.
Eligible to apply
- Individuals
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
- Non-profit Organizations
- Foundations
- Public Institutions
- Educational Institutions
Funding requirements
- Project implementation must take place in one of the currently 45 LEADER regions in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Applicants must be natural or legal persons under private or public law
- Projects should correspond to the objectives of the respective Regional Development Concept (REK)
- Own funds must amount to at least 20–30% of the total project costs
- Project costs per project must generally be between €1,000 and €250,000
Evaluation criteria
- Innovation and added value for the region
- Sustainability and climate protection aspects
- Contribution to the structural development of rural areas
- Implementation of inter-municipal cooperation
- Relevance to the objectives of the Regional Development Concept (REK)
Description
Since 2023, the LEADER funding in North Rhine-Westphalia has supported sustainable and innovative individual measures in rural areas. Sponsors from both the private and public sectors receive grants covering up to 80% of eligible expenses, for project costs ranging between €1,000 and €250,000. Projects are funded in the thematic areas of agriculture & rural development, regional promotion, environmental and climate protection, research & innovation, as well as labor & social affairs. The goal is future-proof structural development to strengthen innovation capacity and economic potential in the regions, promote inter-municipal cooperation, and find and test solutions to challenges such as demographic change and resource conservation.
The program targets natural and legal persons under private or public law – including municipalities, associations, foundations, and civil society actors – who wish to become active in one of the currently 45 LEADER regions. A prerequisite is alignment with the respective Regional Development Concept (REK) as well as an equity share of 20%–30%. Evaluation is based on innovation and added value for the region, sustainability and climate protection aspects, contribution to rural structural development, and implementation of inter-municipal cooperation. Applications can be submitted continuously until December 31, 2027. Funding amounts of up to €250,000 per project are possible.
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