EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES: ENHANCING LAGS CAPACITY IN ROMANIA VIA SOCIAL ECONOMY VENTURES AMIDST AND BEYOND THE PANDEMIC
EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES: ENHANCING LAGS CAPACITY IN ROMANIA VIA SOCIAL ECONOMY VENTURES AMIDST AND BEYOND THE PANDEMIC

Summary/Abstract: Since the first years of operation of Local Action Groups, LAGs have started to have a positive impact on the social and economic development of rural areas, giving priority to marginalized communities and disadvantaged groups. Through resilience and adaptability, they also had a positive impact through entrepreneurship actions, by collaborating with local entrepreneurs and from the social economy sector, by creating jobs for people with reduced opportunities or social barriers, from these environments. Starting from the research question regarding the share of social economy and entrepreneurship initiatives within the Local Development Strategies proposed by the Rural Local Action Groups in Romania, the main objective of the study was to identify the social economy and entrepreneurship measures implemented in the SDL of the LAGs aimed at the general population but also Roma communities and vulnerable groups. We used a qualitative research method, more precisely the focus group interview method. The findings shed light on the nature of social economy initiatives, the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs, and the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in fostering socio-economic development.

• Details
• Contents