The “Local Action Group Rakitovo – Pazardzhik” Association is a non-profit legal entity established in 2023.
The territory of the Local Action Group encompasses two neighboring municipalities – Rakitovo and the settlements of Pazardzhik Municipality, excluding the municipal center within its construction boundaries. Within this LAG territory, there are 2 towns (Rakitovo and Kostandovo) and 32 villages, with a total population of 48,534 people in 2022 and a total area of 845.78 sq. km, representing 19% of the area of Pazardzhik District.
- Rakitovo Municipality: the town of Rakitovo, the town of Kostandovo, and the village of Dorkovo.
- Pazardzhik Municipality: the villages of Aleko Konstantinovo, Apriltsi, Bratanitsa, Velichkovo, Gelemenovo, Glavinitsa, Govedare, Debrashtitsa, Dobrovnitsa, Dragor, Zvanichevo, Ivaylo, Krali Marko, Lyahovo, Malo Konare, Miryantsi, Mokrishte, Ovchepoltsi, Ognyanovo, Patalenitsa, Pishtigovo, Rosen, Saraya, Sbor, Sinitovo, Topoli Dol, Hadzhievo, Tsar Asen, Tsrancha, Chernogorovo, and Yunatsite.
Currently, the “Local Action Group Rakitovo-Pazardzhik” Association is implementing a Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) Strategy, funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) through the Strategic Plan for Agricultural and Rural Development 2023–2027.
LAG Activities
The Association’s priorities are focused on rural development in the areas of: agricultural competitiveness, environmental protection, improving the quality of life, and diversifying economic activities in rural areas through the development of services and non-agricultural business, providing employment opportunities, and ensuring the comprehensive and harmonious development of people, especially in villages and small settlements.
Main Objectives of the Association:
- To support rural development within the territory of LAG RAKITOVO – PAZARDZHIK;
- To develop and promote European practices and approaches for decentralized rural development;
- To encourage the alignment of Bulgarian agricultural policy with the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), support agricultural development, and contribute to strengthening rural areas;
- To support rural development in the areas of competitiveness, environmental protection, improving the quality of life, and diversifying rural economic activities;
- To stimulate the introduction of new methods and resources for rural development by implementing targeted and innovative rural policies;
- To facilitate the development of agricultural and non-agricultural economic activities, including rural tourism;
- To create and develop new, higher-quality services tailored to the needs of the local population;
- To support, stimulate, and expand trans-national cooperation by participating in the creation and development of cooperation networks;
- To promote the exchange of experience between different local action groups and other rural areas in the country;
- To work towards strengthening the local identity of rural areas;
- To facilitate the development of inter-municipal cooperation;
- To assist in increasing the local capacity and knowledge of the region;
- To work towards expanding income access for local residents;
- To work towards improving the competitiveness of typical local products;
- To work towards enhancing the opportunities for local community involvement and organization for better rural development;
- To motivate the participation of local legal entities and individuals in regional development to ensure the implementation of bottom-up local initiatives;
- To work for and support the building of a civil society, democratization, and transparency in the activities of central and local government bodies through civic initiatives and cooperation with state institutions, local, and regional authorities;
- To increase the overall attractiveness of rural areas as a place for a decent life.
