Empowerment of Regional Partnerships

Within the framework of the Regional Action-Rural Areas Shaping The Future Pilot Program launched by the German Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture (BMVEL) in 2001, integrated development concepts are being implemented in eighteen model regions. Trial-Testing a new bottom-up approach, policy-makers aim at achieving best-practice examples of sustainable rural development. The cooperation structures established in the regions are expressed mainly in the form of regional partnerships. The paper aims at giving an impression of their structures and roles, and illustrates the learning and democratization processes initiated by the program.