Constrains of the Multi-Sectoral Partnerships in Romania - Are Local Action Groups Sustainable?

Local Action Groups (LAGs) are responsible for promoting social and economic development in their territories, by creating local development strategies (LDSs) funded through LEADER Programme. They are area-based multisectoral partnerships, formed from public, private and social stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to study the governance and sustainability of Romanian LAGs, using evidence from the Nord-West Development Region from Romania. Structured interviews with LAGs managers were used as a primary method for collecting data. The results show that LAGs are struggling to remain active during the transition periods between two editions of the program, questioning their capacity to function without LEADER funding. However, they report fewer major changes compared to the last transition, mostly focusing on partnership and territorial structure.