Gestión del desarrollo local. Estudio comparado del programa Leader en la Unión Europea y del Promata en Brasil

Almost a quarter century ago, the LEADER approach - Liaisons Entre Activités de Developpement de l´Economie Rural - was launched in the European Union, based on nine main approaches: the area-based approach, bottom-up approach, Partnership approach and the Local Action Group, innovation, integrated and multi-sectoral approach, Networking and cooperation between areas, and Local financing. LEADER what started as a community initiative, since 2007 became part of the fourth axis of the rural development policy in the European Union (EU).The aim of this study is to shed light on the transformation of rural economies, from the following claims: 1) Identify the endogenous and exogenous factors highlighted in the current local development policies, especially those related to equity and the trilogy strategy, territory and partnership; 2) identify how Leader and Promata are established in their territories, seeking to obtain a greater understanding of their practices; 3) make a comparative study between Leader and Promata, focusing on the essential aspects of Leader methodology, seeking to contribute to the expansion of the picture on the experiences of endogenous local development.For field research in the European Union were considered less developed areas, and the Rural Development Groups (Spain) - Local Development Associations (Portugal) who attended at least one of the first two stages of LEADER. Thus, the survey was conducted in the region of Andalusia, in the provinces of Córdoba, Granada and Jaén; and in the region of Trás-os-Montes, Alentejo and Algarve. In Brazil, the search includes the five municipalities in the Territory Pilot PROMATA - Aliança, Buenos Aires, Nazaré da Mata, Tracunhaém and Vicência - located in the Zona da Mata Norte of Pernambuco.Since the implementation of the LEADER approach to the analysis of PROMATA, followed by a comparative study between LEADER and PROMATA is possible to infer that the LEADER methodology, based on the theory of endogenous development, can be transferred to other Local Development Strategies (LDS) out of European Union.The territorial approach requires a dynamic space, less tied to their political and administrative structure, and more identified with the socio-cultural issues. In this context, there is no room to deny the past, nor to deny the changes and develop the future. It is also necessary to realize the elasticity of the binder, as may be necessary to choose a strong transversal theme, for an extended area.You can also confirm the importance of bottom-up approach to strengthen the LDS, through community empowerment and effective participation in local development solutions. We conclude that the participation of different local actors effectively inserted into the social and cultural context is essential to create a critical mass for both the implementation of the LDS. Still, we need tools that expand the capacity of perception of positive impacts in the areas of intervention, especially that which have better quality of life, before the action of the Development Strategies.For the integrated and multisectoral approach in LEADER is possible to observe a strong vertical integration between different levels of government, favored by the political and administrative structure of the European Union. Not so in Brazil, where the EDL have reduced their ability to respond, because they are not connected in a systemic way to further initiatives.For the success of the projects supported, and the presence of a Local Action Group (LAG) experienced and strengthened, it is necessary to take into account the state of the local business culture and fostering entrepreneurship through appropriate technical assistance and capacity building for development business plans, which must precede the initiatives.While in EU actions in favor of equity it seeks to promote equal opportunities for minority groups in Brazil is sought primarily to ensure access of the economically disadvantaged population to basic care services. Finally, it is observed that a lower level of education and institutionalization leads the greater difficulty in performing follow-up actions and Local Development Strategies evaluation.