FEADER 77.05 — LEADER: Local development led by local stakeholders

Preparatory support is distinct from the financing of economic projects. For a business or association wishing to finance its own project, this is generally the implementation strand.

1. Objective

LEADER finances projects that contribute to the economic and social development of Guadeloupe's rural territories, within the framework of a local strategy defined by stakeholders in the territory. The approach favours local initiatives, public-private partnerships and projects that bring added value to the territory.

2. Types of projects supported

  • Development of economic activities and services in rural areas.
  • Agritourism, sustainable tourism and leisure activities.
  • Promotion of natural, cultural and historical heritage.
  • Promotion and marketing of local products.
  • Ecological, energy and digital transition.
  • Local services, social inclusion and improving rural attractiveness.
  • Innovative or experimental projects adapted to local needs.
  • Cooperation between territories and Local Action Groups (LAG).
  • Territorial engineering, facilitation and implementation of local strategies.

3. The scheme's four strands

  • Preparatory support: studies, facilitation and preparation of a local strategy.
  • Strategy implementation: financing of projects corresponding to the LAG's priorities.
  • Operation and facilitation: management, facilitation, monitoring and evaluation of the local strategy.
  • Cooperation between LAG: joint projects between territories, including transnational ones.

Preparatory support is distinct from the financing of economic projects. For a business or association wishing to finance its own project, it is generally the local strategy implementation strand that is relevant.

4. Eligible beneficiaries

Depending on the strand and the territory's action sheet, beneficiaries may include:

  • Businesses and private project leaders.
  • Associations and social and solidarity economy structures.
  • Local authorities and groupings of local authorities.
  • Public institutions.
  • Local structures participating in a LEADER strategy.
  • LAG and structures responsible for their facilitation.
  • Local bodies involved in cooperation projects.

The beneficiary must, in particular, be up to date with their tax and social obligations. Eligibility also depends on the territory covered by the LAG and the action sheet that corresponds to the project.

5. Eligibility conditions

The project must:

  • Be located within the boundary of a LAG participating in the programme.
  • Correspond to the objectives and priorities of the local development strategy.
  • Meet an identified territorial need.
  • Demonstrate its local added value and expected results.
  • Present a realistic budget, timetable and resources.
  • Comply with the rules on eligible expenses, public procurement and, where applicable, State aid.

LEADER is not a general-purpose grant open to any rural project. The LAG must be able to link the project to its strategy and to an applicable action sheet. It is therefore necessary to contact the competent LAG before putting together the full application. The LAG supports the applicant in preparing their application, which is then submitted on EURO-PAC.

6. Eligible expenses

These depend on the strand and the action sheet, but may notably include:

  • Territorial studies and diagnostics.
  • Engineering and advisory services.
  • Tangible and intangible investments directly related to the project.
  • Equipment needed to create or improve a service.
  • Staff costs directly assigned, where the strand allows it.
  • Travel and accommodation expenses according to applicable rules and scales.
  • Cooperation actions between territories.
  • Facilitation and operation of the LAG.

The PSR V6 provides for different simplified cost options depending on the expenses: in particular 15% of direct staff costs for certain indirect costs, 25% for certain operating and facilitation costs, and up to 40% of direct staff costs to cover other direct and indirect costs in certain implementation or cooperation projects. These flat rates are not interchangeable: their use depends on the type of operation and the rules of the call.

Fines, penalties, legal costs and taxes relating to the 'octroi de mer' are notably excluded. The general eligibility rules and the restrictions specific to the action sheet remain applicable.

7. Amounts and aid rates

  • FEADER 2023–2027 budget: €6,700,000.
  • Maximum public aid rate: 100%.
  • FEADER co-financing: 85% of eligible public expenditure.
  • Preparatory support: eligible expenses capped at €50,000 per beneficiary, public aid rate of 100%.
  • Local strategy implementation: maximum public aid rate of 100%, determined by the LAG according to its strategy, the applicable call and State aid rules.
  • Operation and facilitation: maximum rate of 100%, with an overall limit of 25% of the public contribution to the strategy for facilitation, management, monitoring and evaluation.
  • Cooperation between LAG: rate set by the LAG, subject to applicable rules.

The 85% FEADER co-financing rate applies to eligible public expenditure; it does not mean that the European Union alone finances 85% of the project's total cost.

8. Selection and submission

Project selection is carried out according to the calls and procedures of the competent LAG. Practical steps:

  1. Identify the LAG that covers the project's territory.
  2. Check the local strategy and the applicable action sheet.
  3. Contact the LAG's facilitation team and have the project qualified.
  4. Prepare the budget, supporting documents and financing plan according to the action sheet's rules.
  5. Submit the application on EURO-PAC according to the LAG's and the Region's instructions.
  6. Wait for selection and notification before incurring expenses that require prior authorisation.

The overall budget of €6.7M does not guarantee that each LAG still has funds available or that a call is currently open.

9. Capital OS reading — project matching

Positive signals:

  • Business or association project located in a rural area covered by a LAG.
  • Creation of a local service.
  • Promotion of natural or cultural heritage.
  • Sustainable tourism or agritourism project.
  • Processing or marketing of local products.
  • Digital, ecological or energy project bringing a territorial benefit.
  • Partnership between local, public and private stakeholders.

Pre-qualification questions:

1. In which municipality will the project be carried out?

2. Which LAG covers this municipality?

3. Which action sheet of its strategy corresponds to the project?

4. Does the project create activity, services, jobs or a new local offering?

5. What expenses are planned and are they eligible under the action sheet?

6. Is the LAG's call or budget still available?

Matching rule: do not automatically assign LEADER to a business located in a rural area. The municipality, the LAG, the local strategy, the action sheet and the availability of funds must be checked before concluding on eligibility.

10. Official sources

11. Version caution

The operational guidance notice found dates from December 2024 and relates to an earlier version of the PSR. The amounts and strategic rules above are taken from the PSR V6 that entered into force on 27 April 2026; expenses, any caps and operational criteria must be confirmed in the LAG's action sheet and the applicable call.

Written content, currently under editorial review — this is not an eligibility assessment; only your personalised report applies your company's actual criteria.

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