LEADER IN

MACEDONIA
REIMAGINING LOCAL
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
 Publisher
Association for Innovations in Rural Economies (AIRE)

Author
Enabling Operationalization of LEADER in Macedonia Project

Graphic Design
Association for Innovations in Rural Economies (AIRE)

Published
Skopje 2017

The printing and publishing of this publication was made possible by

the Embassy of Switzerland in Macedonia
CONTENTS

WHAT IS LEADER? ............................................................................................................................................................... 3

WHAT IS A LAG? .................................................................................................................................................................. 4
WHAT CAN LAGS DO? ....................................................................................................................................................... 5

LAG PROJECTS: VARDAR REGION

ONLINE PROMOTION OF SMALL WINERIES ............................................................................................................... 6
CYCLING TOURISM DEVELOPMENT .............................................................................................................................. 8
WINE AND CYCLING FAMILIARIZATION TOURS ........................................................................................................ 10
RAISING BREAST CANCER AWARENES ......................................................................................................................... 12

LAG PROJECTS: PELAGONIA REGION

AGRICULTURAL FAIR TRAKTORIJADA IN MOGILA .................................................................................................... 14
SEEDLING PRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. 16
TOUR DE GALICICA CYCLING EVENT ............................................................................................................................ 18
PRESPA REGION TOURISM PROMOTION ................................................................................................................... 20
ONLINE PROMOTION OF THE PRESPA REGION ....................................................................................................... 22
PROMOTING PARAGLIDING IN MACEDONIA ............................................................................................................ 24
TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................ 26

LAG PROJECTS: POLOG REGION

SOLAR DRYER PURCHASE AND WORKSHOP ............................................................................................................. 28
TECHNICAL WORKSHOP FOR A NEW ROAD .............................................................................................................. 30

LAG PROJECTS: NORTHEASTERN REGION

KOKINO AND BISLIMSKA KLISURA DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................. 32
OSOGOVO REGION TOURISM DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................. 34
SOLAR DRYER PURCHASE AND WORKSHOP ............................................................................................................. 36

LAG PROJECTS: ALL FOUR REGIONS

REGIONAL BAZAARS FOR RURAL BUSINESSES ......................................................................................................... 38
 What is leader?

LEADER (Liaison Entre Actions de Dveloppement de lconomie Rurale, meaning Links between the
rural economy and development actions) is a European Union programme for rural development aimed
at job creation and improving livelihoods in rural communities. It is based on a bottom-up approach that
allows for greater social inclusion and decentralization of public policies. LEADER functions through an
area-based approach, managed by formalized public-private partnerships called Local Action Groups
(LAGs).

These groups have a well-balanced representation of the public, private and civic sectors, with the
private partners and civil society organizations (CSOs) making up at least 51% of the partnership.
LEADER is also a measure under the IPARD component of the European Union Instrument for Pre-
accession (IPA) assistance.

In the programming period 2014-2020, the LEADER method has been extended to cover not only rural
but also coastal (FARNET) and urban areas under the banner of Community-led Local Development
(CLLD).

LEADER Methodology

Area-based
BOTTOM-Up

Cooperation

Public-Private

LEADER Partnership

NETWORKING

Innovation
Integration 5
What is a LAG?

A Local Action Group (LAG) is an association of representatives from the public, private and civic sectors,
as well as individual citizens interested in improving the economic outlook of their community. These
constituents of the LAG work together to set up a strategy and for the work of the LAG. Using the
strategy as a guideline, the LAG, which has its own executive office, then targets key areas that require
additional support or improvement, and, with EU or National-level funding, implements projects to
create positive effects for the community. LAGs introduce a much needed bottoms-up approach that is
beneficial for the correct steering of local development in the community, and supplement the work of
officials and institutions with their unique approach.

Between 2014 and 2016, ten LAGs were established in Macedonia through now completed USAID Small
Business Expansion Project (SBEP), co-funded by the Swiss Government. Nine of those LAGs are still
active, collectively covering roughly 50% of the rural territory of Macedonia across 25 municipalities
in the Polog, Pelagonia, Vardar and Northeastern regions. SBEPs legacy organization, the Association
for Innovations in the Rural Economy (AIRE), is supporting their development through the Enabling the
Operationalization of LEADER in Macedonia project, funded by the Swiss Embassy in Skopje.

Local Action Groups in Macedonia

Skardus
v.antovski@yahoo.com

BB LAG
haqim_r@yahoo.com

Aber 2015
lagaber2015@gmail.com

Probaton
paneva_d@yahoo.com

Vardar LEADER
lag.vardar.leader@gmail.com

Tikveska Vinska Dolina

tikveska.vinska.dolina@gmail.com

Agro Lider
lagagrolider@gmail.com

PeLAGonia
lagpelagonija@gmail.com

LAG Prespa
lagprespa@yahoo.com

6
 What CAN LAGs DO?

LAGs serve as hubs where stakeholders from different walks of life work together to produce and
conduct pragmatic solutions to challenges that their community faces. They use their local development
strategies in concert with higher-level strategic documents to strengthen local development in a number
of fields. Projects range from the pragmatic (purchasing and renting a solar dryer for the local farmers)
to the innovative (bundling together services by family wineries to create a tourism offering for domestic
and international travelers). All of these projects are implemented by the LAG and its members, which
are well acquainted with local condition and know how to tackle issues as they arise.

To showcase the number of activities that LAGs can provide, and to strengthen their capacity, USAID and
the Swiss Government funded a number of pilot projects through the USAID Small Business Expansion
Project, of which AIRE is a legacy organization. This brochure outlines both the activities and effects
that LAGs from the four regions have achieved with minimal funding. To ensure that they can continue
producing positive results in the community, local and central authorities must continue to support
them, both financially and institutionally in the upcoming period.

First meeting of LAGs in Macedonia Skopje, 2016

7
LAG PROJECTS
VARDAR
REGION

Local Action Group: Tikveska Vinska Dolina

Budget: $2,000
Duration: December 2016 May 2017

The tourism sector in Macedonia is largely undeveloped in rural regions, with the vast majority of tourists
visiting only several, well-known locations such as Skopje or Ohrid, and bypassing many of the regions
which have much to offer, but lack the promotion and the infrastructure to attract more visitors. AIREs
approach to this problem focuses on the adventure travel segment of the tourism market, aiming to
bring in travelers which prefer to spend more of their budget on activities and interaction with the local
communities. At the same time, this type of visitor is more concerned about safeguarding the unique
culture and heritage of the region, without commodifying it into a mass-market product.

The Vardar Region, and especially the Tikvesh micro-region within it, is especially interesting in this
regard. Hosting the majority of the Macedonian wine production and wineries both small and large,
this region offers a number of unique activities. Small, family owned wineries have always been present
and operating in the region, but have only really come out of the woodwork in the past 5 years. These
wineries offer unique products such as the first certified organic wine in Macedonia as well as very
different, personal approach to wine tastings . Guests can eat, drink and talk to the host, who is at
the same time, the oenologist, CEO, marketing manager, chief distributor and head of sales for his
small winery. They can learn about the tradition of winemaking that goes back generations, about
the process, and taste wines that are produced in small batches, and found nowhere else outside of
Macedonia.

Recognizing the potential of these small wineries, AIRE worked with the LAG Tikveshka Vinska Dolina to
produce a website for the promotion of small wineries in the region. The LAG, which covers the Tikvesh
micro-region, is well-positioned to handle work on the ground - tracking down wineries, collecting
information, creating itineraries and meeting with the owners to discuss how to include them in the
website. This website, www.tikveswinestory.com, is not the first website produced to promote
winemaking in the region. It is, however, the first and only website allowing visitors to schedule tastings
at the small wineries, who had no real online presence up until now.

The LAG will charge the wineries a small fee for every tasting scheduled, allowing it to keep the website
online, and receive income from the service. This ensures that the LAG will have a vested interest in
continually developing the website, since increased sales will bring increased incomes to the organization.
At the same time, the LAG is working on promoting the website to domestic and international visitors,
tackling the issue of the lack of visibility of the small wineries and increasing the number of visits to the
website. The LAG realizes the opportunities that have opened up with the development of the website,
such as the potential link-ups with domestic inbound tour operators, the development of infrastructure
related to wine tourism, such as signposting, cycling trails, accommodation services and guided tours.

8
 ONLINE PROMOTION
OF SMALL WINERIES

Landing page on www.tikveswinestory.com

Family wineries page on www.tikveswinestory.com

9
LAG PROJECTS
VARDAR
REGION

Marking of a short recreational cycling trail near Veles

Local Action Group: Vardar LEADER
Budget: $1,700
Duration: November 2016 March 2017

To build upon previous activities related to cycling in the region, AIRE worked with Vardar LEADER to
scout out a short, 20 km cycling trail near Lake Veles. This trail will be of interest to recreational cyclists
from the region as a one-day, weekend activity. This trail integrated together two different wineries
which agreed to offer wine tasting packages for cyclists visiting them as part of an organized tour. The
LAG also received funds to promote the trail based on a detailed marketing plan. The first visitors to
the trail are expected in the late summer of 2017.

Mapping and marking of a wine and cycling trail in the Vardar Region
Local Action Group: Vardar LEADER
Budget: $2,900
Duration: August September 2016

The Vardar region is the heart of Macedonias wine land. Peppered with vineyards small and large, as
well as a decent network of back-country, low frequency roads, it offers the perfect opportunity for the
development of cycling and wine tourism, and bringing together partners from multiple sectors to work
towards a common goal of increased visibility and sustainable economic growth in the region.
With support from AIRE, Vardar LEADER LAG worked to develop infrastructure and provide accessible
information for domestic and foreign visitors to the region. Working jointly with the Tikveska Vinska
Dolina LAG, Vardar LEADER scouted out potential locations for a wine and cycling tour, the first of its
kind in the country. It contacted wineries, collected information on places of interest, and scouted out
potential trails for a two day tour intended primarily for recreational riders. After choosing a final trail,
the LAG provided a gpx file of the trail, market and cleared it of debris.

Results

|| One 20 km and one 80 km cycling trail mapped and marked with infoboards and signposts.

|| Funds allocated to promote the trails to cyclists and other visitors from Skopje, Veles and the
region.

|| Networked with relevant parties (wineries, hotels, hostels, local institutions) to create the best
possible route for the trail.

10
 CYCLING TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT

The peak of Solunska Glava as seen from one of the new cycling trails

Signpost on the Wine Country Cycling Trail 11

LAG PROJECTS
VARDAR
REGION

Local Action Group: Tikveska Vinska Dolina

Budget: $2,000
Implementation: August September 2016

The Vardar region is the heart of Macedonias wine land. Peppered with vineyards small and large, as
well as a decent network of back-country, low frequency roads, it offers the perfect opportunity for the
development of cycling and wine tourism, and bringing together partners from multiple sectors to work
towards a common goal of increased visibility and sustainable economic growth in the region.

The Tikveska Vinska Dolina LAG supported the organization of a wine and cycling tour aimed at domestic
and foreign tourists. In partnership with the Vardar LEADER LAG, they created and implemented an
itinerary for a two-day cycling tour which familiarized tour operators, and cycling guides with a newly
marked trail through the region.

Results

|| Prepared a two-day cycling tour which will include a visit to 5 different wineries, other points of
interest and accommodation at a suitable location.

|| Created a detailed itinerary of the tour, ready for use by the LAG or the tour operators in the
future

|| Arranged accommodations and meals for tour participants, met with local stakeholders to
promote the tour and included them in the itinerary where possible, develop the itinerary of the
tour. Supported efforts to promote the tour.

|| Conducted a test-run of the tour in early September and conducted the inaugural tour in late
September. Participants included stakeholders from the tourism and cycling sector, as well as
members of the diplomatic core of the Delegation of the EU in Macedonia and the Republic of
Ukraine.

12
 WINE AND CYCLING
FAMILIARIZATION TOURS

Cyclist take a break in a winery on the Wine Country Cycling Trail

Cycling through a vineyard in the Vardar region 13

LAG PROJECTS
VARDAR
REGION

Local Action Group: Probaton

Budget: $1,300
Implementation: August September 2016

In the Vardar Region, AIRE supported the implementation of a pilot project with the Local Action Group
Probaton, working on the territory of the Lozovo and Sveti Nikole municipalities. The LAG implemented
a LEADER project to support the women ill with, being treated or convalescing from breast cancer
treatment to take part in a number of workshops to design and produce handmade products.
These products were then sold to urban audiences, with a three-fold purpose: financial, social and
psychological support to the women in question. While not a typical LEADER activity, the effects of the
pilot aid economic activity in the rural areas of the region, with a strong social component.

Results

|| 4 design workshops for 42 women held, with two design experts (jewelry and other objects and
textile)

|| 400 units produced and prepared for sales at Vardar LAG Bazaar.

14
 RAISING BREAST
CANCER AWARENESS

Handmade textiles and jewelry produced during the workshops

A handmade braceled sold on the Vardar LAG Bazaar 15

LAG PROJECTS
PELAGONIA
REGION

Local Action Group: PeLAGonija

Budget: $5,000 ($2,700 through AIRE, $2,300 from the Municipality of Mogila and companies)
Duration: October December 2016

The Pelagonia region is the center of Macedonias agricultural sector. To support commercial activity
and networking between farmers and providers of equipment, seedlings and services, the PeLAGonia
LAG supported the organization of an agricultural fair Traktorijada, which was held on the 9th of
December, in the village of Mogila. The fair brought together distributors and sellers of agricultural
mechanization, seedling materials, financial services and others to exhibit and promote their goods to
visitors. The PeLAGonija LAG supported the organization of the event through contacts with potential
exhibitors, communicating with the Municipality of Mogila regarding the site and programme of the fair
and the purchase of goods and services necessary for the smooth running of the fair.

Results

|| Over 20 exhibitors from the agricultural sector, including equipment sellers, financial service
providers, protection and fertilizer distributors.

|| Over 300 farmers from the region and beyond visited the fair.

16 Local farmers visiting the PeLAGonija stand to learn about the work of the LAG
 AGRICULTURAL FAIR
TRAKTORIJADA IN MOGILA

The fair offered one of the largest selections of agricultural mechanization outside of Skopje

A local farmer browsing the tractor product lineup 17

LAG PROJECTS
PELAGONIA
REGION

Local Action Group: PeLAGonia

Budget: $6,008 ($4,651 from SBEP and $1,357 cost-share from an agricultural cooperative)
Duration: March September 2016

Farmers in the Pelagonia region often have difficulty sourcing quality seeds and seedlings for crops and
often end up with sub-par, underperforming crops because of issues in the supply chain and because
they buy these seeds and seedlings from agricultural pharmacies which dont always guarantee their
quality.

In 2016, with support from the USAID and Swiss Government-funded Small Business Expansion
Project, the PeLAGonia LAG set up a 330 m2 greenhouse in Kukurecani, by purchasing heaters, a diesel
aggregator and water pump. The greenhouse now produces a variety of quality seedlings, including
tomato, broccoli, cabbage, potato. These seedlings will be used by the members of the agricultural
cooperative, which is a member of the PeLAGonia LAG.

Results

Access to quality seedlings grown in monitored conditions supports generating more stable yields and
incomes for the members of the cooperative, as well as be the first step in the process of certifying the
seedlings for commercial sale to farmers in the region. The higher quality crops will also help supply the
local population with more and better agricultural products.

In addition, once commercial sales begin, the cooperative has pledged to allocate 5% of the profit from
the sales to support the PeLAGonia LAG, as well as open up the greenhouse for educational visits by
farmers and students. The LAG will also hold promotional events in the 4 municipalities which it covers
to promote the results of the Project, thereby increasing the visibility of both the LEADER approach and
the PeLAGonia LAG itself.

18
 GREENHOUSE AND
SEEDLING PRODUCTION

USAID and Swiss Government representatives visit the greenhouse

The exterior of the greenhouse 19

LAG PROJECTS
PELAGONIA
REGION

Local Action Group: Prespa

Budget: $1,900
Duration: May July 2016

The Prespa region is filled with activities that can produce additional sources of income for the local
population, especially through their inclusion in the active tourism sector. Thanks to the funding from
USAID and the Swiss Government, LAG Prespa supported the organization of the Tour de Galicica
outdoor cycling event, which was organized by Prespa Bajk, a cycling club based in Resen. This support
was targeted towards the raising of the visibility of the event and attracting more guests to participate
in it. At the same time, the activity itself helped to raise the capacities of the Prespa LAG to manage
funds and activities and to follow rules and guidelines on procurement and budgeting, as required by
international donor agencies. The LAG further supported the event by promoting it to the domestic
audience.

Results

|| Over 400 cyclists participated at the event.

|| 1,000 visitors saw the event or participated as audience members during the tour.

20 National Park Galicica

 TOUR DE GALICICA
CYCLING EVENT

Cycists on the Tour de Galicica trail

Cyclist take a break on the Tour de Galicica trail 21

LAG PROJECTS
PELAGONIA
REGION

Local Action Group: LAG Prespa

Budget: $3,100
Duration: 2015 2016

The Prespa region of Southwestern Macedonia abounds in tourism potential, especially in regard
to adventure travel a type of tourism which combines elements of culture, nature and adventure.
However, unlike its more developed next door neighbor Ohrid, Prespas tourism offer is in its infancy.
In order to increase the tourism revenue that flows into the region, the Local Action Group LAG Prespa,
with coaching and financial support from AIRE, initiated a pilot project that sought to package, brand
and market the regions existing tourism products and services.

Results

|| Created and published the first official Prespa tourism website www.prespatravel.com.

|| Created and published a pocket-sized map of the region and distributed it to allow unguided
travelers to orient themselves and learn about attractions in the region, as well as to promote
the website.

|| Organized a familiarization (FAM) tour for 8 domestic inbound tour operators that specialize in
adventure travel.

he initial feedback from tour guides and inbound tour operators after the FAM tour was overwhelmingly
positive. They stated that the tour helped them become better acquainted with destinations and activities
they knew of and discover new ones that can be integrated into the tours they sell. Most importantly,
it enabled tour operators to establish a working relationship with a number of LAG members and local
tourism service providers that are willing to work with them to develop Prespas tourism offer.

Before the website was published, very little travel information about the region was available online.
It received high marks from local tourism professionals for its expansive list of resources on traveling
through the region. If properly promoted, the website has the potential to become the primary source
of information for independent travelers visiting the region, as well as a base from which to build and
disseminate information.

22
 PRESPA REGION
TOURISM PROMOTION

Guides and tour operators on a tour of the famous church in Kurbinovo

The landing page of prespatravel.com 23

LAG PROJECTS
PELAGONIA
REGION

Local Action Group: LAG Prespa

Budget: $800
Duration: March 2017 September 2017

AIRE has worked extensively in the Prespa region, seeking to leverage small, targeted investments into
long-term development of the adventure travel sector. The region, situated in the Pelagonia statistical
region in Southwestern Macedonia, has a lot to offer the Prespa Lake and the Golem Grad island with
its rich wildlife and history, cycling and hiking trails, the Galicica National Park, and the rustic life of
some of the most beautiful, still living villages in Macedonia such as Brajchino and Ljubojno.

Despite all of this, the region only receives a small number of visitors every year, mostly domestic
visitors during the peak of the summer season. This issue is created by several specific factors namely,
the Prespa region is close to Ohrid, one of the main tourism loci in Macedonia. While Ohrid is a great
potential source of daytrippers and visitors, businesess and especially hotels in OHrid are reluctant
to promote destinations outside of Ohrid, and actively work to keep visitors within the region, partly
because of their interest in keeping the income in their own community, and partly because the current
subsidy scheme requires visitors to stay in the same place for over three nights for the business to be
eligible for subsidies for that visitor. At the same time, the information infrastructure of the Prespa
region is severely lacking, both on the ground and online. Prospective visitors, even domestic ones, can
have a hard time tracking down information on activities in the region. Businesess in the region dont
have an online presence, and can be hard to contact.

AIRE is working with the LAG Prespa to develop a system to increase the online visibility of some of
the businesses operating in the region and to increase the number of reservations that they receive in
the 2017 season. AIRE specifically targeted Stara Cesma, a family owned B&B in Brajchino and several
local boat tour guides which work near Golem Grad. Both of these businesses are well established and
offer their services throughout the summer season, but the owners and operators are senior citizens,
do not speak English very well, and are not tech savvy. AIRE decided that the best and most cost-
effective way to support them would be to establish an online presence for them on the booking.com,
tripadvisor.com, and Airbnb.com platforms. For this idea to be successful there would have to be a local
on the ground to coordinate with the owners, to inform them about bookings and to communicate with
incoming visitors.

AIRE is supporting the LAG with a small amount of money to compensate the person responsible for
the first few months of work and to cover some of the fees that the Tripadvisor platform charges for
the listings. The LAG agreed to continue working on the development of the service in exchange for a
fee charged for every reservation. At the same time, this fee-based system motivates the LAG and the
person in charge to promote the businesses and to work towards achieving more and longer-term
reservations, which, in turn, supports the lengthening of the tourism season and the visibility of the
region, while bringing in higher incomes to the businesses which are part of the system.

24
 ONLINE PROMOTION
OF THE PRESPA REGION

The island of Golem Grad was one of the Prespa region attractions added to TripAdvisor

Two new guesthouses added to AirBnB as a part of the project 25

LAG PROJECTS
PELAGONIA
REGION

Pre-LAG: Agro Lider

Budget: $2,600
Duration: August September 2016

The Pelagonia region is especially interesting for paragliding pilots, which flock to Krushevo to participate
in one of the many paragliding competitions that happen during the summer, or fly recreationally
through most of the year, making use of the excellent climate and geographical conditions which make
the region and Macedonia in general, a prime paragliding destination.

With support from AIRE, the Agrolider LAG organized a visit by Thermik Magazine, the most read
German-language paragliding and air sports magazine, based in Austria. For 4 days, journalists from
the magazine visited a number of take-off sites in Macedonia, including Krushevo, Treskavec, Galicica
and Popova Sapka, and reported on flying conditions, as well as the natural beauty and the cultural
heritage of the country. The visit by Thermik resulted in a front-page photo and an 8-page article on
Macedonia on the May 2017 edition of the magazine. This article will support the efforts to raise the
visibility of the country as a paragliding destination, especially with regards to the German-speaking
part of Europe, for which Macedonia is easily accessible with low-cost carriers and attractive prices as
compared to other destinations on the continent.

In addition, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote paragliding, the Agrolider LAG decided to shoot
a short promotional video to promote Macedonia as a paragliding destination to the international
audience. Macedonia is already known to some extent for its natural beauty, numerous take-off and
landing sites. However, other aspects, such as the countrys rich cultural and gastronomic heritage, its
history and village life remain obscured to the international traveler. The video solves this by showing
all of these important elements of the Macedonian story in one place, integrating them through the
point-of-view story of a paragliding pilot visiting the country. The LAG will use the funding that it has
received to promote the video on online platforms and social media.

Results

|| Produced a 2-minute video showcasing Macedonia as a prime paragliding destination.

|| Promoted the video to an international audience.

|| Got Macedonia featured in an 8-page article in the May 2017 issue of the paragliding
magazine Thermik.

26
 PROMOTING PARAGLIDING
IN MACEDONIA

The Thermik magazine cover and article on paragliding in Macedonia

Tandem paragliding flight from Krushevo, one of the best paragliding sites in Macedonia 27
LAG PROJECTS
PELAGONIA
REGION

Local Action Group: Agro Lider

Budget: $3,300
Duration: March July, 2016

The Krushevo-Krivogastani-Dolneni part of the Pelagonia region attracts paragliding pilots who spend
time competing or flying recreationally from several takeoff sites in the region. The region has the
potential to both attract more of these tourists, as well as other tourists, but lacks infrastructure
(signposts for tourist attractions) and essential information for tourists restaurants, points of interest
and sights worth visiting. SBEP supported a pilot project by the Agro Lider LAG, based in Krivogastani.
Several activities were undertaken:

|| One large billboard map was set up on the entrances of each of the three municipalities: Dolneni,
Krivogastani and Krushevo. The maps contain information on the road infrastructure in each
municipality, as well as points of interest for tourists in Macedonian and English, as well as
Albanian in municipalities where it is spoken by a significant minority.

|| 17 road signposts were set up across the territory of the three municipalities to facilitate tourist
access to some of the most interesting sites.

|| 2,000 paragliding pocket maps were printed and handed out to foreign and domestic pilots visiting
the region, pointing out take-off and landing sites, as well as points of interest, restaurants and
promoting web-sites where pilots can find more information on tourist activities within the region
and the country.

Results

The maps and signposts provide a minimum basis for the development of the tourist information
infrastructure in the region and will facilitate tourist access to locations that are worth visiting, but
might have been hard to learn about and track down for visitors who were not acquainted with the
region. The paragliding and hang-gliding pilots which spend an estimated over 30,000 nights in the
region will have a larger number of options on what to do and see during downtime, which will aid in
prolonging the number of nights they stay.

The paragliding maps, the first of their kind in the country, serve a two-fold purpose informing the
pilots of potential take-off and landing sites, as well as providing information on activities that they can
have if the weather is not suitable for flying. Their printing was timed to coincide with the start of the FAI
European Hang-gliding and Paragliding Cups which were taking place in Krushevo, and drew a record
number of pilots to the region.

28
TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT

Paragliding over Meckin Kamen, Krushevo

Walking to the Treskavec paragliding site near Prilep 29

LAG PROJECTS
POLOG
REGION

Local Action Group: Skardus

Budget: $2,700
Duration: November 2016 March 2017

The municipality of Jegunovce and Tearce are home to a number of agricultural producers. Most of the
producers in the region typically sell their products as inputs for the food industry or as goods for direct
consumption on the open market. Oftentimes, producers are unwilling or unable to sell all of their
produce, because of low prices, or seasonal market disbalances. These unsold products can perish
quickly and end up as expenses for the producers. The Skardus LAG recognized that the issue could be
mitigated by finding a way to conserve the products and decided that they best option is to dry them.

With financing from USAID and the Swiss Government, the LAG purchased a solar dryer for the use of its
members and of farmers in the region. The solar dryer is efficient, requires minimum use of electricity,
and can be used throughout most of the year in Macedonia. It is beneficial because it conserves and
adds value to the products at the same time, allowing them to be sold at a later date and at a higher
price, which saves money and helps to increase the incomes of farmers in the region. The LAG also
trained its members and interested farmers in the use of the dryer, to allow them to operate it better.
To ensure that the use of the dryer is sustainable and that the LAG can continue providing the service
to the local population, it will charge a nominal fee to cover operating expenses and amortization for
the dryer.

Results

|| Solar dryer with 80 kg per day capacity purchased.

|| Trained interested local farmers and LAG members on usage.

|| Set up pricing model to ensure sustainable use of dryer.

|| Began working on the development of products and on tracking down buyers.

30
SOLAR DRYER PURCHASE
AND WORKSHOP

The internal cooling system of a solar dryer

Red peppers dried in a solar dryer 31

LAG PROJECTS
POLOG
REGION

Local Action Group: BB LAG

Budget: $8,000 ($3,000 through AIRE, $5,000 from the Bogovinje and Brvenica Municipalities)
Duration: November 2016 March 2017

The Local Action Group BB LAG is registered in the municipalities of Bogovinje and Brvenica. The
LAG applied to AIRE with a pilot project that supports the preparation of technical documentation
for construction of a local road Kamenjane - Chelopek. The municipalities of Bogovinje and Brvenica
participated in the project with 63% of the financing.

The Kamenjane - Chelopek road is of particular importance as a very important infrastructure project
in Polog that will contribute to the economic development of Bogovinje and Brvenica and the entire
region. The road Kamenjane - Chelopek is related to two of the largest settlements in the municipalities
of Bogovinje and Brvenica. These two settlements have over 10,000 residents. The number of direct
beneficiaries of this street is 45,000 as the total population of both municipalities. Other citizens from
other municipalities will also benefit from the street. The access to this road is of great importance for
the citizens of Brvenica because through this street they will have a direct link with the motorway M4,
rather than going through Tetovo. The construction of this road will significantly reduce and alleviate
traffic on other streets. This road is of paramount importance to farmers of these two municipalities,
because from all sides of the road there are fields with various crops, which will be easier to reach,
cutting costs, and facilitating regular acess, thereby improving yields.

Results

|| Supported preparation of technical documentation to facilitate access to finance for the

Kamenjane-Chelopek road.

|| Begun the process to apply for and receive national funding for the road, which is expected to
bring important benefits to the population of the region.

32
TECHNICAL WORKSHOP
FOR A NEW ROAD

Route of the proposed Kamenjane - Chelopek road 33

LAG PROJECTS
NORTHEASTERN
REGION

Local Action Group: Aber 2015

Budget: $5,850 ($5,000 for Kokino and $850 for Bislimska Klisura)
Duration: 2015 2016

Kokino, located in the municipality of Staro Nagoricane in Northeastern Macedonia, is among the oldest
and most significant ancient observatories in the world. Since its discovery in 2001, Kokino has been
managed as an archeological site, as well as a tourist destination by the National Institution Museum
of Kumanovo. Between 10.000 and 30.000 tourists from Macedonia and abroad are estimated to visit
the site every year, pointing to Kokinos potential to grow into a major tourist attraction. In 2015, the
LAG Aber 2015 and the Kumanovo Museum (a LAG member) initiated a pilot LAG project to improve the
tourism infrastructure on Kokino and to increase the visibility of the site as a prime tourism destination
in Macedonia. Its ultimate goal is to increase the number of tourists visiting Macedonias Northeastern
region, thereby increasing the flow of money from tourism into the regions economy.

The pilot project completed the following activities: 1) Installed a fence around the brittle stone
thrones on Kokino meant to limit access to this important, but fragile feature of the site; 2) Installed
signposts for easing and controlling the movement of visitors around Kokino and refurbished the
information boards on Kokino; 3) Published the first official Kokino website www.kokino.mk
and an audio guide app for mobile devices running Android OS; 4) Trained and certified over 65
tour guides for guiding tours on Kokino; 5) Established a revenue model for Kokino based on the
introduction of entrance fees.

AIRE also supported the setting up of signpost for recreational hikers in the Bislimska Klisura area.
These signposts will ensure that visitors to the area will be able to navigate through it and spend more
time enjoying the sights, without worrying about navigation or getting lost.

Results

The initial feedback from guides, journalists and archaeologists has been positive, stating that the site
is now easier to navigate and understand due to the improved infrastructure, all while protecting the
most vulnerable parts of Kokino from the wear and tear caused by the increasing number of visitors. The
comprehensive website, audio guide and information boards have made Kokino more easily accessible
to independent travelers, which is especially important due to the steady global increase of tourists in
this category. Tour guides were given the tools needed to create more accurate and engaging tours of
Kokino in order to provide a better experience for visitors that prefer guided tours. Most important of all
is the new revenue model which will enable the Kumanovo Museum to generate revenue from the site.
This much needed revenue will enable the Museum to independently finance tourism infrastructure
projects on the site that have been in limbo for years due to lack of funding, such as a protective fence
around the site, a gift shop and a small gallery of archeological artefacts. It will also enable the Museum
to precisely track the number of visitors coming to Kokino, something that wasnt possible before.

34
KOKINO AND BISLIMSKA
KLISURA DEVELOPMENT

Guides recieving training about guiding on Kokino

One of the new information boards set up on Kokino 35

LAG PROJECTS
NORTHEASTERN
REGION

Local Action Group: Osogovski Lisec

Budget: $3,000
Duration: 2015 2016

The Osogovo region in Northeastern Macedonia is another region with significant tourism potential
and an underdeveloped tourism sector. In order to tap into this potential, the Local Action Group
Osogovski Lisec collected information on interestingattractions and activities in the region, structured
it, and published it on a website that will serve as a primary point of information for domestic and
foreign tourists.

Results

|| Created and published the first official Osogovo tourism website www.discoverosogovo.com.

|| The discoverosogovo.com website will serve as a tourism information hub for the Osogovo
region, helping to attract more tourists by simplifying their research and decision making process.

The landing page on discoverosogovo.com

36
OSOGOVO REGION TOURISM
DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT

Kratovo one of the premier tourist attractions in the Northeastern region

The Stone Dolls a unique rock formation and tourist attraction near Kratovo 37
LAG PROJECTS
NORTHEASTERN
REGION

Local Action Group: Aber 2015

Budget: $2,800
Duration: December 2016 January 2017

One of the best examples for this process is the case of two LAGs purchasing solar dryers with the help
of funding and guidance from AIRE. In the case of Aber, AIRE helped them filter out ideas, provided
commentary on a number of submitted proposals, helped budget for and procure, setup, promote,
looked into potential market opportunities, supported the LAG. In turn, the operation of the dryer
means that the LAG now has at least a minimal level of financial incomes, necessary for their day-to-day
work. At the same time, the LAG practiced the same procedures and processes which are necessary to
compete for grants and funding in the much harsher EU market, which helps increase survivability and
ensures that national level institutions have an easier time opening up funding from national sources,
since the LAGs have a proven track record.

Results

|| Purchased a solar dryer.

|| Trained interested local farmers and LAG members on usage.

|| Set up pricing model to ensure sustainable use of dryer.

|| Began working on the development of products and on tracking down buyers.

38
SOLAR DRYER PURCHASE
AND WORKSHOP

Farmers learning how to operate the solar dryer

Tomatoes dried in a solar dryer 39

LAG PROJECTS
ALL FOUR
REGIONS

Local Action Groups: All LAGs.

Budget: $9,000
Duration: March 2016 February 2017

A number of LAG members from all over the country are local small businesses and craftsmen. They
produce a number of consumer goods, but due to their size and limited resources, often lack the capacity
to market them to a broader base of potential buyers. These businesses bring much needed economic
activity to the micro-regions where they operate, but need support to reach their full potential. To help
them promote and sell their products, SBEP cooperated with the LAGs in each of the 4 regions where
it is active (Polog, Pelagonia, Northeastern and Vardar) to organize regional bazaars in Skopje. These
two-day bazaars were meant to both showcase the beauty and cultural heritage of the regions, as well
as to provide a platform for selling the diverse products that the local businesses offer (homemade
jams, jewelry, artisan goods, souvenirs, game and fish meat) and connect them to buyers in the capitol.
Two joint bazaars were held for all 4 regions in October of 2016 and in February of 2017, showcasing
the most successful sellers from each of the 4 previous bazaars.

Results

Over 80 producers participated in the regional bazaars (Polog, Pelagonia, Northeastern, Vardar),
receiving over $2,000 in sales and making 7 contracted long-term deals with buyers from Skopje. The
bazaars help to both create immediate gains for the producers, but also to open up sales channels over
the long term. An estimated over 1,200 people visited the fairs, and they were featured on local and
national news. The two joint bazaars in Ramstore brought in close to $8,000 in sales for the participating
businesses, and had an estimated over 20,000 visitors. In the long term, this exposure will create more
interest in both the products made in the regions and the regions themselves as tourist destinations.
The increase in sales and visibility has an indirect effect on the regions as well, since money earned
from these activities is then further disbursed through salaries, taxes and profits within the region.

40
REGIONAL BAZAARS FOR
RURAL BUSINESSES

The Taste of Macedonia bazaar for rural businesses

The Northeaster region bazaar 41

 Association for Innovations in Rural Economies (AIRE)
Project: Enabling Operationalization of LEADER in Macedonia
Donor: Embassy of Switzerland in Macedonia

Skopje 2017