External LEADER management to support the Local Action Group Dübener Heide (Saxony-Anhalt) during the funding period LEADER/CLLD 2021-2027

In coordination with the LAG Dübener Heide, the district of Wittenberg would like to recruit an external service provider suitable for this task to act as LEADER management by means of an EU-wide procurement procedure. In accordance with the ERDF LAG Directive of 23.05.2023, its tasks include first and foremost:

a) Supporting the organisation of the LAGs and their bodies in accordance with the rules of procedure in accordance with the requirements of the European Union and the country (including documentation of general meetings, committee meetings and other events),

b) Identification of local needs and challenges, according to the fields of action of the LES (from need to project idea),

c) Activation and support of interested parties and stakeholders in the development of projects for the targeted, balanced and comprehensive implementation of the fields of action of the LES as well as the selection of the corresponding funding instruments from the EAFRD, ERDF and ESF+ funds, also with the involvement of the granting authorities (from the project idea to the project),

(d) assisting the LAGs in preparing the selection of projects by means of meaningful documentation and in setting priorities in compliance with the rules to avoid a conflict of interest for all stakeholders involved, including management;

(e) assisting the LAG in determining the amount of project support in accordance with the LES determinations;

f) Supporting applicants in the preparation and submission of qualified and complete LEADER/CLLD applications (e.g. for initial applications, amendment applications, payment applications with proof of use), monitoring or ensuring the implementation of projects in accordance with grant decisions through continuous communication with the project promoters, the granting authorities and the LAG,

g) Support of cooperation projects, insofar as this task is not performed by the respective project management,

(h) support for the use of the umbrella promotion instrument;

(i) assistance in the organisation and implementation of financial and grant management within the LAGs and in projects for which the LAG itself is a beneficiary (development and project management);

j) comprehensive and comprehensible documentation of the decision-making processes, in particular the project selection procedures and their secure archiving,

(k) carrying out evaluations (interim and final evaluation) on the state of implementation of the LES, with the involvement of the population, and thus assisting the LAGs in identifying and implementing an update or update of the LES;

(l) the implementation of the reporting system, in particular the preparation of the annual reports on the implementation of the LES and the semi-annual activity reports;

m) Organization of the joint approach with the management body, the granting authorities and other local actors in the integrated development of the region, including process control, moderation and promotion of communication between the stakeholders,

n) active participation in the LEADER/CLLD network of the state of Saxony-Anhalt (e.g. in the working group of LAG managements) and in other supra-regional networks (e.g. Federal Association of LEADER Action Groups in Germany, German Network Office for Rural Areas),

(o) the organisation of training, including participation in key events, for members of the LAG and interested citizens;

(p) ensuring that the information on the LAG's website is up-to-date by supporting the processing and maintenance of the content;

(q) ensuring data processing and data protection and data security for the LAG and all potential project promoters or project participants;

(r) organise activities to raise awareness of the LEADER/CLLD support programme, including public relations.

The stakeholders of the LAG Dübener Heide rely heavily on cooperation, participation and commitment to develop their territorial landscape. Therefore, the LEADER management responsible for the LAG Dübener Heide (Saxony-Anhalt) should coordinate its tasks with the regional management of the LAG Dübener Heide (Saxony) in order to be able to achieve the most consistent and profitable LEADER project work possible for the Dübener Heide area. Furthermore, the new LEADER management should include the existing and future regional networks, platforms and products in its actions. This

includes, for example, the expansion of formats such as small project competitions or the engagement platform RegioCrowd. In addition to the qualification and implementation of projects in the LEADER/CLLD funding area, the LAG Dübener Heide would like the LEADER management to also look for alternative financing options for projects worthy of support.

The LEADER management should set up and operate an easily accessible office in or near the LAG area.