The event is due to be held from 4 September to 4 October in Varshetz, Trun, Razlog, Haskovo, Topolovgrad.

The project will raise the awareness and will strengthen the capacities of rural communities and stakeholders for planning and using financial resources through networking, as well as through design and implementation of integrated local area development strategies. At the same time, the project will enhance the inter-municipal cooperation, especially among smaller municipalities, and will facilitate the creation of horizontal links among rural actors, including public-private partnerships. The project will target grass-root level activation in five geographical areas. The project expands and furthers the efforts and results achieved by the joint Project Sustainable Development of Rural Areas of UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests for establishment of 11 Local Action Groups following the model of the EU Leader + Initiative for Development of Rural Regions. In addition, the project builds on the work carried out by the Foundation for Local Government Reform with regard to the formation of the National Rural Development Network.