ALDA is proud to announce the launch of the G.R.A.I.N. project – Governance, Rural Action, and Inclusive Networks, a new initiative that places rural communities at the centre of Ukraine’s recovery and European integration process.
From 11 to 16 September 2025, delegations from Ukraine, France, Poland and Moldova gathered in Ploeuc L’Hermitage (Brittany, France) for the official kick-off seminar of G.R.A.I.N. project.
Hosted by the Mayor, Thibaut Guignard, president of Leader France and member of the ALDA Governing Board — the seminar combined exchanges of expertise, field visits, and the first steps in building mentoring ties that will guide the project’s implementation.
A particularly symbolic moment took place on Monday 15 September, when the delegation was welcomed by Thani Mohamed Soilihi, Minister Delegate for Francophonie and International Partnerships of France. On this occasion, the Minister reaffirmed France’s strong commitment to supporting Ukraine and underlined the importance of the LEADER methodology in strengthening rural communities.
Funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the G.R.A.I.N. project is led by Leader France with partners from Poland, Moldova, and Ukraine, and supported by AFCCRE and ELARD. Its ambition is clear: to strengthen rural development and reconstruction in Ukraine by promoting the LEADER/CLLD methodology, a European approach that empowers local actors to design and implement development strategies.
Building Local Action Groups in Ukraine
Over the next three years, six Ukrainian territories — Odesa, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions — will create pilot Local Action Groups (LAGs) and design Local Development Strategies. These LAGs will work hand-in-hand with European counterparts, drawing inspiration from the long-standing experience of French, Polish, and Moldovan partners.
The collaboration is extensive:
- French LAGs include Saint-Brieuc, Auxois Morvan, Ruffécois, Vallée du Lot et Bastides, Cévennes au Rhône, and Aigoual Cévennes Pic Saint-Loup.
- Polish LAGs include Partnerstwo dla Ziemi Niżańskiej (Podkarpackie), Warmiński Zakątek (Warmia-Masuria), Nasze Bieszczady (Podkarpackie), Brama Mazurskiej Krainy (Warmia-Masuria), Zielone Sąsiedztwo (Mazovia), and Partnerstwo dla Ziemi Kujawskiej (Kuyavian-Pomerania).
- In Moldova, the National LEADER Network will also play a crucial role in mentoring.
This framework ensures that Ukrainian partners benefit from both technical expertise and peer-to-peer learning, while building strong cross-border connections.
Beyond technical cooperation, the G.R.A.I.N. project is rooted in citizen engagement and the principle of participatory governance.
Special attention will be given to the involvement of women, youth, and civil society, ensuring that diverse voices shape the future of rural territories. This approach echoes ALDA’s longstanding mission: to encourage and promote inclusive and democratic participation at the local level, empowering communities to design their own development paths.
The G.R.A.I.N. project is not only a technical cooperation initiative; it is a strategic step towards building resilient, participatory, and inclusive rural development models in Ukraine.
By connecting Ukrainian regions with European partners, the project strengthens European integration while contributing to the country’s reconstruction and long-term resilience.
