Directorate of European Union Structural Adjustment and Managing Authority of the General Directorate of Agrarian Reform has initiated a new activity called ‘‘Technical Assistance Project for raising awareness, capacity building for the new LAG’s and LDS preparation‘’ in Balıkesir, Burdur, Bursa, Çankırı, Elazığ, Erzincan, Giresun, Hatay, Isparta, Karaman, Kütahya, Mardin, Muş, Uşak ve Yozgat in order to roll out the "Implementation of Local Development Strategies - LEADER Approach" within the scope of IPARD Program With the project in question, it is planned to develop sustainable rural development policies in 15 provinces that are within the scope of IPARD. Within this scope it is foreseen to establish Local Action Groups (LAGs) within the scope of the LEADER approach that enables the local actors to become a part of the rural transformation process. Rural development will be encouraged by the implementation of the innovative Local Development Strategies (LDS), which will be designed by the LAGs to be established for this purpose and be prepared based on local resources with a bottom-up approach In this direction, in order to support the establishment of LAG’s, Provincial Evaluation Committees are established under the chairmanship of the Governoraates in 15 provinces within the scope of IPARD where the project will be implemented Provincial Evaluation Committees and LEADER experts have started field work related to the project, and the public, private sector, NGOs, universities and all other relevant local stakeholders, who are the local stakeholders of the LEADER approach, continue to inform and raise awareness of the local stakeholders Potential LAGs to be established in accordance with the specified criteria are required to submit a letter of intent so that they can come together with the relevant local stakeholders and carry out a joint work. Potential LAGs can deliver the said letter of intent to the district directorate of agriculture and forestry until the end of working hours on 02.04.2021