The Practice of Neo-Endogenous Rural Development in Extremadura (Spain): 2014–2020. A Case Study of La Vera, Valle del Jerte and Valle del Ambroz

Although Extremadura (SW Spain) has been receiving European Rural Development aid since the LEADER programme was first launched in 1991, it is still considered a convergence objective region because its GDP is less than 75% of the European average. For this reason, it is important to analyse the territorial impact of rural development policy in this region, and in particular in those municipalities with worrying demographic and socioeconomic data, such as the mountainous areas in the north of the province of Cáceres. In this chapter, the situation in these areas is compared with other more encouraging cases, with municipalities whose population has doubled since 1990s. To this end, we focus on three historic comarcas (counties) in Extremadura (Valle del Jerte, La Vera and Valle del Ambroz) with extensive experience in rural development policy thanks to the work of their Local Action Groups. These three contrasting areas are analysed through interviews with members of the LAG technical teams and various quantitative data, so as to assess their problems, failures, results and good practices and thus be able to offer enlightening insights into the application of neo-endogenous rural development in these areas.