Failed Third Sector Projects Within the Framework of the LEADER Approach in Andalusia, Spain (2007–2014): a Combination of Inexperience and a Failure to Adapt

The LEADER programme has been a point of reference to help understand the current dynamics of rural Europe, for example in the fight against depopulation in certain areas. But not all the experiences have been positive. Many projects that were initially submitted later fell by the wayside for various reasons, even once processing of their grant applications had begun. This is what happened to many of the projects presented by third-sector entities, which have acquired an increasingly influential role in modern society. In this chapter, we analyse from a qualitative perspective the failed projects proposed by representatives of the third sector in the Spanish region of Andalusia during the 2007–2013 programming period, a particularly difficult time in recent Spanish history due to the economic crisis which began in 2008. The results point in two directions. Firstly, the programme did not adapt well to the organizations that make up the third sector, and secondly, some of the promoters lacked the necessary management experience to carry out their projects successfully.