During the first phase of the SHERPA project, ERDN members from Lithuania, the LCSS Institute of Economics and Rural Development established one of the 20 MAPs for inclusive rural policy titled ‘Circular Bio-economy – Lithuania’ (CBioLit), gathering science, society, and policy actors.
Around 15 Lithuanian experts, proportionally representing the interests of science, society and policy, discussed and shared their insights in the Lithuanian MAP throughout the first cycle of the SHERPA project.
By discussing the featured characteristics of Lithuanian rural development, the most relevant directions for the future of the region were singled out. Reflections and insights have been placed in the Lithuanian Position Paper on the Long-Term Rural Vision 2040 and presented for discussion and approval at the Lithuanian MAP Consensus Meeting on 28 October 2020. After reaching consensus, the Lithuanian Position Paper was sent to the project leaders, who prepared a joint SHERPA Position Paper from all partner regions.
In February 2021, after the completion of the first cycle of the SHERPA project, the achievements of the Lithuanian MAP were assessed by interviewing the experts who participated in its activities. The summarised results of the expert survey show that the Lithuanian position paper identifies the most relevant long-term perspectives of Lithuanian rural development, which are also reflected in the SHERPA position paper.
The experts were happy to have the opportunity to participate in both live and virtual discussions at the round table and contribute to the long-term European rural vision by representing Lithuania’s current issues in the respective field. It is important to note that each participant felt heard. The SHERPA policy-making process, based on the Delfi methodology, left a positive impression on Lithuanian experts due to its versatility, reflectivity, and inclusiveness in the participation of consensus-based bottom-up policy-making.
SHERPA implementers in Lithuania had already taken the initiative to present project results in one of the most popular scientific-practical conferences in Lithuania for rural communities in November 2020. Due to the great interest regarding the new methodology of participation in policy-making, it is planned to continue the initiative of presenting SHERPA results in the national language to reach a broader audience, during further project implementation phases.
Read more about the Lithuanian MAP.