Scope of the programme

• Countries impacted: Slovenia
• Thematic axis: Local development, social inclusion, cultural services, mobility, community cohesion and quality of life in rural and semi-rural areas
• Funding programme lineage (EU, national, regional): Regional / local implementation of an EU programme

Description of the project

• Project objective(s): The funded projects aimed to improve the quality of life of local residents by strengthening community services, enhancing mobility, reinforcing social cohesion and expanding access to cultural and recreational activities. Tourism-related actions were embedded within a broader local development logic rather than treated as stand-alone commercial initiatives.
• Duration: Between 1 and 3 years, depending on the project
• Main activities:
  - Provision of free transport services for elderly residents (e.g. access to hospitals, pharmacies and health centres)
  - Purchase of equipment to support cultural activities (e.g. cinema equipment)
  - Acquisition of electric bicycles to improve local mobility
  - Organisation of cultural and social programmes for residents
  - Networking and cooperation activities between local stakeholders
• Outputs:
  - New or improved local services for residents
  - Enhanced access to mobility and cultural activities
  - Strengthened cooperation between public, private and community actors
  - Tangible improvements in local service infrastructure

Success Factors

• Strategic fit with call priorities: Projects were deliberately adapted to align closely with the specific objectives and scoring criteria of each call, ensuring strong coherence with programme priorities.
• Previous experience with funding: Repeated participation in local and regional funding schemes built institutional familiarity with procedures, expectations and reporting requirements.
• Team design & resources: Responsibilities were clearly distributed internally, with staff members specialising in specific thematic areas and proactively identifying relevant calls.
• Effective partnership building: Strong cooperation with municipalities and local institutions enabled the organisation to build credible consortia and design projects grounded in real local needs.
• Use of support ecosystems: Support from the regional development agency (RRA LUR) played a key role in navigating administrative requirements and improving proposal quality.

Barriers & Challenges

• Complexity of the call: At the beginning, understanding funding rules and application requirements was perceived as difficult and time-consuming.
• Administrative burden: Reporting, documentation and reimbursement procedures required significant effort and attention.
• Time & resource constraints: Limited internal capacity made it challenging to manage proposal preparation and implementation alongside day-to-day operations.
• Partnership & consortium coordination: Coordinating multiple partners sometimes required additional time and effort, particularly when responsiveness varied.
• Eligibility criteria: While not a major obstacle, careful screening was necessary to ensure that only suitable calls were pursued.

Lessons learned
• Alignment is decisive: Selecting calls that genuinely match the organisation’s mission and adapting project ideas to call priorities is essential for success.
• Capacity grows through repetition: Repeated participation in funding schemes gradually reduces uncertainty and improves efficiency in both application and implementation phases

This best practice demonstrates how a locally rooted organisation can successfully use EU co-funded rural development programmes to strengthen community-based tourism and services. Zavod Sotočje Medvode’s experience shows that funding success does not necessarily rely on highly innovative or large-scale projects, but on strong alignment with local development objectives, stable partnerships and growing institutional capacity. The case is particularly relevant for small tourism and cultural organisations operating in rural or semi-rural areas, illustrating how EU funds can be used pragmatically to deliver tangible social and territorial benefits while progressively building long-term funding competence.