The RURALED project aims to address key issues within the rural context by proposing innovative solutions to tackle existing challenges, while also building on the strengths and territorial capital of the local area.

This is achieved by promoting the development of transversal competences of adult learners and rural residents to tackle the gaps, problems, and needs of rural areas for the implementation of an inclusive Smart Village Strategy.

Rural Development is a multifaceted process, it rests on different enabling factors (often they also combine each other differently).
In a large perspective, it’s possible to divide enabling factors into:
1) social factors (Education and Skill Development; Good Governance and Institutional Support; Community Participation and Empowerment etc) and 2) technical-concrete factors (Technology and Connectivity, Infrastructures, agricultural development, Public-Private Partnerships etc).

Taking into consideration the above-mentioned elements, generally, CAP policies offer multiple opportunities to support development of rural areas, also in creative ways, beyond agricultural activities.

Several Member States take advantage of these opportunities to support social services, natural parks, renewable energy production, rural mobility systems, natural touristic tours or business creation in sectors other than farming, and to support digital transformation.