Questions & answers

Here you will find common questions and answers – for you who are seeking leader support and for you who are running a leader project.

Seeking support

Who can apply for project support?

Leader projects are based on collaboration. Associations, businesses, and municipalities can apply for support to promote development in Höga Kusten together. At least 2 of 3 sectors (non-profit, private, public) must collaborate in a leader project.

What can you apply for support for?

The costs can be salary, indirect costs, purchased services, investments, and other costs that drive the project forward towards a specific goal. Costs must be reasonable to meet the project's goals and overall contribute to Höga Kusten's rural development strategy. Support is not provided for maintenance/running costs.

How much support can we apply for?

We start from the local needs and together with the applying organization, we work out a reasonable and realistic budget. In other words, we do not start by talking about money but begin by discussing development needs and the benefits of what one wants to carry out.

How long is the application period?

The application period partly depends on how far you have come with your plans when you contact us for the first time. The project application takes place in four steps, and how long that process takes varies.

When you have submitted a letter of interest for project support, it is discussed by the Leader Höga Kusten board, which meets about 4 times a year. Current information about when your letter of interest needs to be submitted can be found on the website.

With the help of LAG's feedback, you work with support from one of our project coaches on a complete application that is submitted via the Swedish Board of Agriculture's e-service. The board decides whether the project is approved. After this, the application is sent to the Swedish Board of Agriculture for a formal decision. The time between the board's decision and the Swedish Board of Agriculture's decision varies but is usually somewhere between 3 and 5 months. Costs can be incurred from the moment the application is submitted in the Swedish Board of Agriculture's e-service, but this is at your own risk before the formal decision from the Swedish Board of Agriculture. This can be good to know before, for example, making large investments in a project.

Running projects

What is a payment proof?

A document that shows that you have paid out the money from the project owner's account and to whom the money has gone. It is often available for download in your organization's internet bank.

What administrative things must we be prepared for when I run a project?

When your project receives a formal decision from the Swedish Board of Agriculture, you will receive a start notice. This letter details the conditions and regulations that apply to your project. The most important are:

To separately account for the project: Report the project's expenses and income separately from your regular accounting, e.g., through a special project book/accounting or cost center in the accounting.
What requirements exist when you communicate about the project, e.g., the requirement to use the EU logo for support when you communicate about your project.
What you should do when you cannot meet the purpose and goals.
In what way you should follow the law on public procurement.
How long you should retain investments purchased through the project: At least 5 years after final payment.

Since payment is made in arrears, it is important to ensure that you have good liquidity, at least 30% for the requested project support.

Also, think about managing the financial part of the project well from the start: Collect all invoices and payment proofs continuously and plan when you will make your applications for payment.

When do we get the money?

All funds that we grant are paid out in arrears. Therefore, it is important to plan from the beginning of the project how you will be able to cover expenses for a period before your application for payment is approved and paid out. When costs have arisen, an application for payment can be sent to the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Remember that each application for payment needs to be processed by the Swedish Board of Agriculture and this can take up to 3 to 5 months. Leader Höga Kusten recommends that you establish a routine to reclaim funds at least every quarter. Also remember that the last 20% of the requested amount will not be paid out until the project is finally reported.

There is an opportunity to apply for an advance on the support as soon as you have received the formal decision from the Swedish Board of Agriculture – this applies to everyone except municipalities and authorities.

Can we get an advance?

In the decision, you can see how much support you can receive from the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the project support part. It is that amount that forms the basis for what you can receive in advance. You can apply for up to 50% of the project support part in advance, but no more than 250,000 kronor.

Remember to report expenses also for the advance, it is part of your granted support. You report in connection with the application for partial and final payment.

You apply for an advance via the Swedish Board of Agriculture's e-services.

What is separate accounting?

Separate accounting means that you in your bookkeeping should clearly and transparently show which expenses and revenues belong to the project in relation to your other activities. The separate accounting should be submitted with each new application for payment and relate to the period for which you are seeking payment. Examples of methods for separate accounting are:

Project code, result unit, or cost center in the organization's bookkeeping
One or more bookkeeping accounts that are specifically designated for the project or investment. These accounts should be marked with a specific name or number. Accounts may include other expense items than those reported in the application for payment, provided that these belong to the project.

What do we do if our project takes longer than expected?

When you do not have time to complete the project before the project's end date, it is important that you contact the Leaders operational office. This means that you should apply for a change of your support decision. You should make a change application if the project changes its direction, end date, budget, financing plan, or anything else significant compared to how it was intended. You should submit the application for a change of the decision on a form to your leader office.

If you report expenses or carry out activities that are not stated in your support decision, it may lead to deductions, therefore you must in such cases get these changes approved before the expenses can be eligible for support. If the leader office or the Swedish Board of Agriculture grants your application for change, the change applies from the day your application for change was submitted to the leader office.

How do you calculate voluntary hours?

In a leader project, it is a requirement to work voluntarily. Voluntary work means unpaid and voluntary work. This is because we know that the commitment to the project is an important prerequisite for the project to achieve its goals and be sustainable in the long term. Read more about how many voluntary hours are required for your project in the interest application form. Keep in mind that voluntary hours do not count as co-financing, but rather the hours you invest in the project beyond your own financial co-financing in the project. The voluntary work aims to show what commitment you have created in your community through your project.

Are there requirements when we communicate about our project?

When you inform about your project or your investment, it should be clear that the money comes from the EU. There should be an EU logo consisting of the EU flag along with text. The EU logo should always be visible and have a prominent place. You can download the correct logo from the Swedish Board of Agriculture's website.

Please also use the Leader Höga Kusten logo when you communicate your projects. Contact us and we will send the correct files to you.

There are specific rules regarding the size and placement of the logos. It is important to follow these rules as failure to comply may lead to deductions. Check the Swedish Board of Agriculture's website for more information.

When you advertise on social media for the project, there are also specific requirements regarding the use of logos. Contact the leader office before you make an advertisement!