The focus of this document is on promoting digital transformation in villages and rural areas.
The rationale behind it is that government institutions and stakeholders at all levels are putting in place a wide range of strategies to improve digital infrastructure, increase digital usage, enhance digital skills and inclusion, and promote digital innovation in rural areas.
However, to optimise the benefits, these initiatives need to engage with and prioritise the needs and concerns of rural communities and stakeholders themselves.
Smart Villages Strategies can help overcome the digital gap by recognising the different starting points of rural areas and villages and co-designing digital pathways from the bottom-up while at the same time building bridges with the essential top-down strategies. 

Read more here.

The European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) is the structure that brings together all the stakeholders aiming to achieve improved rural development results in the EU.
The ENRD supports the effective implementation of EU Member States' Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) by generating and sharing knowledge, as well as through facilitating information exchange and cooperation across rural Europe.

The ENRD was established in 2008 by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI(link is external)). In the current programming period 2014-2020, the ENRD has four key objectives:

• Increase the involvement of stakeholders in rural development;
• Improve the quality of Rural Development Programmes;
• Better inform on the benefits of Rural Development policy;
• Support the evaluation of Rural Development Programmes.

The main stakeholders of the ENRD include National Rural Networks (NRNs); RDP Managing Authorities and Paying Agencies; Local Action Groups (LAGs); European stakeholder organisations; agricultural advisory services and other interested rural development stakeholders and organisations.

Website:  https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/(link is external)
Email:  info@enrd.eu