The following guidance from the ENRD Contact Point concerns the essential and integrated role that Local Development Strategies (LDS) play in the LEADER/CLLD approach. It seeks to provide useful direction to Local Action Groups (LAGs) covering both the participatory processes needed to develop effective LDS and the key content of these strategies. This guidance document has been informed significantly by the work of the ENRD’s LEADER Focus Group on Improving the Quality of Local Development Strategies from the previous programming period. It has been updated to reflect specific provisions of the 2014-2020 Regulation.