• The "Rural Kit" or "Rural Toolbox" is a digital platform that serves as a guide and centralizes the different types of financing that the European Union makes available to rural areas in EU countries.
• Its objective is to help individuals, local authorities, institutions and businesses identify and take advantage of existing funds, programs and other financing and support initiatives in Europe for rural development.

"Let's not let the forest be hidden from the trees." Sometimes, the disparity in opportunities in the form of aid provided by the European Union (EU) to its taxpayers can lead to their failure to use it, either due to lack of awareness, inability to access it, or inability to manage it.

For this reason, and for the first time, the EU has created a comprehensive virtual guide called the "Rural Kit" or "Rural Toolbox": a platform that centralizes all types of financing available to rural areas in Europe.

It was presented to the public at a virtual event on February 6 and is part of the European Commission's long-term vision for rural areas in Europe, a framework within which rural development policies are projected until 2040.

The Rural Kit Platform provides not only practical information but also examples of good practices developed with funding and direct links to local resources in each area. However, applications must be submitted through the websites of each initiative or resource.

Sections

Three legs make up the spinal cord of the guide:

A) Funding seeker

All available information on subsidies and aid programs aimed at rural development in all EU member countries.

The search engine has drop-down menus to refine your search for grants using keywords:

• EU direct request initiatives are shown in blue.
• In green , EU initiatives requested through national or regional authorities
• Financial instruments in red

B)Inspiration

What can I use this funding for? Here we find examples of good practices and inspiring stories. This section compiles the experiences of promoters to share, through the generated information sheets, the challenges and mitigations their actions have brought in their respective rural areas. In this way, the aim is to share knowledge so that initiatives that have been useful in some places can be imported to others. The idea is that new grant recipients will increasingly contribute to the section with their contributions.

C) Resources

A repository that contains relevant materials to provide practical guidance and knowledge (useful documents, reports, manuals) on six factors that directly impact rural development: broadband, culture, education, energy, the environment, and tourism.

Rural communities are also supported in designing and implementing integrated strategies and projects, either through Participatory Local Development Strategies (PLDS) or Integrated Territorial Investments (ITIs).

C.1) Guidelines on the territorial approach

We found the following tools:

1)Manual on "Territorial and Local Development Strategies" (TLDS) : how to design and implement strategies in rural areas. It is primarily used by rural development program management authorities and local authorities.

2)Sustainable Urban Development Policy Atlas : Urban areas play a fundamental role in ensuring balanced territorial development. This manual presents approaches to addressing population decline, aging, rising unemployment, and other challenges facing these areas.

3) Talent Platform : Provides access to events, best practices, and technical assistance, so regions receive the guidance, information, and knowledge they need to train, attract, and retain talent.

4) Territorial Agenda 2030 : provides a framework for policy actions that promote territorial cohesion in Europe, towards an inclusive and sustainable future for all places.

C.2.) Guides on European Union (EU) financing

1) European funding for broadband : a guide to the financial instruments made available by the European Commission to boost investment in broadband in the EU.

2) Cultural Funding Guide : The “CulturEU” funding guide includes all EU programs for groups involved in cultural and creative activities. The guide covers opportunities linked to the European Commission's flagship program “Creative Europe,” which will provide €2.44 billion in support over the period 2021-2027.

3) EU funding opportunities for education and training : with funding programmes and instruments that could support education, skills development and training projects, both for decentralised actions managed at national level and for centralised actions managed directly by the European Commission.

4) EU energy financing opportunities : information on EU programmes and instruments for financing energy projects, mechanisms for increasing investments in renewable energy in the context of REPowerEU and the European Green Deal.

5) EU funding opportunities for the environment : a detailed overview of the 2021-2027 funding programmes and instruments that could support the contribution to EU environmental policies and objectives.

6 ) Guide to EU tourism funding : Featuring a wide range of funding programs under the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and "Next Generation" toward more digital and sustainable tourism. Links to relevant EU program websites with practical information and concrete examples of funded projects.