The LEADER program is the leading program for the development of rural areas in the European Union. It is specific for the principles of managing rural development "bottom up" by means of local action groups (LAGs), which represent solid partnerships of representatives of the public and civil sectors. One of the main tasks of local action groups is the creation of local development strategies, monitoring its implementation, as well as monitoring the use of support funds. The LEADER approach gives highly educated young people new opportunities for employment in rural areas in the role of animators and project managers in the implementation of local development strategies. LAG Karašica plays an important role in the rural development of Valpovština. The local action group "Karašica" was founded in 2009, when it started the activities of rural development management in the area of Valpovština. LAG was created as a result of the "Initiative for Rural Development" project of the Croatian Institute for Local Self-Government in Osijek with the financial support of the National Foundation for the Development of Civil Society. After accreditation in 2013 by the Agency for Payments in Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Lag Karašica received a mandate to implement the local development strategy, i.e. to grant financial support to entrepreneurs, associations and public sector organizations. Lag Karašica has 13 municipalities and 4 cities in its composition and is one of the largest LAGs in Croatia, and it is also among the most successful LAGs in terms of withdrawal of EU funds.