Development projects

“When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.”

African proverb

In 2023-2030 the development projects of priority are:

North-West Estonian food

North-West Estonia is a diverse place, with sprawling bogs and swamp forests, rocky fields and grasslands, and hundreds of kilometres of sandy coastline. This varied land grows its special plants and fruits for human and animal consumption. The food of north-western Estonia is delicious but still little known. In our neighbourhood, you will find hearty small producers and larger food brands, charming lace cafés and Michelin recommendation restaurants, bustling farm markets and diverse food events.
North-west Estonia is a fascinating region for nature lovers, adventurers, spa lovers, food lovers and gourmets alike. Come and visit us and let your senses be stimulated.

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Mud Month Festival

North-West Estonia is also home to the unique Mud Month Festival which takes place every fall when the weather gets muddy. The cultural festival in October brings together a wide range of exciting events of all kinds and offers a variety of experiences between the capital Tallinn to the resort town of Haapsalu. The events range from cultural experiences to nature and sports experiences all of which are linked in one way or another to autumn and dusty weather. The festival aims to invite people to discover the region outside the usual tourist season and to show that even when the weather is dusty and the evenings are much darker, there is still plenty to experience and discover! In 2024, the Mud Month Festival will take place for the 7th time.

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North- West Estonia Geopark

The Western-Harju Partnership revived the idea of a North-West Estonian geopark. North-West Estonia has special geological natural monuments (Neugrund meteorite crater, Berchtesgaden, The Baltic Klint, etc.), the appreciation and linking of which with tourism in the region could be a new outlet for marketing and developing North-West Estonia as a destination. In 2024 the development strategy of the North-West Estonian Geopark until 2030 was prepared by Tallinn University, and through the Life subject project “Creating a story for North-West Estonia”, students of the university were also involved.

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North-West Estonia Tourism Newtwork

North-West Estonia is a tourist area with a lot to offer, running from Tallinn to Haapsalu, covering parts of Harju County and Läänemaa. The region is remarkable for its diversity and offers plenty of reasons to get out of the city. It has a wonderful natural heritage, quaint visitor centers, and beautiful manors, lighthouses, and monasteries.

In the new period, joint marketing activities will be organized for the networks, as well as cooperation events and national and international study visits to gain experience. The aim is to have well-established good practices and well-known North-West Estonia.

Within the framework of the new period, the Western-Harju Partnership is so far involved in an international cooperation project on energy (EC4RURAL) – “Fostering local engagement for Clean Energy Transition in Rural Areas through Energy Communities”. Project is led by the University of Vigo and co-funded by the LIFE Programme, under the sub-programme Clean Energy.

Work with the 5 Star Nature + cooperation follow-up project to be funded by the LEADER program on the theme of accessible tourism and the development of geoparks is in progress.

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Overview of previous development projects

During the previous period 2014-2020, the Western-Harju Partnership participated in 16 different international cooperation projects. These projects included participation in international LEADER cooperation projects, Erasmus+, Europe for Citizens, TTRC – Transition towards resilient countrysides around the Baltic Sea cross-border cooperation, and other similar projects.
The themes covered in the projects were numerous: increasing entrepreneurship, local food, low-season tourism, community action, circular economy, safe community, developing water tourism, improving the living environment, volunteering, improving cooperation, smart villages, marketing activities, developing digital solutions for museums, and youth activities.

Study visits and joint discussions are important for the Western-Harju Partnership, as they help to find new partners, inspiration, and ideas for small business development. The success of small businesses has a positive impact on the whole region. LEADER and other programs have helped to find promoters and financial support, making it easier for entrepreneurs to participate in similar study visits. More than 60 entrepreneurs, action group members and board members, and community members from the region visited abroad other local group areas as part of various projects.

International cooperation projects have been carried out with LEADER local action groups and other partners from Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Ireland, Wales, Spain, Austria, Slovakia, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Czechia, Albania, Serbia, Cyprus, Malta, Germany, Hungary, and Georgia.

In the period 2014-2020, we participated in the following cooperation projects:

National LEADER cooperation projects:

  • Marketing of North-West Estonia I & II
  • Cooperation of Harju County LAGs

LEADER Transnational cooperation projects:

  • Coastal and Dune Management
  • 5*Nature+ project
  • Water Tourism Development
  • Local Security
  • Circular Economy in Countryside
  • Living Museums
  • Dark Sky International – Argo Navis – Follow the Stars

Erasmus and Citizens of Europe:

Seed funding project financed by the Swedish Instutute:

  • TTRC Transition resilent countrysides around the Baltic Sea