This report comprises a number of sections that, outlines the LEADER approach to rural development; Compares the South African rural development framework to LEADER; Provides a short description of the community-driven rural development process that was supported through Cooperation Framework on Innovation Systems between Finland and South Africa (COFISA) in the Eastern Cape, and; Sets out a framework that with certain preconditions can be used to roll out aLEADER-based approach to other rural areas of the Eastern Cape.