This project is aimed at developing local self-governance system in remote rural areas that will lead to improvement of life quality of local communities. Additional support is needed for protection in emergency situations, but daily life as well could be changed by improvement of quality and increasing of the number of social, housing and utility services. The efforts of the project in Russia will be focused on Elder Institute for rural areas - it exists informally, but to make it operational it is necessary to create institutional conditions and elders should be trained to fulfill the representation function. In Latvia the work will be focused on improving municipal policy and LSG practice in rural areas. Achievements: Outputs*4 public opinion surveys conducted, more than 500 inhabitants involved in 2 pilot municipalities – Shugozero (Leningrad Region, Russia) and Gulbene (Latvia); *Model of the rural elders system developed, 7 thematic brochures published in Russian and Latvian languages in 3050 copies; *2 Educational programs for rural elders in Shugozero and specialists in Gulbene municipalities elaborated; *9 training modules for over 70 participants, 1 Study tour to Latvia, Local self-government Forum and Final Conference for above 200 participants held; *Communication and Emergency alerting systems provided for rural elders in 35 villages of Shugozero settlement, 2 Handbooks for Russian and Latvian municipalities and inhabitants elaborated; *10 articles in local newspapers and 5 articles in specialized publications published in 7000 copies, 2 TV broadcasts, 12 newsletters and 2 press-releases; *Project results presented to Presidium of All-Russia Congress of municipalities and 25th Congress of Latvian local authorities; *2 Websites created Results*Developed rural elders model facilitating local development, state support of activities and best practice samples; *Project trainings addressing rural tourism, farming, consumer cooperatives, etc. stimulated personal involvement of the local population in LSG development processes; *Project deliverables disseminated to most Russian regions and Latvian municipalities; *Alerting system on emergencies installed in pilot Shugozero municipality taken as a model for the whole Leningrad region; *Cooperation Agreements signed between 8 Latvian and 8 Russian municipalities to continue cooperation in the fields of culture, sport, energy saving, fishery and many others; *Professional Network in the sphere of LSG development developed in Russia and Latvia involving regional and national organisations and expert communities; *New Action plan on future cooperation signed between the Association "Council of municipalities of Leningrad region" and Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments; *More than 1000 people took part in the project events and more than 2000 learnt about the project achievements