This paper deals with the territorial approach of rural development, based on several years monitoring local and regional development experiences in Northeast semi-arid region. The first part introduce some notions about territory and space, territorial approach of development and about territorial collectivities question. The second part presents the interest and limits of such an approach, through the examples of some few experiences in Northeast semi-arid area. The conclusion give some orientations for research and action, in order to support territorial development process. It shows, by the way, the key role of local organization and territorial collectivities, as an interface between rural stakeholders individual action level and the distant and centralized state and federal public action levels.