Tbilisi.Over 600 representatives from diverse sectors across Georgia united at the B2B fair of social enterprises, organized by CSRDG with the support of the EU. he event offered a unique platform for guests to immerse themselves in a vast array of products and services provided by cutting-edge Georgian social enterprises exhibited in one space. Attendees also had the privilege of hearing the remarkable tales of our Impact Heroes – individuals who are making monumental contributions in addressing an array of socio-economic challenges.   More... Source: European Union in Georgia

Samegrelo. Elmira Jinjolia is one of 80 conflict-affected people in Georgia who benefit from the EU’s and UNDP Georgia’s support. Project helped Elmira enroll in an entrepreneurship training programme, participate in a grant competition and made the business idea of opening a coffee shop into a reality. Read more… Source: The EU’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The forth award ceremony of ‘Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards – Meliora 2022’ supported by the European Union (EU) and Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), and implemented by the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) was held on 30 May 2023. “An annual competition aimed at developing corporate responsibility in Georgia and promoting it throughout society, awards business companies for their best initiatives and projects  contributing to the development of corporate social responsibility. As part of this event, the members of diplomatic corps and international experts presented awards to winners in various categories”. Read more… Source: eu4georgia.eu

Guria. On April 28, 2023, the Institute for Changes and Innovation, in partnership with the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC), held a thematic meeting in Ozurgeti within the framework of the EU-supported “Learn for Employment” project, the aim of which was cooperation between sectors to overcome problems in the field of education and employment, to discuss current challenges and ways to improve the situation. Representatives of local self-government, non-governmental organizations, the State Employment Promotion Agency, media, and educational and business sectors attended the event. Read more… Source: edec.ge

Tbilisi. Women entrepreneurs in 10 countries will be helped to digitize their businesses, through a program developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) with Microsoft Corporation’s support. At this stage, the project mainly covers Asian and African countries. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On April 5, 2023, Public Defender Levan Ioseliani met with Wolt couriers who are on a strike and listened to their problems related to their labor rights and discrimination. According to the applications filed with the Public Defender’s Office, some of the couriers were blocked by the Wolt application, which is why they cannot continue working, while others received a warning message about their dismissal from the company. The couriers name their protest against the company as the reason for the violation of their rights. The Public Defender continues to study the mentioned applications and will make a decision in the near future. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information shares the infographics: The Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Georgia in Numbers. As of December 31, 2022, Russian citizens have 2.87 billion in the form of deposits at Georgian commercial banks.  In 2022 currency exchange offices in Georgia bought 4.6 billion rubles and sold 4.3 billion rubles.  After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 1,841 Russian citizens were registered in public and private schools in Georgia. Learn more... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. In 2022, Georgia received about 3.6 billion USD in income from Russia through remittances, tourism, and the export of goods, which is 3 times more than the income received from Russia in 2021 from the same sources. This number by 2 times exceeds the income received from Russia in 2019, before the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, the income from remittances, tourism, and export of goods from Russia was 14.6% of the Georgian economy (GDP), while in 2021, this figure was 6.3%, and the maximum – was 9.9% in 2018. Therefore, Georgia's economic dependence on Russia increased compared to previous years. The growth is mainly due to the soaring remittances. Georgia's growing economic dependence on Russia constitutes a threat to the country, as Russia has repeatedly utilized economic relations to politically leverage independent countries. Furthermore, the increased economic dependence on Russia is a threat to Georgia in terms of macroeconomics too as the Western sanctions and the war caused the economic crisis in Russia that will continue in 2023 as well. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. Organized by Mtskheta Mtianeti Regional Hub and with the support of Mtskheta Municipality City Hall, on December 10th, an exhibition and sale of women entrepreneurs’ products was held in Mtskheta. The purpose of the exhibition was to summarize the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence, which has been celebrated in 187 countries since 1991. Mtskheta-Mtianeti regional hub, with the financial support of the Eesti Pagulasabi/Estonian Refugee Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, implements the project: "Supporting IDP and conflict-affected women's sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship in Georgia".  Within the project, a total of 90 war-affected women received entrepreneurial grants. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Imereti. On October 19, the representatives of Taso Foundation visited the projects of the participants of the “Women's Economic Empowerment” program in the village of Dimi, Baghdati municipality: vegetable greenhouse and a family cellar. Purchases planned within the project have been completed, women have started their activities. The project is implemented by Taso Foundation with the support of the United Nations Women's Organization (UN Women) and the Norwegian government. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

The European Union (EU) is the largest donor to Georgia. Its portfolio grew significantly from a committed amount of EUR 150 million in 2015 to EUR 225 million in 2020. Between 2014 and 2020, the EU provided support to Georgia of a total of EUR 938.4 million. More …

Tbilisi. Is your business interested to meet Georgian social enterprises from all over Georgia, to see their products and services in one space? Join the B2B exhibition organised by CSRDG within the EU project on 30 September. Business representatives will have the opportunity to meet 50 social enterprises with diverse profiles, discuss future collaboration and develop responsible procurement practices. Find out more in the video. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. On September 16-18, a joint meeting for community workers was held, organized by “Taso Foundation”. The meeting was held within the framework of the second phase of the project "Economic Empowerment of Women through Social Mobilization and Capacity Building". The project is implemented in partnership with the UN Women Georgia, Kakheti Regional Development Fund (KRDF), and CARE Caucasus. The Project is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia and Austrian Development Agency. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Association “Anika” and the company “Skillwill Academy”. The memorandum aims to strengthen people's capacities in the field of information technology and the promotion of employment. The program proposed by "Skillwill Academy" will establish an inclusive approach in the technological field, creating equal opportunities and conditions for People with Disabilities. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia studied the issue of Georgia's economic dependence on Russia, as it poses a threat to the country. In particular, the data as of June 2022, on trade between Georgia and Russia, tourists, remittances, foreign direct investments from Russia, and registration of Russian companies in Georgia were analyzed. In January-June 2022, Georgia received about USD 1.2 billion in income from Russia through remittances, tourism, and commodity exports, which is 2.5 times more than the income received from Russia in January-June 2021 from the same sources. Moreover, this year’s receipts are 36% more than the income received from Russia before Covid-19 - in January-June 2019. This means that compared to previous years, Georgia's economic dependence on Russia has been increasing. This growth is mainly due to the soaring remittances. Exports of goods taken separately decreased. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Imereti. On July 22, 2022, with the support of the European Union (EU), the Imereti Regional Hub - Local Democracy Agency Georgia (LDA Georgia), organised a public meeting on the topic “Causes of Migration and Employment Opportunities in the Imereti Region”. The meeting was held within the framework of the European Union (EU) and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung funded project “Civil Society STAR Initiative”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. Within the framework of the “Women's Economic Empowerment” project, participating women completed the training course “How to Start and Develop a Business” which was conducted by qualified trainers of BDO Academy. “As a result of the training course, women learned how to transform an idea into a business plan, financial and tax issues, branding and marketing, sales techniques and more. The project is implemented by Taso Foundation with the support of the UN Women and the Government of Norway”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Guria. On June 8, employment forum was held in Ozurgeti. The forum aimed to promote employment opportunities for youth, IDPs, inexperienced, long-term unemployed, and other vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the forum’s objective was to comprehend the significance of improving cross-sectoral cooperation for employment opportunities in the regions of Georgia. The employment forum was supported by the European Union and was organized by the Institute for Change and Innovation (ICI), Skills for Employment and Cooperation – Perspectives for the Regions of Georgia – SECTORs” project; the Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC), “Learn, Exercise, Achieve, Receive, Network for Employment! (LEARN for Employment!) “project, the United Nations Association of Georgia, “Local Investments in Networks for Knowledge and Skill-share (LINKS)” project; and State Employment Support Agency (SESA). Read more… Source: eu4georgia.eu

Samthkhe-Javakheti. On June 8, in the village of Sviri, Akhaltsikhe Municipality, members of the Taso Foundation team conducted a training on the topic - “Self-Government - Essence, Structure and Competencies”. The training was aimed at raising awareness about the essence, structure and competencies of the self-government of new women's self-help groups in the villages of Boga and Sviri. The project is implemented in partnership with the UN Women Georgia Kakheti Regional Development Fund (KRDF), and CARE Caucasus. The Project is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia and the Austrian Development Agency. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

On June 8, from 10:30 to 14:00, an employment forum will be held at the Ozurgeti Folklore Center in Guria. The aim of the forum is to facilitate the employment of young people, IDPs, people with no work experience, long-term unemployed and other vulnerable groups. Job seekers will have the opportunity to participate in the interactive Workshops on the topics: Readiness for work and volunteering. Up to 30 small and medium companies will present the existing vacancies for employment and internship at the forum. More than 300 job seekers will take part in the event and will have the opportunity to meet a potential employer, talk about the desired vacancy and demonstrate their skills through direct communication. The Employment Forum is funded by the European Union and is organized by the Institute for Innovation and Change (ICI), the project "Skills for Employment and Cooperation - Perspectives for the Regions of Georgia (SECTORs)"; Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) Project “Learning, Training, Achieving and Building Employment (Learn for employment!) LEARN "; United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG) Project " “Local Investments in Networks for Knowledge and Skill-share” LINKS,  State Employment Service Agency (SESA). If you are a job seeker and want to participate in the forum, register at the link. Source: una.ge

Regions. In West Georgia, specifically in the Guria, Samegrelo and Imereti regions, the USAID YES-Georgia program visited local greenhouses, cafés, guest houses, flower shops, wine cellars, and artisan establishments to let women know about its entrepreneurship and soft skills training program. More than 60 women registered to participate in the training program. By 2024, USAID YES-Georgia aims to provide 2,600 women with greater access to quality education, training, and business development opportunities. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Guria. On May 4, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Norway to Georgia Helene Sand Andresen and UN Women Representative in Georgia Kaori Ishikawa, together with representatives of Taso Foundation, visited  former participant of the Women's Economic Empowerment Project, Keti Tsilosani in Lanchkhuti. “Keti Tsilosani told the guests in detail how she founded the social cafe "At Keto’s" as a result of her participation in the project, which is one of the most famous gathering places in Lanchkhuti today”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network