Kvemo Kartli. The Youth Bank has one of the most active committees in the Marneuli district. Both committee members and the authors of projects, i.e., young persons who turn ideas into projects, are quite active, and, in a joint effort with the committee, they work to benefit their local communities. This process is supported by Europe Foundation within the framework of its Youth Integration Program. This year, youth in the Marneuli district set a precedent for future projects to follow – they built a greenhouse that will generate income for the Maradisi village school district. Read more…  Source: http://www.epfound.ge

Tbilisi. How networking can contribute to rural development and what are the gains of rural networks in the EU countries and in Georgia? This was discussed at an annual meeting of the Georgian Rural Development Network (GRDN) attended by over fifty representatives of Georgia’s Government, civil society, rural businesses and international organizations.  The meeting participants discussed the prospects of public-private partnerships in promoting rural development in Georgia and the role of young people in growing successful rural businesses that can create income opportunities beyond agriculture. They also focused on how the national Rural Development Network (GRDN) can facilitate and enhance rural development by creating a coalition of protagonists and supporters.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Ajara. The association “Foreji” opened a trout incubation demonstration farm in the village of Tsoniarisi, Keda Municipality. The initiative is supported by EU and is part of the ENPARD Keda LEADER project implemented by CENN in the municipality.  Within the project, a modern fish incubation demonstration farm has been established. The farm ensures the breeding of healthy and high-quality fish and a sufficient supply of fish to fish farms throughout the year.  Implementation of the project will support and promote the optimal use of the water resources of the Adjara region, develop modern fishery standards, provide a sufficient supply of fish to local fish farms and strengthen existing fisheries in the region.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Ajara. EU and UNDP support innovative business ideas for rural municipalities in Ajara.  Forty local entrepreneurs joined a three-day business bootcamp in Chakvi in November, designed to show how to start, run and grow a rural business enterprise, generate creative ideas and find the realistic ways of their implementation. This condensed business exercise was supported by the European Union (EU), under the EU-funded ENPARD programme, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Ajara Autonomous Republic.  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. EU and UNDP support a discussion series to assess rural development in Georgia in 2017-2020 and set priorities for 2021-2027 Representatives of the Government of Georgia met members of civil society,  local authorities and communities in Borjomi to give them an account on the progress achieved in rural development under the national strategy 2017-2020 and discuss key priorities areas in 2021-2027. The discussion was organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the support of the European Union under the ENPARD programme, as part of the broader effort to promote rural development in Georgia.  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. With EU and FAO support, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia consults stakeholders on a revised draft of Agricultural Extension Strategy.  The draft strategy was presented to representatives of major stakeholders, international donor organizations and development partners. The primary goal of the strategy is to improve the competitiveness of the Georgian agricultural sector by delivering quality and cost-efficient advising services to the farmers. This is to be achieved by transforming the existing 54 information and consultation centers into a modern extension service focused on real needs of farmers.  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Ajara. The EU-supported Khulo Local Action Group (LAG) has launched a new project “Promotion of service quality development in the guest houses in Khulo Municipality”.  The four months project aims to improve the quality of knowledge in the field of guesthouse management, service and marketing through retraining the guesthouse operators from Khulo municipality. Overall, 13 guesthouse operators have been selected to participate in the trainings. The project is financed jointly by American embassy small grant program and Caritas Czech Republic in Georgia.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Over 100 representatives of public, private and civil society organizations attended the conference, which summarized the results of the EU-supported two-year ENPARD project “Strengthening Rural Development models in Georgia”.  The project, implemented by Mercy Corps, People in Need and CARE Austria, in partnership with the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD), ran since 2017 and aimed at promoting a community-driven rural development approach in Borjomi, Lagodekhi and Kazbegi municipalities. Through sharing the best European practices in rural development, the project has contributed to the implementation of the EU’s LEADER approach in the three municipalities, where it has helped establish Local Action Groups (LAGs), elaborate Local Development Strategies and provided EU grants to over 200 development initiatives. As a result, throughout the project implementation, more than 600 permanent job opportunities were created in all three municipalities.  Since 2015, in the framework of the EU ENPARD programme in Georgia, eight Local Actions Groups have been created (in Borjomi, Lagodekhi, Kazbebgi, Dedoplistskaro, Tetritskaro, Akhalkalaki, Keda and Khulo municipalities), which, in collaboration with the EU partner organizations, are successfully implementing rural development projects. Up to 400 initiatives have already been funded by EU through their direct involvement country-wide. These initiatives are boosting production and services in the areas of agriculture, tourism, social and rural infrastructure and environment. They have already provided better employment to over 1000 rural households and benefited more than 10,000 people across the country. Currently, the EU’s LEADER methodology is being introduced and Local Action Groups established in four additional municipalities (Akhmeta, Tsalka, Tskaltubo and Mestia).  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. A full of positive emotions two-day “Community Leadership Forum 2019” is over. The forum of his year was dedicated to the International Day of Rural Women. The forum was conducted within the framework of the project “Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” with the support of the European Union and Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Kakheti. With EU and FAO support local farmer’s sweetcorn goes on sale at Carrefour. Carl Hartzell, Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia and Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative, met with an FAO-ENPARD project beneficiaries on their first day of suppling Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour Georgia with their yield.  Kakheti sweetcorn on sale in supermarket is first success of large scale EU-FAO project aiming at increasing Georgian farmer productivity and income through modern methods and connecting producers with retailers.  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the EU-funded European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD III), announces Grant Competition to support agricultural initiatives in Georgia.  The objectives of the initiative are to improve access to finance, services, equipment and inputs for farmers, rural households, cooperatives and other small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas. These improvements are expected to contribute to increased competitiveness of the agricultural sector and better livelihoods for people living in the rural areas.  Information sharing meetings in the municipalities will be held.  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Guria. On 12-13 October, EU Ambassador to Georgia, Carl Hartzell, visited Guria region. During the visit he met with local government and civil society, visited EU project sites, and opened Europe Day in Ozurgeti.  The trip started with a visit to tea cooperative Nagromari, which received EU support through the ENPARD programme to purchase equipment and rehabilitate unused tea fields. Over half of the cooperative members are women, and it has doubled its land and expanded its factory in the last three years.  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Happening now UN Women in partnership with the Georgian Farmers Association (GFA) is organizing consultation meeting on promoting agritourism in Georgia. The meeting is devoted to the International Rural Women's Day. The event is organized within the framework of the UN Women's project "A Joint Action for Women's Economic Empowerment in Georgia" funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Read more… Source: The page of the organization in a social network

Ajara. As part of a broader effort to promote rural development in Georgia, the European Union (EU), in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is launching a series of workshops in Rural Development Advocacy in eight municipalities.  The first workshops brought together up to 60 community activists and representatives of civil society organizations from the municipalities of Tetritskaro, Lagodekhi and Dedoplistskaro. By the end of 2020, similar workshops will be carried out in five other municipalities – Akhalkalaki, Borjomi, Kazbegi, Keda and Khulo.  The series of workshops for the civil society organizations is part of the EUR 179.5 million in EU assistance that has been allocated to Georgia under the ENPARD programme between 2013 and 2022. This support aims to promote rural development policies and create economic opportunities for the rural population outside of agriculture.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Ajara. EU Supports the Adoption of Economic Development Plan for Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo Municipalities.  Over 50 representatives of public, private and civil society sectors gathered in Batumi, Adjara to discuss Economic Development Plans for Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo municipalities. The document was prepared with EU support under “Mayors for Economic Growth” project, with the assistance from ENPARD’s ongoing rural development projects in Keda and Khulo and active involvement of Local Action Groups (LAGs).  The aim of the Economic Development Plans are to realize common interests, coordinate economic development sites between participating municipalities and initiate joint action concerning local economic development.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Access to finance by small-scale farms and cooperatives in Georgia were discussed at a project launch conference held in Tbilisi Marriott today. The 4-year project “Finance & Extension & Cooperative Development for Georgian Farmers (FinExCoop Georgia)” is funded by EU and L’Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) under the ENPARD Programme with a total budget of EUR 4 million. It aims at improving access to finance and agricultural extension services by small farms and cooperatives in Georgia. The project is implemented in partnership with Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Mercy Corps and Rural Development for Future Georgia (RDFG).  This project is part of a global program aiming at improving financial inclusiveness and access to market for small-scale commercial farmers. The first component was financed by Proparco, AFD’s subsidiary dedicated to the private sector, through agro-credit lines extended to two major Georgian financial institutions.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Representatives of EU’s partner organisations – Mercy Corps, CARE and People in Need – implementing the EU-funded ENPARD project “Strengthening Rural Development Models in Georgia” and the members of EU-supported Borjomi, Lagodekhi and Kazbegi Local Action Groups (LAGs) participated in Leader Inspired Network Community, LINC Conference in Estonia.  LINC is a European Leader conference which combines European exchange of experience with sport events and European culinary. It is an initiative from LAGs and National Network Units for rural development in Austria, Germany, Estonia and Finland. The conference aimed to present the results and innovative methods achieved using the European LEADER approach to rural development, exchange the professional experience of representatives of the European LEADER areas and establish links for international cooperation.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Kakheti. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the ENPARD programme of the European Union, held a Farmer Field Day for the farmers and stakeholders in Lagodekhi, Georgia. The event was held in support to the agricultural extension services which is one of the components of the FAO-ENPARD project which supports the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) in the implementation of the National Strategy for Agricultural Extension 2018-2019. FAO organizes farmer field schools, theoretical and practical training activities for lead farmers, ICCs and interns from Agrarian University. Within the project FAO experts arrange various types of demonstration plots of potatoes, wheat, maize, cucumber, eggplant and sweet corn, focusing on the municipalities of Dedoplistskaro, Akhalkalaki, Khazbegi and Lagodekhi. Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Kvemo Kartli. The launch event of the Adventure-Rope Park and Algeti National Park Visitor’s Center was held along with the official hand-over of equipment to successful grant applicants.  Within the framework of the EU ENPARD Programme RDFG and the Tetritskaro Local Action Group (LAG) successfully completed two phases of the Rural Development Grant Program. Through the given initiative 65 rural development projects have been selected for funding which has raised a co-investment of around 5 million Georgian Lari (35% of which comes from beneficiary contributions). The rural development projects selected to receive support will create job opportunities for over 300 residents of the Tetritskaro Municipality, 40% of whom will be women.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Racha-Lechkhum-Kvemo Svaneti. Social integration, developing the basic comunication and interpersonal skills were the major topics of the EU-supported Youth Summer Camp organized by the initiative of the Akhalkalaki Local Action Group (LAG) in Racha. The event was held within the framework of EU-supported project “Promoting a New Rural Development Approach in Akhalkalaki.”  During the Summer Camp, participants had the opportunity to raise awareness about the history of Racha Region, visit cultural, historical and recreation sites, and receive information about the academic programmes of local vocational college. Moreover, the youth learned local traditional handiworks such as the art of patterning and creating Georgian enamel, as well as cooked local dishes with the host family. In addition, the camp participants were introduced to local tourism development trends and innovative methods of establishing effective communication and interpersonal skills.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge 

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. Bulachauri Green Center hosted the second Green Camp for Young Leaders and Innovators.  The EU-supported camp was organized by CENN in partnership with Caritas Czech Republic. The camp participants were selected via an open application process from Keda, Khulo and Tsalka municipalities.  The intensive educational program of the Green Camp aimed at raising the awareness of the young generation about environmental protection, sustainable development, science and technology and creating new possibilities for future leaders.  Read more Source: http://enpard.ge

Kakheti. On 24 June 2019, Association Rural Development for Future Georgia (RDFG) organized an opening of the EU-supported youth camp for the members of the RDFG Young Farmers Centers (YFC).  The camp aims to increase knowledge in agriculture field from theory and practice, also, to emphasize the importance of the vocational education as a career choice for youth. Within the three-day youth camp, the members of the Young Farmers Centers (YFC) will have an opportunity to attend the training sessions about veterinary, viniculture, bee-keeping and fruit-vegetables processing, as well as receive information about the benefits of the vocational education. The event is hosted by the Vocational College AISI located in Kachreti, Kakheti.  Read more Source: http://enpard.ge