Samegrelo-zemo Svaneti. Mestia hosted the official launch of two large development projects and a public event under the motto “EU in Svaneti”.  The projects are designed and supported by the European Union, the Embassy of Sweden and the Austrian Development Cooperation.  “The European Union is proud to launch two large development projects today together with our Member States, Austria and Sweden. In the coming years we aim to contribute towards sustainable rural development and the creation of long-lasting jobs in Svaneti. Our final goal is to improve citizens’ lives in this mountainous region.” noted Head of Cooperation of the European Union, Vincent Rey.  Read more Source: http://enpard.ge

Kakheti. Within the framework of the EU-supported project “Promoting inclusive and participatory local development in Akhmeta Municipality”, Action Against Hunger and the Kakheti Regional Development Foundation hosted a Youth Camp.  The camp brought together 20 young people from different communities of the municipality to receive training on youth leadership, personal development and communication skills. Above all, the Youth Camp served as an ideal platform to promote youth engagement in the Local Action Group (LAG) that will be formed in Akhmeta in the coming months. Encouraging youth involvement in the Local Action Groups and decision-making processes is one of the key challenges and is extremely important for the success of the project and locally-led development initiatives.  Read more Source: http://enpard.ge

Samegrelo-zemo Svaneti. On June 22, Mestia is hosting the official launch of two development projects in Svaneti, combined with a public event designed to reach out to the local population.  The aim of the event is to introduce donors, ENPARD partner organizations, GRETA project, LEADER implementers and other local or international stakeholders with the main goals, milestones and future activities of rural development projects supported by the EU. The invited guests will also explore prospects and opportunities of local development in Mestia municipality, and mountainous regions of Georgia.  The event is organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia with support from the Embassy of Sweden in Tbilisi, Austrian Development Cooperation, Austrian Development Agency, Mestia local government and CARE Austria and PMC Research Center.  Read more  Source: http://enpard.ge

Kakheti. "Knowledge House” was opened with support of the EU in the village Arkhiloskalo of Dedoplistskaro municipality. With the support of the EU-funded project "Promoting Citizen Engagement for Economic Development” (PROCEED) and Dedoplistskaro Local Action Group (LAG), a rural development initiative "Knowledge House” was launched in the village Arkhiloskalo. The initiative aims to give a start to several after school circles that will help the engaged children to better develop their community spirit, social skills and creativity through the mutual support, integrated learning, knowledge sharing and interactive intellectual games. The children will be also given an opportunity to regularly meet people who share similar interests. Read more  Source: http://enpard.ge

On 6-10 May 2019, a study visit to Austria was organized for the Keda Local Action Group (LAG) members. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of Ajara A/R and Deputy Mayor of Keda Municipality also took part in the visit. The study tour was supported by the EU ENPARD program and was organized by the Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning (ÖIR) in partnership with CENN. The aim of the visit was to learn more about LEADER principals, the LAG role in the development of the Local Development Strategies and the section process of local development sub-projects. In the framework of the visit, participants held meetings with representatives of the Austrian Ministry of Sustainability and Tourism, Austrian Development Agency and the Ambassador of Georgia to Austria. Participants also visited two LEADER regions and met with respective LEADER managers and LAG representatives. Read more  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. The Parliament of Georgia adopted a draft Organic Law of Georgia on ''Agricultural Land Ownership'' and other bills, associated with it, through the first reading. According to the information of GDI, the legislative body partially considered comments and proposals submitted by the organization in regard to the initiated version. Read more… Source:gdi.ge

Kakheti. EU-supported Training in Project Cycle Management was implemented for the representatives of Dedoplistskaro Local Action Group. During the trainings, participants had an opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills in the following directions: implementation of context analysis, identification of intervention strategy and related goals and outcomes; project design and planning; development of indicators for each level of the project; allocation of resources, budgeting and project monitoring; reporting and project close. Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a blogpost: Exemptions of acquisition of agricultural lands by foreign nationals will be provided by law. See the recommendation and assessment… Source: www.transparency.ge

Kvemo Kartli. The European Union (EU), together with its partner organization CENN, officially launched a new rural development project in Tsalka Municipality. The "EMBRACE Tsalka” project aims to provide support to smallholders, entrepreneurs, women, youth and other local actors by improving access to knowledge and innovation, introducing best practices, creating public-private partnerships and business linkages, as well as generating new employment opportunities by utilizing the development potential of the area. Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA will submit viewpoints regarding a draft Organic Law on "Agricultural Land Ownership” and amendments to relevant legislative acts to the Parliament of Georgia. GYLA considers it important to focus on the following issues contained in a draft Organic Law on "Agricultural Land Ownership” and a draft Law on "Sustainable Management of Target and Agricultural Lands”: a) inheritance of agricultural land by a foreigner and set limits; b) prohibition of use of agricultural land as a security tool; c) change of a partner legal entity of private law, registered in Georgia; d) the right to preferential purchase of agricultural land by the State; e) investment plan. Read more…https://gyla.ge/ge/post/saia-sasoflo-sameurneo-danishnulebis-mitsis-sakutrebis-shesakheb-saqartvelos-parlaments-mosazrebebs-tsarudgens#sthash.3Fqx24IZ.dpbs Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The European Union launched a new rural development project in Akhmeta in partnership with Action Against Hunger. The project "Promoting Inclusive and Participatory Local Development in Akhmeta Municipality” introduces a bottom-up, inclusive rural development approach that fully engages all communities in the municipality. The project is funded by the European Union within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD). "This project brings together local authorities and community members, who join hands to strengthen and diversify the local economy and improve employment opportunities for people in this municipality. The approach is based on European experience and has been successfully implemented in other regions of Georgia. I am looking forward to seeing the initiatives the project will put forward to improve lives in Akhmeta” – stated EU Ambassador. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

With the support of the European Union (EU), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) have developed a Market Information System for agricultural products. The system was launched in 2015 under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD). Monitoring the market prices of more than 100 agricultural products is conducted in 59 municipalities across Georgia. Data-collectors – the staff of the MEPA Information and Consulting Centres (ICCs) – in each region gather prices on each agricultural product on a weekly basis and upload the data to an online database, providing users across the country with the latest price-related information. The data are further processed by the ministry and used for policymaking. After three years of data collection, the system is being upgraded in 2019 to improve the data collection and analysis process. FAO has developed an online application to collect the data electronically through tablets and to transfer the collected data automatically to the ministry’s main server. These upgrades of the system significantly simplify the process of monitoring and reduces the chances of making mistakes. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Mtskheta. PIN continues to facilitate dialogue between Georgian farmers, businesses and representatives of state structures, which is important for improving agricultural policies in Georgia. This time, we organized a regional meeting in Mtskheta. ''The main discussion topics were: the opportunities that DCFTA offers to Georgia, and the government’s strategy for responding to the challenges of implementing the DCFTA Action Plan'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: The webpage of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Over 20 representatives of the EU-supported Georgian Association of Local Action Groups (GALAG) took part in a three-day workshop organized by European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD) in Tbilisi. The aim of the workshop was to share with Georgian LAGs European experience and knowledge in rural development, assist in the elaboration of internal and external communication plans, help in mapping main partners to build stronger platforms for advocacy and fundraising, advise on the formation of thematic working groups and on distribution of responsibilities among GALAG members. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Ajara. The Ajara Autonomous Republic is working with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme to diversify economic options and improve incomes for rural communities The Government of the Ajara Autonomous Republic (AR) has agreed to contribute €230,000 to enhance the implementation of regional components of a €10 million EU-funded project "ENPARD-3: Improving Rural Development in Georgia” aimed at promoting rural development and small and medium-sized businesses. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

EU-supported Georgian LAGs establish close partnership with the European Leader Inspired Network Community. The representatives of the EU-supported Borjomi Local Action Group (LAG) and ENPARD implementing partner organisation Mercy Corps took part in the Leader Inspired Network Community (LINC) meeting in Vienna, Austria. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how future LINC seminars could be even better: What things were learned from previous seminars and what new things could be tried out. Operators in the LINC network have reviewed the results of the several international projects they executed and discussed the future cooperation. In the scope of the meeting, the Georgian delegation discussed the ways of cooperation between the Georgian LAGs and the LINC’s European partners. Despite the fact that at present Georgia is only an associate member of EU, it was agreed that the organizers of the LINC events will invite Georgian LAGs to all LINC workshops and conferences. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. FAO brought together the stakeholders and implementing partners of the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) for the 19th ENPARD Stakeholders’ Meeting. The gathering aimed to share the updates within the EU supported agricultural and rural development projects, focusing on the opportunities and overview of trading with the Georgian agricultural products throughout the world. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the ENPARD implementing partner organizations – UNDP, Mercy Corps, Care, PIN, RDFG, HEKS-EPER, GIPA, CENN, Caritas Czech Republic, Oxfam and others. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Kakheti. A Family Wine Cellar, Farmers’ Consultation Center and Degustation Hall was opened in Dedoplistskaro municipality with the support of the EU’s Rural Development Project. The EU ENPARD grant assistance helped create 12 permanent and 20 seasonal jobs, and encouraged the local farmer to produce high-quality organic wine following the European standards as well as Georgian traditions. Total budget of the rural development initiative is 68,188 GEL, where 29,936 GEL is EU grant issued under the project "Promoting Citizen Engagement for Economic Development (PROCEED)” and 38,252 GEL is co-financing by the beneficiary. The project beneficiary, farmer Davit Nasarashvili has 10 years’ experience in wine making and viticulture (planting vineyard, applying different methods of wine making). He owns vineyards on 7 hectares with 8 different varieties of grape. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Members of the Working Group on Agricultural Extension (WGE) introduced the results of the Training Needs Assessment for extension offices; presented the recently created online library of agricultural extension materials. They discussed a monitoring and evaluation framework for extension, as well as the status of implementation of the National Strategy for Agricultural Extension adopted with EU support by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) in 2017. The event was held in support to the agricultural extension services which is one of the components of the FAO’s project under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), funded and supported by the European Union (EU). In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Imereti. On 16-18 November 2018, over 15 members of the EU-supported Georgian Association of different LAGs (GALAG) gathered in Kutaisi for a training in advocacy and lobbying. The aim of the training was to support GALAG members in improving their knowledge and skills in advocacy and lobbying. During the workshops a number of important topics were discussed, such as: what is advocacy and lobbying and why is the LEADER approach important to this end, what are the key aspects of lobbying and advocacy in rural development, how to conduct advocacy campaigns, etc. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Kvemo kArtli. EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell, in the scope of his first official trip to Kvemo Kartli, paid a visit to cheese factory "Tsintskaro +” in the village Tsintskaro, Tetritskaro municipality. The factory is supported by EU through the ENPARD rural development project implemented by RDFG in Tetritskaro. During the visit, EU Ambassador viewed the sanitary conditions, production techniques, production process and quality standards ensured in the factory. Mr. Hartzell also tried different varieties of "Tsintskaro +” branded cheese. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Up to 30 representatives of the EU-supported Local Action Groups (LAGs) from eight municipalities of Georgia, Georgian Association of Local Action Groups (GALAG) and civil society organizations met with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia at a joint workshop about rural development.  The meeting was initiated by the Ministry in partnership with the Georgian Rural Development Network (GRDN) and supported by the European Union (EU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In full  Source: http://enpard.ge