Ajara. On February 24-25, a group of women entrepreneurs from Keda municipality of Ajara, participated in the EU-supported workshop "Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs for Business Development”. The workshop, which took place under the EU’s ENPARD project "Optimising the Potential of Local Assets for Rural Development of Keda Municipality (Keda LEADER)”, was carried out by the project implementing organisation CENN. It aimed at strengthening local women entrepreneurs in Keda municipality by giving them access to new opportunities and information throughout theoretical materials and discussion of practical cases. Amongst the participants were active women entrepreneurs, as well as those who plan to start business in future. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Kakheti. In the framework of the EU-funded European Neighbourhood Programme for Rural Development (ENPARD), a two-days workshop of Borjomi and Lagodekhi Local Action Groups (LAGs) took place in Lagodekhi. Main goal of the meeting was to link Lagodekhi and Borjomi LAGs, exchange information and experience and discuss future plans and cooperation opportunities. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Kvemo Kartli. Employment Shuttle Program through RDFG project "Rural Development for Sustainable Growth of Tetritskaro Municipality” continues. Project is implemented with the financial support of European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD). Employment Shuttle in Tetritskaro municipality started three months ago. Program sessions, conducted by the program mentor, corporative volunteers, employment and self-employment field specialists, take place in RDFG Tetritskato office two times a week. During this week, Nino Giorgadze, the representative of non-governmental organization "Orbeliani Georgia” and the representatives of above mentioned project "Rural Development for Sustainable Growth of Tetritskaro Municipality” visited the program. First part of the session was about small-scale grants program of "Orbeliani Georgia”. Into the framework of this program, agricultural and social projects will be granted in Tetritskaro municipality. Nino Giorgadze Mentioned, that application process is open to everyone, who aspires to make positive changes in the community. RDFG implements "Rural Development for Sustainable Growth of Tetritskaro Municipality” in the framework of the second phase of European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development – ENPARD. ENPARD uses a LEADER approach to economic development. Fundamentally, it is the energy and resources of the local people that contribute to the rural development process by forming partnerships at a sub-regional level between the public, private and civil sectors. The LEADER approach is associated with local empowerment through local strategy development and resource allocation. The main tool for the application of the LEADER approach to area development and involving local representatives in decision-making is the Local Action Group (LAG). The project partners are Agro-Technology Association (ATA), Lithuanian Local Action Groups Network and the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. OXFAM and Biological farming Association ELKANA organized workshop „Challeges of Eeffective Management and Value Addition in Agricultural Cooperatives in Georgia”. The meeting was organized within the framework of the "Lessons learnt Workshop Series” under the European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), and the EU funded project "Supporting Agricultural Co-operation In Georgia.” Representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the Agricultural Cooperative Development Agency, other governmental and international organizations, civil society, donor and partner organizations, agricultural cooperatives as well as the specialists of different fields of agriculture attended the meeting. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Ajara. ENPARD partner CENN hosted the first steering committee and LAG networking meeting On January 31- February 1, 2018, senior representatives of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Ministry of Agriculture of Ajara AR, Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, ENPARD implementing partners and Local Action Groups (LAGs) gathered at the first Steering Committee and LAG networking meeting organised by ENPARD partner – Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN). The event took place within EU-supported project "Optimising the Potential of Local Assets for Rural Development of Keda Municipality” at Bulachauri Green Center. It aimed at introducing the progress within the project and exchanging information and recommendations among involved counterparts. In the framework of the two-day event, CENN also hosted LAG networking meeting at which it brought together representatives of 8 LAGs established with the support of ENPARD in different municipalities in Georgia. The networking platform was a good opportunity to tighten the linkages and partnership opportunities among participants, exchange feedbacks or suggestions for further development and share experience. The CENN team shared information on the organization’s ongoing environmental actions in different municipalities in Georgia and encouraged deeper partnership among rural development projects and LAGs in this regard. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. EU-supported €12 million agriculture development project is launched in Georgia. Improved access to finance, better services and inputs for farmers, rural households, and agricultural cooperatives and other rural SMEs, as well as improved capacity of the Georgia’s Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture (MEPA) will make Georgia’s agricultural sector more competitive. That is exactly the objective of the new €12 million project under the third phase of EU-funded European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Ajara. The Local Action Group (LAG) was officially established in Keda Municipality as a result of active information and mobilization campaigns conducted by CENN and Institute of Democracy. On December 24, 2017 LAG Board Members have been elected. In total LAG unites 266 members, out of this 40% are women. The sectors are distributed as follows: Public Sector – 36%; Civic – 14%, Private – 50%. As for geographical coverage, LAG have the representatives from all (9) communities of Keda Municipality. The project Optimising the Potential of Local Assets for Rural Development of Keda Municipality is financially supported by the European Union and is being implemented by Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) in partnership with the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), Institute of Democracy (IoD) and Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning (ÖIR). In full Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. 28 December 2017 – The Government of Georgia adopted the National Rural Development Action Plan 2018-2020 on December 27, 2017, following the recommendations of the Inter-Agency Coordination Council for Rural Development of Georgia earlier this week. With the total budget of more than 1.7 billion GEL, the Rural Development Action Plan addresses some of the key challenges identified by the national Rural Development Strategy 2017 – 2020, and sets 69 measurable targets that will be achieved in the coming three years. The Rural Development Action Plan was prepared with support from the European Union (EU), in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the EU-funded ENPARD programme. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the EU supported European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), conducted a training for 50 representatives of the Agricultural Ministry’s Information-Consulting Centres. Participants from 30 municipalities of all regions of Georgia attended the five-day training, getting acquainted with advanced knowledge and experience in post-harvest technologies and the handling of perishable food. The Training of Trainers (ToT) included information on the entire cycle of post-harvest handling from harvesting to selling. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Georgia. Farmers’ cooperatives, local tourism, infrastructure, environmental challenges and youth activities were in focus of the meetings in Lagodekhi and Kazbegi in December 2017, organised by the Government of Georgia, with assistance from the European Union (EU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the EU-funded ENPARD programme. The meetings brought together more than 150 representatives of the national and local authorities, civil society, private sector and community organizations, as well as the Local Action Groups (LAGs) established to promote rural development initiatives in their respective communities. The meetings in Lagodekhi and Kazbegi are the first in a series of consultations that will be held in eight municipalities of Georgia that are piloting Local Action Groups (LAGs). In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Georgian farmers and policymakers now have a new and innovative tool at their fingertips. A new data source located at the farmer’s online portal – www.farmer.gov.ge – allows Georgians to monitor local prices for up to one hundred agricultural and food products in markets throughout the country. An online platform of statistics was developed by FAO under the EU supported European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) in close collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Ajara. On 5-6 December, 2017, in Khulo, Croatian Rural Development Network (HMRR) conducted workshop for working group for Local Development Strategy(LDS). The objectives of the workshop were to deeply introduce LEADER approach, to start process of the development of Local Development Strategy, to introduce SWOT analysis, to strengthen knowledge and skills of future LAG animators -members of the working group. Participants of the workshops were representatives of private, civil and public sectors who expressed their interest in involving of the working process for Local Development Strategy. The workshops were organized in the framework of the EU-funded project "Promotion of Rural Development and Diversification in Khulo Municipality” implemented by Caritas Czech Republic in Georgia under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD). In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. EU and partners summarised achievements of ENPARD’s small farmers’ cooperation component. At a joint closure event in Tbilisi the four partners implementing the EU’s ENPARD’s small farmers’ cooperation component, Care, Mercy Corps, Oxfam and People in Need, presented the results of their four-year work in support of EU-funded agricultural cooperatives in Georgia. The EU supports agriculture and rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Implemented since 2013 with a total budget of EUR 102 million, the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty in Georgia. The first phase of ENPARD in Georgia focused on developing the potential of agriculture. The second phase of ENPARD focuses on creating economic opportunities for rural population that go beyond agricultural activities. The next phases will continue strengthening the agriculture sector, and also focus food safety and quality standards and further development of the rural development model. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Members of Akhalkalaki Local Action Group (LAG) participated in a study visit to Ireland, West Cork region on the 18-26th of November. The visit aimed to let the participants exchange LEADER project experience and provide them with information about the challenges faced during project implementation. The visit also intended to introduce the participants with the structure of LAG, principles of its work and means to seek additional funds in order to ensure sustainability of LAG. Ireland has 25 years of experience in this regard. Study visit was conducted with the support of EU, in the framework of the ENPARD project "Promoting a New Rural Development Approach in Akhalkalaki”, implemented by Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) in partnership with Mercy Corps, Elva Community Engagement and West Cork Development Partnership. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) brought together the stakeholders and implementing partners of the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) for the 15th ENPARD stakeholders’ meeting. The gathering aimed to share the experiences acquired within the I Phase of the EU supported ENPARD programme. Implementing partners of ENPARD pilot rural development projects (PIN, CARE and Mercy Corps) and cooperatives support projects (Oxfam, PIN, CARE and Mercy Corps) wrapped up their activities under ENPARD I and provided the detailed information on the successful experiences and lessons learned in respective directions. The meeting was concluded with the updates of the representatives of the ENPARD implementing partner organizations. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Kvemo kartli. The first phase of Employment Shuttle program has started in Tetritskaro through the "Rural Development for Sustainable Growth of Tetritskaro Municipality” project, which is implemented by RDFG with the support of European Union (EU).  After the selection process, 20 job seekers from the local community has been selected. For 5 months, they will participate in different activities of the program and learn to guide their career and develop necessary skills to foster their employability. RDFG implements "Rural Development for Sustainable Growth of Tetritskaro Municipality” in the framework of the second phase of European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development – ENPARD. ENPARD uses a LEADER approach to economic development. Fundamentally, it is the energy and resources of the local people that contribute to the rural development process by forming partnerships at a sub-regional level between the public, private and civil sectors. The LEADER approach is associated with local empowerment through local strategy development and resource allocation. The main tool for the application of the LEADER approach to area development and involving local representatives in decision-making is the Local Action Group (LAG). The project partners are Agro-Technology Association (ATA), Lithuanian Local Action Groups Network and the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Ajara. Workshops on the European model of rural development, LEADER approach, and LAG principles was contacted for potential LAG members in Khulo municipality. The workshops were organized in the framework of the EU-funded project "Promotion of Rural Development and Diversification in Khulo Municipality” implemented by Caritas Czech Republic in Georgia under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD). The objectives of the workshops were to introduce LEADER approach, to clarify the role of the LAG in local community development, to clarify membership and leadership roles in LAG, to introduce the process of the development of Local Development Strategy and discuss future planning process. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Tbilisi. Up to 50 representatives of international donors, stakeholders and partners of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia gathered to discuss the draft National Strategy for Agricultural Extension in Georgia 2018-2019.  The draft strategy was prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture with the support of the European Union (EU) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Strategy aims to improve the quality of advising services for farmers in regions by upgrading existing consultation centres. In full  Source: The webpage of the organization

ENPARD partner organization "CARE International in the Caucasus” organized a study tour in Latvia for twelve EU-supported agricultural cooperatives. The purpose of the study tour was to share the experience of Latvian cooperatives working in beekeeping and milk processing and to establish future relations with Latvian farmers and companies. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

A delegation comprising 10 members of the Kazbegi Development Group (Kazbegi LAG) visited the Polish Association "Corona Polnochenko Krakova”. The visit was preceded by the invitation of two members of Kazbegi Development Group to the Polish Development Forum, which was held in June 2017. The purpose of the visit was the sharing of experiences and planning of future opportunities for collaboration. During the visit, the Kazbegi Development Group toured several projects funded by the Polish Local Development Group. The visit to Poland took place with the support of EU-funded European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), in the scope of the project "Local action Group Kazbegi”. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Kazbegi Local Action Group (LAG) visited Latvia. Main goal of the working visit was to share information with other LAGs and international partners about Kazbegi LAG, seek international cooperation and partnership, and envisage the implementation of common projects. Within the working visit, LAG Kazbegi was presented at the Entrepreneurial Evening in the context of future cooperation and experience sharing. In full  Source: The organization’s webpage

Kvemo Kartli. Kazbegi Local Action Group (LAG) members and representatives of rural development project visited Local Action Group (LAG) of Tetritskaro. The aim of the visit was sharing experience to Tetritskaro LAG. RDFG implements "Rural Development for Sustainable Growth of Tetritskaro Municipality” in the framework of the second phase of ENPARD that is based on LEADER model – a European approach to rural development. Fundamentally, it is the energy and resources of the local people that contribute to the rural development process by forming partnerships at a sub-regional level between the public, private and civil sectors. The LEADER approach is associated with local empowerment through local strategy development and resource allocation. The main tool for the application of the LEADER approach to area development and involving local representatives in decision-making is Local Action Group (LAG). RDFG carries out the project in partnership with Agro-Technology Association (ATA), Lithuanian Local Action Groups Network and the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania. In full  Source: The organization’s webpag