With the support of the European Union, the project “Green Guria – Supporting Local Democracy and Rural Development for Inclusive and Sustainable Green Growth” is being implemented in Guria.
Since 2022, the project has been carried out by CENN in partnership with the Young Pedagogues’ Union (YPU), the Institute of Democracy (IOD), and the Keda Local Action Group (LAG).
Within the framework of the project, a regional grant competition was announced in 2024 with the following objectives:
- Improving the well-being and living conditions of local communities;
- Diversifying local economic activities;
- Attracting investments;
- Promoting the adoption of competitive agricultural and environmental practices;
- Encouraging the introduction of innovative approaches;
- Strengthening economic opportunities in rural areas through participatory and strategic planning.
Prior to the competition, consultations were held with stakeholders at both group and individual levels. In addition, thematic trainings were organized for all interested applicants before the official launch of the grant competition.
Applicants went through a four-stage evaluation process, including interviews with commission members and on-site visits to proposed projects. The evaluation criteria were defined in advance by the commission, which consisted of 10 representatives from the implementing partner organizations.
A total of 342 project applications were submitted from all three municipalities of the region—Ozurgeti, Lanchkhuti, and Chokhatauri. From these, 50 projects were selected and funded, fully utilizing the budget allocated for the grant component of the project.
The funded projects fall under the following areas:
- Rural tourism and hospitality: family guesthouses, cottages, Gurian tea and Gurian wine museums, wine tourism initiatives;
- Agriculture and agribusiness: greenhouses, winemaking, blueberry, strawberry, flower, and dried fruit production;
- Education and innovation: STEM laboratories, school laboratories;
- Ecotourism and environmental protection: solar-powered enterprises, environmental initiatives;
- Social and cultural projects: toy production, restoration of historical wine cellars, development of kitchen and restaurant spaces.
The funded projects have been successfully implemented since 2024 and have had a significant positive impact both on individual beneficiaries and on the overall social and economic development of the region.
In our upcoming series of articles, we will introduce you more closely to beneficiaries from each thematic area and present tangible results achieved in “Green Guria”.
About the Project
The project “Green Guria – Supporting Local Democracy and Rural Development for Inclusive and Sustainable Green Growth” is implemented with financial support from the European Union in Georgia, specifically in the three municipalities of the Guria region – Ozurgeti, Chokhatauri, and Lanchkhuti. Within the framework of the project, Local Action Groups were established in Ozurgeti, Chokhatauri, and Lanchkhuti in 2023.
The project is implemented by CENN in cooperation with partner organizations – the Young Pedagogues’ Union, the Institute of Democracy, and the Keda Local Action Group (LAG). The aim of the project is to reduce poverty and improve the economic and social environment and living conditions of vulnerable communities through the promotion of civic engagement, inclusive rural development, and green growth.
This material has been produced with the support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of CENN and may not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.