European Approach to Better Rural Lives

The conference was organised with support from the European Union (EU) by rural development partners united around ENPARD: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Action Against Hunger (AAH), CARE Caucasus, CENN, and People in Need.

The event brought together Georgian decision-makers, civil society and the private sector, as well as representatives of municipalities, Local Action Groups and communities.   

Representatives of the Austrian Development Cooperation, the Estonian Embassy and the Czech Republic contributed to the discussion with their insights on Georgia’s rural development prospects.

Government representatives and the ENPARD programme partners discussed Georgia’s efforts to adopt the best economic, social and environmental practices in rural development and institutionalize European approaches, such as LEADER.

In parallel with the discussions, the conference hosted an exhibition of agricultural produce from across Georgia.

“Rural development is an important cooperation area between the European Union and Georgia. Sustainable, inclusive and green rural economies push people out of poverty, create employment and set out a pathway to sustainable growth benefitting people and the environment. Georgia has achieved steady progress in the last 10 years in modernising its rural development through policies and practical initiatives. The European Union salutes these achievements and remains committed to supporting new opportunities for rural communities,” said H.E. Pawel Herczynski, Ambassador of the European Union in Georgia.

“The Government of Georgia has been taking significant steps over the years to promote the development of rural areas. This critical work is in line with Georgia’s national priorities on the path to European integration. Georgia’s new National Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development for 2021-2027 provides a clear roadmap towards a competitive rural economy, improved livelihoods, better environmental protection and the sustainable management of natural resources,” said Otar Shamugia, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

Throughout its three consecutive cycles implemented from 2013 to 2022, the ENPARD programme assisted Georgia to align its institutional, legal and administrative systems with the EU Common Agricultural Policy; to harness the rural development expertise of the EU Member States, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia; to introduce best practices and approaches, such as LEADER and Community-Led Local Development, and to carry out a range of local initiatives reaching out to people, businesses and communities across the country.

EU support triggered a transformational change in Georgia’s rural development landscape in the last 10 years, opening a wide range of opportunities for rural societies:

• 1313 rural development initiatives were given grant support, benefitting farmers and rural entrepreneurs, and wider communities. Women and youth were given priority to promote equality, diversify rural businesses and create an entrepreneurship space for young people.
• Thousands of rural entrepreneurs received targeted support during the COVID-19 outbreaks in 2020 and 2021 to help them survive the pandemic crisis.   
• Over 6000 rural residents enrolled on vocational education and training programmes, including brand-new educational courses introduced with ENPARD support.
• 2,677 rural jobs were created across the country in the fields of agriculture, tourism, technology and production.
• 4 new Local Action Groups were established in 4 unicipalities, including in the highlands and remote areas
• Tourism development initiatives inspired the development of over 200 new tourist sites and products.
• Up to 500,000 residents received better access to infrastructure and services.
• The approved forest management plans extended to an additional 135,800 hectares of forest fund area.
• Georgia’s first three-year Rural Development Strategy was introduced in 2017 to be followed by the adoption of a new extended Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy and the Action Plan covering the period from 2021 to 2027.