Nino Tandilashvili : UNDP suppot is significant for Georgia

Nino Tandilashvili, Georgian First Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture, recently attended a working meeting within the framework of the project “Strengthening the Adaptation to Climate Change in Georgia”.

This is a UNDP ( United Nation development Program) supported project which is being funded by Swiss Agency for development and cooperation.She also said during this occasion that UNDP support is very important for Georgia.

Nino Tandilashvili speaking specifically stated, “I would like to thank the representatives of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for their support for various project which has already created many important things in Georgia, including the creation of threat maps. Our government understands the significance of developing capacities at the national level to ensure that every project is effective. I am very grateful to Switzerland for allowing our specialists to participate in study visits to Switzerland and to get familiar with the challenges of natural disasters, risk management and discussing ways to solve challenges.

On their part, Barbara Bioni, Head of Regional Cooperation of the Swiss Embassy, added, “Transferring the Swiss experience and technology and adjusting to Georgia’s reality can be a good start for a country that suffered the severe consequences of the disaster in past. We will keep continue our support and strengthen the National Environment Agency. I also like to thank international experts for organising interesting programs and meetings for study visits of georian experts. “I appreciate the cooperation between two countries, and I am delighted that this support will continue in future as well”.

At this important meeting, Participants summarised the results of study visits in Switzerland within the project. Notably, the aim of the study visits was to share knowledge and practice in the field of natural hazard management and early notification systems in such extreme situation.

They also discuss the possibility of implementing Swiss practices in Georgia under the provision of future cooperation in the direction of improving monitoring systems, natural hazard zones regulations and standards as well as early notification systems.

It is to be specifically mentioned that as part of the project supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) this year, specialists from the Department of Geology and Hydrometeorology of the Agency in Switzerland learned the best practices for managing natural hazards and risks in different geographical situations including modern monitoring and warning systems for landslides, blizzards and snowfall.

The meeting was being facilitated by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Sweden and Switzerland.