Green Guria project holds meeting to discuss rural development plans

Georgia: The project “Green Guria – Supporting Local Democracy and Rural Development for Inclusive and Green Growth”, which aims to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of rural communities in the Guria region, held a working meeting on February 26, 2024, to discuss plans and grant support.

The meeting, which took place in the southern administration of Guria, was attended by the State Commissioner Giorgi Urushadze, the Mayor of Ozurgeti Avtandil Talakvadze, the Chairman of the City Council David Daria, the leaders of Chokhatauri and Lanchkhuti, representatives of CENN, the Union of Young Teachers and the Institute of Democracy.

The participants discussed the regional priority directions and local development strategies as defined by the Guria Local Action Groups (LAGs), which are composed of representatives of the public, private, and civil sectors and are involved in the planning and implementation of rural development initiatives.

The project coordinator, Nino Gaprindashvili, presented the main objectives, activities, and expected outcomes of the project. She also informed the participants about the upcoming grant competitions that will be announced by the project to support innovative and sustainable rural development projects in Guria.

The project “Green Guria – Supporting Local Democracy and Rural Development for Inclusive and Green Growth” is implemented by CENN in cooperation with partner organizations: the Young Pedagogues’ Union, the Institute of Democracy, and the Local Action Group of Kedi (LAG) supported by the European Union within the European Neighbourhood Program for Rural and Agricultural Development ENPARD IV.

The project focuses on enhancing civic participation, inclusive rural development, and green growth in the Guria region by diversifying rural opportunities, fostering competitive economic, agricultural, and environmental practices, and engaging civil society, vulnerable groups, women, and youth in participatory planning.

The project will run for three years, from December 2022 to November 2025, with a total budget of 3.5 million euros. It is expected to contribute to the national and local response to the COVID-19 crisis, as well as to the long-term development and resilience of the communities in Guria.