EU, UNDP launch GEL 9 mln grant programme to help Georgia’s rural regions respond to COVID-19 crisis
The programme will be implemented in eight municipalities – Akhalkalaki, Borjomi, Dedoplistskaro, Kazbegi, Keda, Khulo, Lagodekhi and Tetritskaro. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched a GEL 9 million grant programme together with the Georgian Agriculture and Rural Development Agency (ARDA) to help Georgia’s rural regions respond to the economic and social challenges amid the coronavirus crisis.
The programme will be implemented in eight municipalities – Akhalkalaki, Borjomi, Dedoplistskaro, Kazbegi, Keda, Khulo, Lagodekhi and Tetritskaro – where UNDP and the EU are working together 'to promote livelihoods outside agriculture’.
The Rural Development Programme will assist non-agricultural business start-ups and growing enterprises with grants worth up to GEL 170,000 per project.
Additional grants worth up to GEL 30,000 will be provided to businesses to improve energy efficiency. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
The grants are designed to:
- boost rural entrepreneurship
- create sustainable jobs
- improve the management of natural resources
- promote climate action.
Georgian Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili said the grant programme 'is a flexible and effective instrument for strengthening the rural economy'.
It will help diversify economic activities in Georgia’s regions and foster non-farming businesses across the country”, Davitashvili said.
The European Union Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell noted that ‘the EU is mobilising all possible resources to assist Georgia to recover from the current crisis’.
I am especially glad that these grants will target rural areas around the country, where economic development can be a challenge even in normal times”, he said.
Today we are making 9 million GEL in grant funding available to develop economic activities in rural areas w/@agricultureGEO & @UNDPGeorgia.
— Carl Hartzell (@CarlHartzellEU) May 7, 2020
Truly crucial area -hope and trust our support will make tangible difference.
➡️https://t.co/lQZorGI7fl#StrongerTogether #TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/RFrvNhFed5
Stating that Georgia’s ‘exemplary COVID-19 response has saved lives’, UNDP Head Louisa Vinton said this new grants programme aims to save livelihoods that are threatened by the shutdown.
We kicked off a US$ 3M EU-funded grant programme to help #Georgia's rural regions recover from #COVID19 & #BuildBackBetter
— UNDP in Georgia (@UNDPGeorgia) May 7, 2020
We are assisting rural businesses to grow, create jobs, introduce smart & green economic solutions.@EUinGeorgia @agricultureGEO https://t.co/CuR9nLq4uS
The EU and the UNDP are long-term supporters of rural development in Georgia. More than GEL 600 million (€179.5 million) in EU assistance has been allocated to Georgia under the ENPARD programme for 2013-2022.
This support is designed to improve agricultural productivity, refine rural development policies and create new economic opportunities for rural communities, both in agriculture and outside of it.