Adjara AR Helps Pick Up Check for Latest EU-UNDP Development Project
Earlier this month, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Georgia, Louisa Vinton, visited the Adjara Autonomous Republic (AR) on Georgia’s western Black Sea coast. Vinton met with Tornike Rizhvadze, the Chairperson of the Adjara AR, and other government representatives to discuss the UNDP’s ongoing support to sustainable development in the region.
During her visit, Vinton opened a conference summarizing the five-year initiative in Machakhela National Park. The $1.3 million, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented through the joint efforts of the UNDP, the Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia and local Adjara authorities, came to an end this year.
The visit was also forward-looking, though, as the UNDP is participating in a new project in the region. The project will be part of the EU-funded ENPARD 3: Improving Rural Development in Georgia program, which aims to promote rural development and small and medium-sized businesses. ENPARD is the European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development and has been operating in several municipalities across Georgia since 2013, scheduled to continue until 2022. The total budget of the ENPARD program is 179.5 million EUR. ENPARD has three main goals: to build capacity and support government institutions in the reform of the agriculture and rural development sector; To improve employment and living conditions of rural populations by strengthening farmers’ cooperation skills and access to resources; To promote diversified social and economic opportunities in rural areas, particularly for women and youth, in due respect to the environment and the cultural heritage. The first phase of ENPARD focused on developing the country’s agricultural potential, while the second and third phases aim to create economic opportunities for the rural population that go beyond agriculture.
While in Adjara, Vinton signed a cost-sharing agreement with the Adjara AR Government, which pledged 230,000 EUR towards the implementation of ENPARD 3 in Adjara. The total budget for the project is 10 million EUR, while ENPARD 3 as a whole has a budget of 77.5 million EUR and plans to run from 2018-2022. There are also tentative plans for an ENPARD Phase 4 – details are expected to be announced early next year.
After the signing, Vinton said “Rural development creates new opportunities for every village and promotes economic and social progress for every citizen. This new initiative gives us a chance to help Adjara families build sustainable livelihoods where farming is no longer profitable.” The project will assist families in rural Adjara to develop non-agriculture-based economic alternatives and support the region’s government to develop and implement effective rural development policies, says the EU.
The Adjara region is unique in Georgia for its coastal resorts that back up against lush forested mountains. In 2019, the Adjara AR Tourism Department is planning a major onslaught of international promotion, representing the region in up to 27 international exhibitions. In 2018, the region was represented at 25 international tourism exhibitions and events and attracted significant attention worldwide, including the region’s capital, Batumi, being named by Airbnb as among the year’s best travel destinations.
By Samantha Guthrie