Rural Women Strive for Greater Place in Georgia’s Development

Last week the village of Duisi hosted a celebration of International Rural Women’s Day, with a community event attended by representatives of the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education and Science, local authorities, Pankisi Gorge residents, Government of Sweden and the United Nations.

The theme of the day was challenges faced by rural women in Georgia as they strive for professional careers and economic independence.

Talking to women farmers, Revaz Asatiani, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Georgia, focused on the role of women in development of the nation.

“Making development inclusive and equal for all is a key priority of economic and social programs of the Georgian government. Rural women are a tremendous human resource in the country’s progress to a sustainable future, and we need to think how to reflect their needs in state policies and programs. I strongly believe that economically and socially active women can bring a lot of positive change not only into their communities and families, but into society as a whole,” Asatiani said.

There followed discussions about specific problems faced by women in the Pankisi Gorge. Women farmers and civil society activists brought a range of issues to the attention of the local and national authorities, including the need for vocational and life-long education opportunities in the region and assistance to women to become more active in economic activities and local self-governance.

“Women who live in rural areas in Georgia account for a substantial proportion of the agricultural labor force, including informal work, and perform the bulk of unpaid care and domestic work within their families and households,” said Maka Meshveliani, UNDP Project Manager. “This work usually goes unnoticed. We came to Duisi to mark the International Day of Rural Women, and to talk to the local community in order to explore the challenges and opportunities in women’s increased participation in economic life and decision-making processes”.

At the end of day, local women farmers organized a fair of traditional local crafts, arts and foods.

The International Day of Rural Women is an annual celebration on October 15 to recognize the importance of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development worldwide. The International Day for Rural Women is followed by World Food Day (October 16) and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17), highlighting issues that are inextricably linked with the empowerment of rural women. The Duisi event was organized by the Kakheti Regional Development Foundation (KRDF) with assistance from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Government of Sweden, under the joint UN Program for Gender Equality.

Katie Ruth Davies