In December 2025, Georgia reached a moment it had long been waiting for. UNESCO officially recognised the country’s ancient wheat culture, a tradition woven through more than eight millennia of history, as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.For a country already celebrated as the birthplace of wine, the decision felt like a homecoming. Bread and wine, nurtured in Georgian soil for thousands of years, were finally recognised together on a global stage.But this recognition is not just a tribute to the past. It opens a new chapter, shining a light on endemic grain varieties, farming practices passed down through generations, and the urgency of protecting biodiversity as climate pressures intensify.For Georgians, wheat and vines have never been merely crops. They are part of the country’s emotional landscape, rooted in memory, ritual, and daily life.“Our traditional codes of wheat cultivation are built on values like unity, fairness, and shared responsibility,” says Lali Meskhi, co-founder of the Association of Georgian Wheat Growers. “For Georgians, bread is sacred. It must not be thrown away or even placed upside down. Bread is the bridge between people, the earth, and the divine.”Lali has devoted years to preserving this heritage. Back in 2020, when her organisation launched its first small-scale projects to rescue Georgia’s ancient grains, UNDP and the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF’s) Small Grants Programme stepped in to help. This support, based on a mix of funding, guidance, and community connections, helped local farmers experiment, learn, and grow.“With support from UNDP and GEF, we revived endemic and landrace seeds, first in experimental nurseries and then across 50 hectares of land,” Lali recalls. “Farmers were trained, consulted, and encouraged. And slowly, more people joined the effort.”Today, what began as a community experiment is blossoming into something with far wider potential — a foundation for rural tourism, healthier diets, stronger food security, and more resilient communities.The story of Georgia’s golden grains is not only about agriculture or even heritage. It is about people: farmers who refused to let ancient seeds disappear, communities rediscovering their traditions, and a country reconnecting with the wisdom of its ancestors to face modern-time challenges.Above all, it is a story about the future: a future where ancient seeds continue to sprout in Georgian soil, carrying centuries of wisdom into the hands of a new generation.A field of endemic and landrace wheat in Asureti village. Photo: UNDP | Vladimir ValishviliWhy Georgian Wheat MattersGeorgia’s ancient wheat is unlike anything else in the world. Of the 20 wheat species known globally, fifteen grow here, and five of them exist nowhere else on Earth. Their names carry the rhythm of centuries: Makha, Zanduri, Dika, Kolkhuri Asli, and Chelta Zanduri.Research reveals that these grains have evolved amongst Georgia’s landscapes for millennia, learning to survive sudden frosts, summer heat, shifting rains, and poor soils. Many show impressive resistance to fungal diseases. Others thrive in drought-like conditions. Together, they hold the key to building a more resilient future as the climate becomes increasingly unpredictable.At a time when farmers everywhere are searching for crops that can withstand climate pressures, Georgia’s genetic treasure chest has never been more relevant.The history behind it is just as remarkable. Georgian wheat dates back more than 8,000 years, with archaeological and palaeobotanical discoveries placing the region among the earliest cradles of grain cultivation. Long before written history, communities here sowed the seeds that would one day feed entire civilisations.Today, this heritage offers enormous potential. For farmers, these ancient grains provide climate-resilient options. For researchers, they offer insights that can inform global agriculture. And for local communities, they are a living link to history, a reminder that the future of food can be rooted in the wisdom of the past.Georgia's endemic wheat. Photo: UNDP | Vladimir ValishviliWhy Community Action MattersSafeguarding and promoting Georgia’s endemic wheat varieties is just one of over 100 local initiatives supported by UNDP and the GEF Small Grants Programme. Since 2012, these efforts have invested more than US$2.5 million in green community action, focusing on biodiversity, eco-tourism, sustainable farming, climate resilience, women’s empowerment, social inclusion, and local economic growth. “Thanks to this impactful programme, communities, municipalities, civil society, researchers, and businesses are working together to shape a sustainable, climate-resilient future where everyone shares responsibility for people and the planet,” says Douglas Webb, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia.Recent highlights include:Reviving Riparian Forest in Rustavi: In 2023-2025, volunteers and Data’s Ezo revived Rustavi’s Mtkvari River riparian forest. A small tree nursery expanded into the ‘Napirze’ reforestation campaign, planting 3,500 oak, hornbeam, and elm trees. Walking trails, irrigation systems, and drone-based floodplain monitoring engaged 1,000+ volunteers, boosting public participation and restoring a vital local ecosystem.Restoring Highland Pastures in Tetritskaro: In 2023-2025, UNDP and GEF SGP helped rehabilitate degraded highland pastures at 1,200 metres above sea level. Measures included soil restoration, planting legumes, installing irrigation systems, and building shaded shelters. Training and awareness campaigns reached local farmers and officials, while a 7,000 m² demonstration plot inspired neighbouring villages to adopt sustainable grazing practices.Innovative Solutions to Human-Wildlife Conflict in Borjomi-Kharagauli: In 2023–2024, local farmers piloted measures to reduce livestock losses from predators. Eleven premises received electric fences, 20 farmers were given Foxlights, and 18 were equipped with solar stations and rechargeable lights. These interventions strengthened community resilience while fostering peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife.Protecting Rare Birds in Chachuna Managed Reserve: In 2022-2024, Chachuna Reserve enhanced its ecotourism offer with new cottages and camping areas while introducing a supplementary feeding station for vultures. These initiatives, supported by UNDP, GEF SGP, local authorities, and civil society, aimed to sustain vulnerable bird populations, provide visitor experiences, and strengthen local livelihoods.Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in the Imereti Region: In 2021-2023, in Tskaltubo and Lanchkhuti, demonstration composting sites and school workshops were introduced to promote biodegradable waste management. These activities strengthened environmental awareness and supported sustainable farming practices, fostering a culture of community responsibility toward soil health.Greening a Local School in Nigvzari: In 2021-2023, local schoolchildren teamed up with the ‘Scouts of Georgia’ organisation and civil society to transform a 1,500 m² schoolyard into a nursery with saplings, berries, and a programmed irrigation system. The initiative also created jobs for four social workers, combining environmental education with local economic opportunities.Advancing Climate-Smart Agriculture in Tsalka: In 2021-2023, Georgian journalists visited several villages in Tsalka municipality to showcase climate adaptation projects: sprinkler irrigation, solar-powered fencing, Italian alfalfa cultivation, and biodiversity adaptation strategies. Knowledge sharing promoted resilient farming practices and informed climate-smart agriculture across neighbouring villages.Enhancing Ecotourism in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park: In 2021-2023, a 40-km hiking trail with shelters and campsites was established along Iron Cross Mount, combining tourism with community engagement. Local farmers and shepherds welcomed visitors with hospitality and fresh produce, enriching both experiences and livelihoods.Inspiring Creative Environmental Education in Tbilisi: In 2022, outdoor theatrical performances, delivered by professional actors, helped children and their parents reconnect with nature. This educational initiative encouraged young participants to take small actions for a greener, safer environment.Boosting Sustainable Agriculture in Tianeti: In 2021-2022, six vermicompost farms were set up to produce bio-humus using cattle manure and worms. These pilot farms are producing up to seven tonnes of natural fertiliser annually and strengthening organic farming practices.Promoting Ecotourism in Vashlovani Protected Areas: In 2021-2022, new tourism infrastructure, including a 5-km horse-riding trail and a bungalow for visitors, helped boost ecotourism and supported local communities. Partnerships between authorities and local associations strengthened both conservation efforts and economic opportunities in the region.Promoting Ecotourism in Tabatskuri: In 2021-2022, local biodiversity, including unique wetlands and alpine meadows, was highlighted through assessments, community training, and guided tours. Schoolchildren and tour operators learned about conservation and ecotourism, while visitors explored the ‘Velvet Scoter’s Path,’ linking education, community engagement, and sustainable tourism.Engaging Persons with Disabilities in Forest Restoration: In 2020-2022, in Borjomi, the daycare centre ‘Tebe’ created a nursery and greenhouse cultivating fir, pine, birch, and endemic spruce. Thirty people with disabilities gained employment and social integration opportunities while contributing to forest restoration and ecological renewal.Safeguarding Georgia’s Endemic Honeybee: Between 2019 and 2021, endemic Mountain Grey Georgian Honeybees were threatened by parasite attacks worsened by climate change. UNDP and GEF SGP helped train 70 apiarists, introducing new techniques and medicines. Within a year, pilot apiaries reported a significant drop in infestations, preserving this vital pollinator species and local livelihoods.Visit the GEF Small Grants Programme for more insights.

UN Women in Georgia, in partnership with companies that are signatories to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), supports the implementation of impactful initiatives aimed at promoting the activities of women entrepreneurs. This objective underpinned the partnership with the multi-concept food court Bazari, which commenced in March 2025 and continued through the end of December. Within the framework of the cooperation, Bazari provided free-of-charge space for vendor fairs, enabling women entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products.The fairs were organized once a month and ran for three days each time, from Friday to Sunday. In total, up to 330 women entrepreneurs participated in the initiative. Participants included single mothers, women with many children, women raising children with disabilities, refugees, probationers and former inmates, domestic workers and women engaged in informal employment. Fair participants offered visitors a diverse range of products, including food and beverages, souvenirs, handmade items and jewellery. For many of them, this marked their first time participating in such a fair.Women entrepreneurs noted that the initiative proved to be a valuable opportunity to boost sales and build meaningful networks.“Fairs organized by UN Women that support the development and promotion of women entrepreneurs are timely and much needed. Personally, this initiative has given me a great deal: I have established new customer contacts, received orders, and increased my visibility, credibility and brand recognition. I would be very happy if this series of fairs continues,” says Tatia Paksvashvili, who makes handmade jewellery under the brand “Gurabani”. She has participated multiple times in UN Women–supported fairs.The initiative created an important new platform for participants to present their products, engage directly with customers, establish useful connections, and strengthen their presentation and other essential skills. Notably, participating women entrepreneurs also increased their engagement on their social media pages, which is a particularly important outcome given that many of them primarily sell their products through online platforms.In parallel with the fairs, and based on the needs and interests of women entrepreneurs, initiatives were planned for them to obtain useful knowledge and experience. Practical workshops enabled participants to acquire new and important skills related to branding and identity, product photography and effective presentation of their products on social media platforms.UN Women and Bazari will continue this initiative in 2026, further supporting women entrepreneurs’ access to new opportunities.The cooperation between UN Women and Bazari is implemented within the framework of the UN Women programme “Women’s Increased Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies”, generously funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and implemented by UN Women offices in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, with support from the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.

Each day, Esma braves the busy streets of Tbilisi, Georgia, a city full of cars and uneven pavements. Guided not by sight but by the steady rhythm of her white cane – and by her confidence – she moves forward with determination. For Esma, the cane is not just a tool; it is a symbol of independence, courage and resilience.“It is of vital importance for a person with visual impairment to be able to move around with the white cane,” she explains. “It starts from small steps like getting around the yard, then the street, riding a bus, a metro, reaching basic services, and so on.”Vision impairment and blindness affect people everywhere, including in upper-middle-income countries such as Georgia. Gaps in access to essential eye care services and assistive technology remain, particularly in rural and underserved areas. In Georgia alone, an estimated 696 000 people experience some form of vision impairment, while about 21 000 live with total blindness.A variety of options is essentialEsma is one of the few in her community who skilfully uses assistive technologies to build an independent and dignified life. Her journey has not been easy, but it has been marked by important milestones: spending a year in the United States of America as a Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) student, where she attended a regular public school, and interning with an advocacy organization. She returned home even more determined and now champions the rights of people with disabilities.For Esma, independence begins early. “One of the key issues is learning basic skills from the very beginning,” she says. “I would urge all parents who have just learned about their child’s visual impairment to invest in giving them skills and raising them as independent individuals.”She adds, “It is tough, but necessary. In the long run, this will also reduce the need for personal assistants, which is often such a burden on the state – both financially and in terms of availability.”Choice, she believes, is just as important as access. “White canes come in different sizes and shapes. Some are longer when they fold, some are better for winter, some are best for walking on grass, and some are better for moving around the city. Depending on the person’s needs, having a variety of options is essential. That’s why I also advocate for co-financing, in case government funding is not enough to provide a wide selection of white canes.”Awareness is the keyTo ensure users have appropriate options, WHO, together with ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, is advancing the development of specifications for several assistive products, including white canes, to make them safe, functional and responsive to user needs. Esma, along with other rights advocates and key stakeholders, is actively participating in this process.Yet tools and skills are not enough. Lack of public understanding can make daily life more challenging. “People generally don’t know how to act around people with visual impairments,” Esma admits. “While I haven’t had negative incidents, people often resort to unwanted pity or touch. Awareness is the key.”Esma’s story is more than one of personal resilience – it is a call to action. Through her advocacy she reminds us that the right to live independently and be included in the community must be supported by access to appropriate products, training and public awareness.When assistive technology, skills development and inclusive environments come together, people with visual impairments can participate fully in education, work and community life, thriving just as Esma does each day, one steady step at a time.

For most of us, sound – laughter, music, the voices of loved ones – is effortless. Yet for millions around the world, silence has become an unwanted companion.
 Twenty-nine years ago, Ekaterine Tortladze’s life changed when her child was diagnosed with hearing loss. Searching for answers, she found herself in a maze of uncertainty, with no clear information, no emotional support and few resources.“What was missing was a place where patients and their families could turn not only for medical answers but also for compassion,” she recalls.Determined to fill the gap, she founded Aures, an organization for young people with hearing loss and their parents. For nearly 3 decades, Aures has worked to make services more humane and holistic, focusing on individuals and families.Ekaterine has seen how hearing loss isolates people. “They stop socializing and asking questions, they gradually withdraw from life,” she says. “But when a person hears again with the device, I feel the whole world should rejoice.”
 “It feels like a miracle”
For Nana Gvarliani, deafness began in her teens and deepened after the birth of her third child. “It was not a peaceful silence – it was a roaring, buzzing void that consumed my energy,” she recalls. “I was exhausted and devastated from constant headaches.”After more than a decade without answers, Nana heard that a cochlear implant might help. “I was terrified of surgery but took the leap. When I could finally hear again, it was like being reborn. My joy for life returned.”Nana now travels regularly from her mountain village in Mestia for rehabilitation. “Every step is worth it,” she says. “I can talk to my children again. It feels like a miracle.”
 “Sound gave me back my life”
Ten years ago, Elguja Zakareishvili, a craftsman, lost his hearing overnight. “I hated the silence,” he says. “I felt like half a person.” For years, he relied on his younger brother to communicate with clients, using written messages.Everything changed when he learned that cochlear implants were available in Georgia, and covered by the state. “At first, I only heard noise,” he recalls. “Then voices, then conversations. When I heard music again, I wanted to shout with joy.”He shares, “Sound gave me back my life. I want others to know that they can find it too.”
 “I love school so much”Six-year-old Lizzie began first grade this year – something her family once feared might never happen. Born profoundly deaf, she spoke her first words after receiving a cochlear implant at age 2 and a half. “I love school so much that I want to be a teacher,” she says proudly.Her mother, Sophie, recognized the signs early and acted quickly. “I never treated her differently,” she says. “I talked, played and believed she could thrive with the right tools.”At school, Lizzie’s teacher helped classmates understand how Lizzie hears with her device, creating an environment of understanding and inclusion. “Children are naturally accepting when things are explained to them,” Sophie says.
 Early detection, training and awareness
The stories of Ekaterine, Nana, Elguja and Lizzie reflect the progress and challenges of ear and hearing care in Georgia and around the world.Across the globe, more than 1.5 billion people experience some degree of hearing loss, and fewer than 20% receive the services they need. Unaddressed hearing loss costs nearly US$ 1 trillion each year in health, education and productivity losses. Yet up to 60% of childhood hearing loss can be prevented through simple public health measures such as early screening and treating ear infections.In Georgia, progress is accelerating. With support from WHO and ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, the country is expanding access to hearing aids, cochlear implants and rehabilitation – vital steps towards lifelong hearing care. WHO continues to work with national partners to strengthen early detection, workforce training and awareness so that no one is left behind.If you or a loved one is experience hearing difficulties, seek professional help as soon as possible – early intervention changes lives. Learn more about hearing loss prevention via the links.