A neurologist by training, Dr Nato Shengelia now works as a primary health care (PHC) doctor in Georgia. She has received international recognition for her work as a passionate advocate for family medicine in the country. Dr Shengelia discovered her passion for family medicine after graduating from Tbilisi State Medical University, once she started actively engaging with patients. She was drawn to the all-encompassing nature of PHC, which allows physicians to take a comprehensive view of patients’ health throughout their lifetimes. She shares her insights on how to make PHC a more attractive career choice.“Georgia’s PHC system is currently weak, wages are meagre, which makes it unattractive for students to make a career in primary care and most people prefer to self-refer directly to specialists due to the lack of trust in family medicine,” she explains. However, Nato notes that the current reform by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs aims to address these challenges.In the framework of the ongoing PHC reform, the Ministry plans to add a social worker, a nurse-midwife and a psychologist to nursing teams in remote areas. Up to 40% of Georgia’s population live in rural areas (World Bank, 2022) and it is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. Ensuring access to health services is difficult in those hard-to-reach areas, and it is hard to recruit and retain health workers there. “The lack of nurses is particularly acute. In these remote areas, strengthening PHC services is an opportunity to deliver equal and high-quality primary health care for all,” says Nato.Promoting trustPrevention is key in PHC. Early diagnosis of disease decreases morbidity and mortality. “This includes the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and screenings, with a special focus on noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors like tobacco,” says Nato. It involves, “identifying the health condition, managing it and, if necessary, timely referral to the specialist,” she explains.Nato has been involved in various WHO projects, such as support and supervision for PHC facilities delivering virtual outpatient treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as improving management of diabetes and hypertension, setting telemedicine standards in PHC facilities and many others. All of which, she says, helped strengthen PHC in Georgia and deliver essential services.Weak PHC also results in a high financial burden for the population. Due to the unpopularity of family doctors, many patients prefer paying for a specialist. This results in high out-of-pocket payments and increased financial burden, which, in Georgia, is one of the highest among the countries of the WHO European Region. “More needs to be done to restore trust in family doctors and promote and popularize primary health care among the Georgian population,” Nato says.For her outstanding career in PHC, Nato was given the 5-star award for family doctors by the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) Europe in 2024. This international recognition adds to her local success, and her ability to achieve this within Georgia’s challenging environment serves as an inspiration for future doctors. It demonstrates how improving access to quality care through PHC benefits patients and contributes to the sustainability of the entire health system.
 

Georgia has been working to enhance food safety and increase international trade since its government entered into an Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) in 2016. Now, having received assistance from the IAEA in cooperation with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Georgia’s State Laboratory of Agriculture (SLA) is able to use a range of analytical techniques, including radio receptor assay, to screen foods for various chemical hazards, such as animal drug residues, and for contaminants, such as mycotoxins, which could otherwise represent risks to human health.The EU Association Agreement requires Georgia to ‘approximate’ its standards, legislation and regulations governing food safety, animal feed and animal production to the existing control mechanisms in the EU by 2027, including inspection, supervision and monitoring. This will enable Georgians to receive and consume safe and good quality foods and will also help ensure that these foods are competitive for international trade, fulfilling the requirements of EU and other markets. Animal products, such as meat and dairy/milk, are considered high-risk products and therefore, to access the EU market, certain requirements, including testing, must be met.Analysis of food samples including milk at the SLA in Georgia (Photo: A. Gulbani/SLA, Georgia)Georgia’s Ministry of Agriculture is one of several government institutions tasked with implementation of the new Association Agreement with the EU. A total of 300 regulations have been promulgated so far, and the implementation of 188, including those related to food safety, is now ongoing. The Ministry of Agriculture depends on the SLA, the national Laboratory for agriculture, to meet its obligations as regards to food safety testing. This laboratory is mandated to monitor chemical residues and related hazards in agricultural products that are a danger to consumers and the market. However, despite its mandated responsibilities, the SLA had only limited capabilities and was unable to adequately meet the needs of the Ministry and the country. For example, it could not analyse pesticides, veterinary drug residues and toxic metals in food. With the support provided through the IAEA technical cooperation programme, this has changed for the better.Following training of several SLA personnel and the provision of technical assistance, including analytical method protocols and equipment the SLA is now able to perform tests that were previously impossible. For example, new tests can be conducted to analyse fish, meat and milk for residues of drugs such as chloramphenicol and nitroimidazoles. Chloramphenicol is prohibited for use in food production in many countries due to its harmful nature to consumers including its potential to cause cancer. Other methods were established for testing pesticides in milk and water as well as residues of sulfonamide and aminoglycoside antimicrobials (associated with antimicrobial resistances) in honey. The number of samples analyzed by the SLA per year has tripled since 2021, an indication of the increased demand for SLA’s service and its improved capabilities.“Improving the sanitary and phytosanitary system, as well as approximation to European standards, enhances the safety of Georgian foods and raises trust on the global market, bolstering the growth of our country’s exports,” said Ana Gulbani, Deputy Director of the SLA in Georgia.“It was a pleasure to see that the implementation of the technical cooperation project made it possible for us to introduce new analytical methods so that the SLA can address gaps in service delivery and meet country needs,” added  Gulbani.“The lack of better equipped and well-functioning laboratories is a major bottleneck to a country’s food safety control system, negatively impacting consumer safety and trade of agricultural products. We are very happy to provide technical support to our Member States to assist them in overcoming such challenges,” said Dongxin Feng, Acting Director of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.The radio receptor assay techniques, which have recently been acquired, utilize the comparative advantage of radioisotopes such as carbon-14 and tritium (H-3). Radiotracers, as the name suggests, can be used to trace and measure even very low levels of these hazards. A large number of food samples can be screened quickly with these techniques, saving analytical costs and time. The radiometric screening of hazards in food is complemented by chromatographic and spectrometric techniques along with stable isotopes such as deuterium (H-2) and carbon-13. By James Sasanya, IAEA Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications & Carmina Jimenez, IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation

UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia, Didier Trebucq, visited the Kakheti region on August 5th and 6th. The visit kicked off with productive meetings with Telavi Mayor Levan Andriashvili and the State Representative in the Kakheti region, Giorgi Aladashvili, to discuss ongoing and future collaborations.  Key focus areas included boosting the economy, promoting tourism and agriculture, improving healthcare and education, and empowering women.Photo: © Gela Bedianashvili/UNPhoto: © Gela Bedianashvili/UNIn Telavi, the UN Resident Coordinator visited LL Plast, one of the leading manufacturers of environmentally friendly products in the Kakheti region. With financial support from the European Union and UNDP Georgia, the company acquired new machinery to recycle plastic and is currently recycling and reusing up to 30 tons of plastic waste monthly. Photo: © Gela Bedianashvili/UNUN Resident Coordinator Didier Trebucq then, together with UNFPA Head Mariam Bandzeladze and acclaimed Georgian-German writer Nino Haratischwili, opened the Equality Corner at the Tsodnis Cafe (Knowledge Cafe)  in Tsnori, Sighnaghi municipality. Zviad Kvaratskhelia, editor-in-chief of "Intellect" publishing house, moderated a discussion with young people on gender equality and the importance of literature. Over 200 books addressing equality, girls and women's empowerment, tolerance, and human rights were donated.Photo: © Dina Oganova/UNFPA On August 6, the UN Resident Coordinator visited the Akhmeta Crisis Center for Women and Victims of Domestic Violence, established with support from UN Women and the EU. The center's representatives shared their guiding principles and discussed their challenges. Opened in 2023, the Center provides essential services, including psychological, social, medical, and legal assistance to victims and survivors of domestic violence.Photo: © Gela Bedianashvili/UNThe UN Resident Coordinator also had a consultation meeting with the women of Pankisi Gorge at the Duisi Educational Center. These women benefited from training and business grants and are now actively participating in gender-sensitive budgeting processes as part of the social mobilization component supported by UN Women. Photo: © Gela Bedianashvili/UNAs part of his trip to Pankisi, the UN Resident Coordinator also met with the youth to discuss issues important to them. The meeting provided a platform for young people to share their views and opinions on important topics like education, climate change, youth involvement, and human rights. The meeting was facilitated by the Kakheti Regional Development Fund (KRDF) under the “Leadership, Equality, Advocacy and Democracy” (LEAD) initiative, implemented with support from UNDP and the Norwegian Embassy. 
 

"It's the 21st century! Everyone should have at least some understanding of technology. After all, we live in a digital age," says Elene Letodiani, 16, from highland Tsageri, a successful graduate of the digital technology course now available at her public school.Elene and many other young people in Georgia's rural regions are taking advantage of a new educational model that directly brings training courses from vocational colleges to their schools.In a world driven by skills and technology, access to quality education can lift people out of poverty and pave the way to success. Conversely, its absence deepens societal inequalities, preventing some from reaching their full potential.In Georgia, where unemployment averages 14 percent and exceeds 20 percent in some regions, public and private employers often cite a lack of professional skills as a major hiring obstacle (Source: EU/UNDP. 2022). Youth unemployment is particularly high, ranging from 28 to 50 percent for people aged 15 to 29 (Source: GEOSTAT) Additionally, 34 percent of Georgian youth are classified as NEET (not engaged in employment, education, or training) and only 5 percent of Georgian secondary school graduates choose to enter vocational education.School-based vocational training integrated into secondary school curricula can effectively address these gaps, providing young people with the skills needed for their future careers. Furthermore, such educational programmes enhance links between schools and vocational colleges, increasing the social role of educational institutions. This builds a knowledge ecosystem where schools supply eager-to-learn students and colleges are better able to offer vocational training that is tailor-made for the local labour market.UNDP and Switzerland have been working for nearly a decade to help Georgia's educational system rethink outdated approaches to vocational training and introduce a thriving educational model which prepares youth for economic activity by bringing together colleges, schools, youth, and local employers.“With skilled labour still in short supply in Georgia, this school-based vocational training narrows the gap between education and jobs, benefiting both young people and their future employers,” says Barbara Böni, Regional Director of Cooperation South Caucasus, Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia.“We help young people take quality vocational training while still at school and so get a taste of a career that allows them to better shape their future professional path,” says Douglas Webb, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia.In 2017, the pilot stage of this transformative programme covered four public colleges and six schools in four regions: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kakheti, and Mtskheta-Mtianeti. After the pilot's success, Georgia’s Ministry of Education and Science expanded the programme to 259 schools and 32 public and private colleges nationwide, benefiting up to 10,000 students in the 8th and 9th grades.In 2022, the programme continued in partnership with the Vocational Skills Agency aiming to transform regional vocational colleges into skills hubs that offer rural schools vocational training and other support. Six vocational colleges and ten public schools have been selected for this initiative, covering the Ajara Autonomous Republic and the regions of Imereti, Guria, Kakheti, and Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti. Miracle Workers for Ajara’s Miracle EconomyGeorgia’s Autonomous Republic of Ajara is an example of rapid development and impressive economic growth. Its dazzling coastline, sea trade routes, subtropical terrains, stunning highlands, and vibrant cities and villages create a fascinating tapestry of economic opportunities.Vocational education is in high demand, with several colleges across the region offering courses in fields like hospitality, IT, electricity, car mechanics, fashion design, agriculture, construction, and other popular trades. For the 2023-2024 academic year, Black Sea College in Batumi received ten times more applications than it could accommodate. However, these competitive education centres are mainly located in cities like Batumi and Kobuleti, which limits access to vocational training for those in rural areas.UNDP and Switzerland, in partnership with Georgia’s Vocational Skills Agency, are working to bridge this gap by bringing vocational courses to rural schools. “Ajara is a special region thanks to its thriving tourism and hospitality businesses. Many households have family ventures such as guesthouses, hotels or restaurants. After completing relevant vocational courses, their children can join these family enterprises as trained professionals. Vocational education benefits are obvious. Employers line up to hire our graduates,” shares Nata Partenadze, Vocational Training Programme Coordinator at Black Sea College in Batumi.Through UNDP and Switzerland’s support, Black Sea College connected with the public school in the seaside village of Gonio. Similarly, New Wave College in Kobuleti teamed up with the public school in the agricultural village of Mukhaestate. “I want to be a barista. But I also enjoyed training in hospitality services. Both courses are extremely useful and great fun,” says Dima Makharadze, 16, from the Gonio Public School.Dima’s classmates share his enthusiasm and determination. Emily Goradze, 16, says that she loved every minute of the training and was fascinated by the barista and service professions.    “My friends from other schools got excited when I told them about the training. They would be keen to join if vocational courses are included in their school curriculum,” notes Emily.Roland Davitadze, 16, from the Mukhaestate Public School, believes vocational education is the first step toward entrepreneurship.“My goal is to master the hospitality profession and then use this knowledge to start a business,” Roland shares.Starting in September 2023, up to 120 high school students from Gonio and Mukhaestate have enrolled in vocational training courses offered by top regional educational centres. Each student, with their own dreams and aspirations, received mentorship and skills to shape their future. Both schools benefited from guidance and practical assistance from the colleges, ensuring the quality and sustainability of the training programme.  Building Skills for Tourism in TsageriNestled in the Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti region, Tsageri is a gem of Georgia’s highlands, distinguished by its stunning views and rich history. With tourism as a key development priority, the municipality is focused on building hospitality infrastructure, promoting sightseeing places, and preparing qualified personnel for employment at tourist sites. With support from UNDP and Switzerland, the Vocational Skills Agency connected Tsageri Public School #1 with Erkvani College in Ambrolauri, a regional skills hub offering vocational courses in various professions. Through this partnership, over 50 high school students learned graphic design, hospitality, and tour guiding directly at their school.“The tour guide course was incredible! It helped us better understand our region and its history, and share this knowledge with others,” says Lizi Saginadze, 16.“Students and their parents were impressed with the learning experience. After three months of training, the students could guide tours like professionals. To celebrate, the course concluded with a grand excursion to famous cultural monuments,” shares Lamzira Kopaliani, teacher of the Tour Guide Programme.Many students are eager to continue their education, requesting additional vocational courses, such as fashion design and business skills, to enrich their school classes.  Revitalizing Tkibuli: New Skills for a New Era“Working with the soil is an incredible experience, especially when you know the theory and understand what you are doing! We learned new skills, like planting, watering, and soil testing. I was proud to work in a greenhouse and grow plants,” says Liza Tskipurishvili, 16, from Satsire Public School.Liza’s home municipality, Tkibuli, has been known for coal mining for over 150 years. Mines sustained the local economy but also threatened human lives and health, causing widespread environmental damage. With the demand for coal decreasing, mines dwindling, and new opportunities emerging across the country, the 'miners’ city' is striving to find its place in Georgia’s growing economy and offer reliable career prospects to the younger generation. Diversified vocational training focused on agriculture, construction, and technology can help the region overcome its mining past and open doors to new development areas.“Culinary is my favourite vocation. I am considering a career in this field and will continue my studies in college. Woodworking and gemstone carving would also be quite interesting. These trades are in high demand in our region,” notes Luka Kashibadze, 17.The Satsire Public School is one of ten rural schools across Georgia supported by UNDP, Switzerland, and the Vocational Skills Agency to connect with regional colleges and integrate vocational training into their curricula. More than 40  high school students have already benefitted, opening pathways to careers and prosperity for young Georgians.UNDP and Switzerland will continue supporting the selected schools through the end of the 2024-2025 school year to maintain vocational classes for new student cohorts. In the long run, the schools will be assisted in accrediting this new vocational training through the upcoming school authorization process, transferring responsibility for costs and quality supervision to the Ministry of Education and Science. Background Information:With funding from Switzerland, UNDP supports ongoing educational reforms in Georgia, focusing on developing a robust vocational education and training system, primarily in agriculture. This initiative enhances educational institutions, promotes public-private partnerships, and improves skills and competencies to meet market demands. The comprehensive support brings together key players in the educational system, including the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, education institutions, private enterprises, and civil society organizations.