Almost 65 percent of Georgians believe that individuals can stand against climate change; 36 percent are not convinced that personal actions matter.  Courageous and determined women activists, like Shorena Chapurishvili from the small Georgian town of Akhmeta, show by example that every person can contribute to climate-proofing our world. Photo: Anka Gujabidze/UNDP The hidden threat It is hard to picture a devastating flood along the Zemo Khodashnis Khevi’s dry riverbed. The landscape looks so peaceful and arid; there are no signs of a roaring deluge washing away bridges and houses. Yet, this small river, which does not even exist for most of the year, turns deadly every spring, flooding nearby villages and destroying livelihoods. Chapurishvili, a local climate activist, tells us that floods have become more frequent and severe over the years. “This river used to be much smaller only 10 years ago. You can see the remains of walls that would restrain it before. Now, they are almost in the centre of the riverbed.” According to Chapurishvili, pastures and farming plots are at the highest risk when the river floods; residential houses and roads in three villages are under threat too. In this area, recurrent floods affect the livelihoods of more than 2,100 people. But the damage extends beyond agricultural, infrastructure and personal loss. One of the river branches flows near the Alaverdi Cathedral, a majestic 11th-century monument that has been nominated for UNESCO’s World Heritage List. “When the main river floods, its branch overflows too. If it reaches Alaverdi, it will damage the Cathedral’s ancient walls and courtyard,” Chapurishvili says. Photo: Anka Gujabidze/UNDP Photo: Anka Gujabidze/UNDP When water turns into a flood Most of Georgia’s 26,060 rivers are mountain streams, full of life and beauty. They feed lush forests and fertile plains, support unique ecosystems and biodiversity and supply people with water, energy and a livelihood. Yet once in a while, this beauty and power turn against people. River flooding, rockslides, landslides and mudslides are the chief source of natural disasters in Georgia. Extreme flood events cost the country over US$190 million per year. Scientists estimate that climate-driven disasters could cost Georgia as much as $12 billion over the next decade, almost 80 percent of Georgia’s current annual GDP. In 2019, Georgia launched a nationwide programme to enact policies and make the investments needed to adapt to climate change and protect people and the economy from climate-driven disasters. The seven-year initiative, a joint venture between the government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), draws on $74 million provided by the Green Climate Fund and the governments of Georgia, Sweden and Switzerland. The programme is set to introduce climate adaptation solutions, including hydrometeorological observation networks, early warning systems and protective infrastructure, in the basins of 11 Georgian rivers where the disaster risk is especially high. This will provide direct protection to 1.7 million people — 46 percent of the population. The programme also improves climate change awareness and education and assists local communities to develop and introduce climate-savvy solutions to better protect themselves from floods and other extreme weather events. Villages alongside Zemo Khodashnis Khevi and many other locations across the country are at the centre of this work. Photo: Anka Gujabidze/UNDP The power of people “Reinforcing riverbanks and establishing hydrometeorological monitoring is extremely important, as is letting people know what to expect and how to act during floods. This will help reduce losses and better protect communities,” said Chapurishvili. This year, UNDP provided her with a support grant to establish a community-based rapid response squad that will serve three villages alongside Zemo Khodashnis Khevi, informing people what to do to stay safe before, during and after a flood. “We are working with local councils and schools and engaging teachers and community organizations. Women and youth can play a game-changing role. They form a public opinion, influence their families and are very effective in spreading the message,” said Chapurishvili. She has a point here; women drive most of the local climate education projects supported by UNDP and Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. Chapurishvili’s work has sparked the interest of surrounding villages. Self-governance representatives, schools and citizens are ready to join or support the emergency response squad when it becomes fully operational this spring. Her work — and the efforts of many other climate activists across Georgia — holds the promise that local solutions and initiatives will help prepare people for climate change impacts and inspire them to work together to build a stronger and more resilient society.   

The escalation of conflict has triggered an immediate and steep rise in humanitarian needs as essential supplies and services are disrupted and civilians flee the fighting. The UN estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection, while more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees may need protection and assistance in neighbouring countries in the coming months. On 1 March 2022, the UN and humanitarian partners launched coordinated Flash Appeals  for a combined $1.7 billion to urgently deliver humanitarian support to people in Ukraine and refugees in neighbouring countries. Within Ukraine, the plan requires $1.1 billion to meet the escalating humanitarian needs of more than six million people affected and displaced by military operations over the next three months. Outside the country, the UN requested $551 million to help Ukrainians who have fled across borders, principally to Poland, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. **************** If you come from Ukraine and need help or information, please do not hesitate to contact UNHCR Georgia. If you want to contribute to Ukraine Crisis Response, help refugees and migrants, or support food delivery, you can do that by donating to the United Nations or its agencies that are dedicated to these causes. Find out how and where you can contribute here  Information about the UN Country Team in Ukraine can be found here. See the latest UN news on Ukraine (in English) 

The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March, 2022 (IWD 2022) is, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, recognizing the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all. Advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century. The issues of climate change and sustainability have had and will continue to have, severe and lasting impacts on our environment, economic and social development. Those who are amongst the most vulnerable and marginalized experience the deepest impacts. Women are increasingly being recognized as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most. At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action. Continuing to examine the opportunities, as well as the constraints, to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change and sustainability is essential for sustainable development and greater gender equality. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach. The United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day under the theme, “Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, will be marked by a high-level virtual (TBC) event on Tuesday, 8 March 2022, 10am–11.30pm EST. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the General Assembly, the Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Executive Director of UN Women as well as gender equality and climate change activists and celebrities will participate. The event will be followed by a high-level panel discussion and musical performances. The theme for International Women’s Day is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 66th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66): “Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes”.

Keti Tsilosani’s social cafe “Ketostan” (“At Keto’s”) in Lanchkhuti,  the western region of Guria has thrived throughout the coronavirus pandemic, like many other businesses in the region. “It was very difficult times. But we managed to stay afloat,” Tsilosani said. Tsilosani, 31, lives in Lanchkhuti with her two children. She got married at the age of 15. “In my opinion, early marriage was not the right decision,” she said. “It so happened that my life stood still for eight years.  I had to spend all my time sitting at home, dreaming of my self-realization.” She was 25 years old when she returned to Lanchkhuti.   “I started a new life from zero. I was trying to find my place in the community, but it was very hard without any experience or diploma.” This was the time when she learned about the UN Women in Georgia and the social mobilization organization Taso Foundation project “A Joint Action for Women’s Economic Empowerment in Georgia”. It turned her life around. “It was the biggest miracle in my life. At that time I was making the decision on whether or not to leave the country. And then I got this chance,” she said. “Besides a non-formal education, they also gave me a lot of faith and self-confidence and gave me the opportunity to be with my children.” Now she is a community worker with the social mobilization organization Taso Foundation and is an active participant of the UN Women project “A Joint Action for Women’s Empowerment in Georgia”. With the project’s help, she attended a course in social media marketing and web programming and was hired by the company Lingwing, a signatory to the Women’s Empowerment Principles. Keti leads three self-help groups, is a member of the municipal gender equality council and, owing to her enthusiasm, has become an example to all Lanchkhuti women. With the help of a grant from UN Women and the Taso Foundation, she also started her own business - Lanchkhuti’s very first café, “Ketostan” (“At Keto’s”), where she employs five local women. “They helped me a lot. I learned how to write proposals and studied social entrepreneurship,” she said. “They also gave me a grant to create this social cafe. When she was thinking about opening a social café, she knew for sure that it should be in Gurian Oda house. The majority of her customers are young people and she organizes various types of activities – film screenings, poetry evenings, as well as trainings, meetings and even electronic music evenings. “I started small, but the most important thing was just to start, and after that you can expand and develop further,” Tsilosani said. “Now I want to help other women-owned businesses.  I have already started buying raspberries and other products produced by women for my café. By all means, we women can empower one another through such cooperation.” Women-run businesses and activities have become increasingly visible in recent years in Georgia. However, visualizing the pathway to it is difficult without someone to emulate. Many of them seek the example of a different life. “I was always told, ‘Without a diploma, you can’t achieve anything in life.’ This conviction was deeply rooted,” she said. “Someone had told me that the Taso Foundation fund helped women, so I thought they might finance my education. Soon I became a community worker and discovered that there are a lot of opportunities for community workers even if you have no diploma. Now, my life has changed.” Keti Tsilosani gives local women, who dare not dream and feel disengaged from their community, a real example how to see their own potential and a pathway to a different future. She encourages them to get involved in social mobilization and change their lives. “Nothing is impossible, the main thing is diligence and life can be full of  positive changes and surprises,” she said.