It also marked the final year of the 2021–2025 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework — a five-year partnership between Georgia and the United Nations focused on improving people’s lives and supporting inclusive development across the country.As Georgia continued to face economic changes, social transformation, and regional challenges, the United Nations worked closely with government institutions, civil society, local communities, and development partners to help create fair and sustainable opportunities for everyone.In the report’s foreword, UN Resident Coordinator Didier Trebucq described 2025 as “a pivotal year for the partnership between Georgia and the United Nations.” He emphasized the importance of cooperation, open dialogue, and inclusive development, highlighting the UN’s role as a trusted partner that brings different groups together to find solutions and support joint action.The report highlights progress made under the 2021–2025 Cooperation Framework, especially in democratic governance, human rights, social inclusion, economic resilience, and climate action. Throughout the year, UN agencies supported reforms aimed at strengthening public institutions, improving access to quality services, promoting human rights, and creating more opportunities for women and young people.Strengthening governance and protecting human rights remained key priorities. Programmes focused on building accountable institutions, improving access to justice, supporting women’s participation in decision-making, and encouraging democratic governance. Civil society organizations, municipalities, and public institutions worked together to increase transparency and citizen participation, especially among women and youth. The report stresses that strong institutions are essential for long-term stability, public trust, and inclusive development.Improving access to essential services also remained central to the UN’s work. In remote regions and vulnerable communities, UN agencies supported better healthcare, education, and social protection systems. Inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches helped ensure that persons with disabilities, children, women, and marginalized groups were not left behind. These efforts reflected the UN’s broader commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and international human rights standards.Economic resilience was another major focus throughout the year. The UN supported entrepreneurship, innovation, local development, and inclusive economic opportunities to help ensure that economic growth improved people’s daily lives. Youth employment, women’s economic empowerment, digital transformation, and support for green businesses became important priorities across many programmes.Special attention was given to vulnerable and conflict-affected communities. Through targeted programmes, the UN helped strengthen social protection systems, support livelihoods, and build long-term resilience. Efforts focused on dignity, inclusion, and sustainable support for internally displaced persons and communities living near administrative boundary lines. Beyond addressing immediate needs, these initiatives aimed to strengthen trust and community resilience over time.At the same time, the UN continued supporting Georgia’s environmental and climate goals through green development initiatives and climate policy assistance. From sustainable natural resource management to climate resilience and green transition programmes, environmental sustainability has become increasingly linked to social and economic development. Support for climate policy, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection reflected Georgia’s growing commitment to greener development pathways.Among the key achievements supported by the UN system in 2025 were:Georgia adopted its most ambitious climate commitment to date through the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), increasing the country’s target from a 35 percent to a 47 percent net greenhouse gas reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.Food safety governance improved with the adoption of the Law on Food Loss and Waste Reduction and Food Donation, along with a new Food Safety Strategy and Food Waste Management Concept.Important legal and policy reforms were introduced to prevent early marriage, strengthen parental leave policies, expand gender-responsive and child-rights-based budgeting, and improve access to justice. In total, 1,511 vulnerable individuals received legal aid services. Beyond the achievements and policy reforms, however, the report’s greatest success may have been collaboration itself. More than 21 UN entities worked together with the Government of Georgia, municipalities, civil society organizations, academia, development partners, and the private sector throughout the year. The new 2026–2030 Cooperation Framework was also developed through consultations with more than 300 stakeholders across the country, reflecting a strong commitment to making future development efforts more inclusive, participatory, and responsive to people’s needs.The report concludes that strong partnerships and a continued commitment to human rights, equality, and sustainability remain essential to ensuring that no one is left behind in Georgia’s development journey.

The Government of Georgia and the United Nations in Georgia jointly organized the first annual meeting of the Joint Steering Committee of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2026-2030. The Joint Steering Committee provides strategic oversight for the development and implementation of the Cooperation Framework, ensuring strong national ownership and alignment with Georgia’s development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The meeting was co-chaired by Zviad Barkaia, Deputy Head of the Administration of the Government of Georgia, and Didier Trebucq, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Georgia.In his remarks, Zviad Barkaia, Deputy Head of the Administration of the Government of Georgia, noted that the meeting marked the beginning of a new phase of strategic collaboration between the Government of Georgia and the United Nations. He emphasized that the UNSDCF 2026–2030 reflects national interests and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals.The UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, stated: “The Cooperation Framework we are now implementing reflects an increased level of ambition. It responds to Georgia’s national priorities and to a rapidly evolving global context, while reaffirming our shared commitment to accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Achieving this ambition will require us not only to deliver better results, but also to work differently—through stronger partnerships, more integrated approaches, and innovative funding and financing modalities that can unlock scale and systemic impact.”Ana Zec, Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, presented key UN achievements in 2025 across five priority areas of the UNSDCF 2021–2025, including effective, transparent, and accountable institutions; equal and inclusive access to quality services; inclusive economic growth and human capital development; human security and resilience; and environmental protection and climate action. The UN Resident Coordinator, together with the co-chairs of the UNSDCF Results Groups: Mamuka Meskhi (Assistant FAO Representative in Georgia), Kaori Ishikawa (UN Women Country Representative in Georgia and Liaison for the South Caucasus), Giorgi Kalakashvili (UNICEF Child Rights Monitoring Specialist), and Douglas Webb (UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia), with participation of Deputy Ministers and UN Heads of Agencies, presented the Joint Workplan for 2026–2027. They outlined the four result areas of the UNSDCF 2026–2030: Inclusive growth, green transition and climate resilience; Education, health and social protection; Governance, human rights and gender equality; and an enabling environment for peace. Participants discussed planned interventions, resource allocation across four thematic areas and strategic priorities for future action.The meeting was attended by government representatives and members of the UN Country Team. The outcome of the meeting is the agreement on the Workplan for 2026-2027 for the four outcomes under the UNSDCF 2026-2030.For the UN Georgia Annual Report 2025, please click here. 

Justice for all women and girls must be delivered in law, in budgets, in institutions, in real life. Justice is not built by institutions alone. This is why every effort to improve access to justice is so important. Women survivors of violence in Georgia continue to face barriers in accessing essential services, and UN Women, together with its partners, is working to expand a nationwide network of crisis centres offering legal assistance, psychological counselling, social workers’ support and vital information to help survivors break the cycle of violence. To date, nine crisis centres have been opened across the country, improving access to justice and support for survivors.“I was experiencing panic attacks, and my doctor suggested I see a psychologist. I started looking for a specialist nearby, as travelling to Tbilisi would require additional time and money. That is how I found the Akhmeta Crisis Centre, where I have been receiving free psychological counselling for the past six months. I feel much better now; this support has been a great relief for me,” says Tamar Macharashvili*, a survivor of domestic violence.According to the 2022 National Study on Violence against Women in Georgia, conducted by UN Women and Geostat, seven in ten women who experience intimate partner violence report at least one psychological symptom, showing the lasting mental-health impact of domestic violence.Macharashvili, 56, lives in the village of Duisi in the Akhmeta Municipality and has two children. Although she divorced nearly 15 years ago, she continues to struggle with the trauma she suffered while married. The staff of the Akhmeta Crisis Centre have become her main supporters, as she is one of the 43 survivors assisted there so far. Launched in early 2024, the Centre was established by UN Women and Sweden and operates in partnership with the Sakartvelo Regional Empowerment Foundation (SREF).“Along with measures to prevent violence against women and girls, improving the quality of services and expanding access for survivors of violence remains one of the key challenges in combating
violence against women in Georgia. This is why UN Women, together with the national and local authorities, development partners, and private sectors, continues to strengthen and widen the network of shelters and crisis centres across the country,” stated Kaori Ishikawa, UN Women Country Representative in Georgia and Liaison for the South Caucasus.Of the nine crisis centres now operating in Georgia, seven are managed by the state and two by local non-governmental organizations.Akhmeta Crisis Centre, a space of solidarityThe Akhmeta Crisis Centre provides legal counselling, psychological services and social-worker support to women across the municipality. It also works to raise awareness about preventing and responding to violence against women and domestic violence, and it informs women about available services and empowerment opportunities. A child-friendly room allows mothers to safely leave their children while receiving support.A child-friendly room at the Akhmeta Crisis Centre. Photo: UN Georgia/Gela Bedianashvili.“More and more women are speaking out about the violence they have experienced and are asking for help. The Centre has become a space of solidarity, enabling many women to escape violence and rebuild their lives,” says Iza Bekauri, the Head of SREF, which operates the Centre.“I have personally sheltered many women in my own home, and I always hoped that Akhmeta would one day have a comfortable space tailored to the needs of local women. When I was offered the chance to open a crisis centre, I enthusiastically agreed. After its opening, word spread quickly, and many women began using our services."Iza Bekauri, Head of the Sakartvelo Regional Empowerment Foundation Today, the Akhmeta Crisis Centre receives five to seven women each month. Bekauri notes that some women choose not to register officially as beneficiaries while seeking assistance. “Unfortunately, due to a lack of income and own housing, many women continue to stay in abusive relationships and endure violence,” she says. “In such cases, they need empowerment, economic and emotional support, just to know that they are not alone and that we stand by their side.”Social norms and stigma continue to silence survivorsWhile reporting rates of violence against women have risen in Georgia, many women - both in Akhmeta Municipality and nationwide - remain silent due to discriminatory social norms. According to the National Study, more than one third - 38.2 per cent - of women who have survived physical and/or sexual partner violence have never told anyone about their experiences.Macharashvili explains that while she receives psychological counselling, the Centre’s staff also guide women who need legal advice. “For women who need legal support, the staff explain the laws, help them understand their rights, and encourage them to find a solution.”“I am grateful that women know that no matter how difficult their situation is, they can come to us and count on our support,” Bekauri concludes.The Akhmeta Crisis Centre was established within the UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality (UNJP4GE) and continues to operate under this framework._______* Name, surname, age and place of residence have been changed to protect privacy.

 March is Women’s Month - a time to reaffirm that every woman and girl has the right to live in a safe environment, free from violence, coercion, and all forms of discrimination. In this spirit, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Georgia and EcoBrands are joining forces to support women survivors of violence and their children. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Weleda Skin Food, from 3 March until the end of the year, a portion of the proceeds from each product sold will be donated to a shelter operated by the National Network for Protection Against Violence. “This initiative represents both an expression of solidarity and a strong example of private sector social responsibility. It contributes to supporting women and girls who have experienced violence by helping ensure access to psychological, legal, and reproductive health services. We welcome this partnership with EcoBrands and look forward to continuing our joint efforts toward advancing women’s empowerment,” says Nana Avaliani, Gender Analyst at UNFPA.According to Natia Chincharauli, Executive Director of EcoBrands, throughout its 28 years of operation in Georgia, the company has consistently implemented various social responsibility initiatives. “As our company grows, we are committed to doing even more. Introducing Weleda to Georgia was driven by our desire to promote healthy products and lifestyles. We are proud to partner with an organization that works toward real, tangible change and delivers meaningful support to those who truly need it,” says Natia Chincharauli.  The collaboration between UNFPA and EcoBrands highlights the critical role of partnerships with the private sector in addressing social challenges and ensuring that no one is left behind - especially women survivors of violence and their children. UNFPA continues to work with partners to prevent and respond to violence, mobilize resources, and implement joint initiatives aimed at achieving tangible change.