UN Team kicks off visit to Samtskhe-Javakheti

The UN Resident Coordinator, Sabine Machl, accompanied by the UNFPA Head of Office, Lela Bakradze, the IOM Chief of Mission, Sanja Celebic Lukovac, the  UNICEF Health Education Officer, Nana Pruidze, the Head of the Office of the Resident Coordinator, Anna Platonova, the FAO Project Officers, Tamta Tavartkiladze and Gvantsa Gedenidze, the FAO Communications Officer, Sophio Altunashvili, the UNFPA Communications and Partnerships Analyst, Salome Benidze, and the UNFPA Programme Officer, Marika Kurdadze, visited the Samtskhe-Javakheti region on June 21-23 to discuss challenges and opportunities in the region, and  to have a firsthand experience of different aspects of the UN’s work on the ground.

The team met with the State Representative in Samtskhe-Javakheti  Besik Amiranashvili,  the Mayor of  Akhaltsikhe municipality Irakli Lazarashvili, representatives of municipal authorities, civil society, academia,  local farmers, entrepreneurs, young people  and local communities.

The trip kicked off with an opening of an Equality Corner at the Public School #2 in the village of Vale, Akhaltsikhe Municipality.  The Equality Corner has been established by UNFPA Georgia with the support of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia. Over 240 books have been handed over to the school’s library to raise awareness among teachers, parents and children about gender equality, tolerance and human rights. Alexandre Lortkipanidze, TV presenter and writer shared his knowledge with children and teachers about equality and the many benefits of reading. The UN team also had an opportunity to meet with young people - participants of the Youth for Social Change initiative in Akhaltsikhe, implemented by UNFPA in partnership with the Center for Civic Engagement, in the frameworks of the programme “Addressing Gender-Biased Sex Selection and Related Harmful Practices in the South Caucasus”, with the support of the European Union. The initiative brought together the youth who believe that by accumulating necessary knowledge and competence, and by encouraging small group initiatives in their communities, they can change the harmful gender norms at the local level.

In the course of the visit, the UN team met with the Mayor of  Akhaltsikhe municipality Irakli Lazarashvili. The discussions at the meeting focused on the UN’s longstanding relationship with the municipality in various fields, including women entrepreneurship, support to returned migrants and youth development. The sides discussed the opportunities and development needs of the municipality, and  the prospects for further enhancing partnerships in various sectors. Irakli Lazarashvili also shared information on ongoing infrastructure projects and future plans.

The UN team also had an opportunity to meet  the State Representative in Samtskhe-Javakheti,  Besik Amiranashvili,  the Chairman of the Akhaltsikhe Municipal Assembly (Sakrebulo), Davit Lomidze, and the Head of the Governor's Office, Giorgi Mikeladze. The sides exchanged thoughts related to programs implemented in the region by the UN agencies in Georgia and discussed the ways for further fostering cooperation in the fields of mutual interest, including  in the field of youth development and social inclusion.

The visit continued in the village of  Khertvisi, Aspindza, where  six female producers – members of One Village One Product (OVOP) group, "Tuta"  –  took charge of mulberry production and, in turn, of their own destiny.  Originated in Japan, OVOP is a model based on which people in a village decide on a single product that is unique to their area. The initiative aims to spur countryside development and promote the emergence of women in agricultural area development.  With UNDP’s support, the local producers received training and economic resources to widen family’s income generation.

Next stop was in Akhaltsikhe where the team met Liana Tchankvetadze. She returned home with IOM’s support and restarted cattle-breeding business. She was provided with entrepreneurship skills training and cash assistance to make a decent income.   Read her story

While in Akhaltsikhe, the UN Head Sabine Machl and UN representatives visited the Samtskhe-Javakheti State University. They met with the Rector of the University Maka Beridze and visited university premises and workshops as well as  a  vibrant outdoor mural created by UNFPA that captures the spirit of the MenCare campaign (illustrator – Sonia Eliashvili, artist – Lia Ukleba). 

The UN team had an opportunity to visit the Child Rights Center set up by UNICEF to raise awareness of specialists, academics, teachers, and students about children's rights as well as to gain insight into the Minor Program launched by UNDP to help students develop their skills by using new technologies, including AgroDron.

The team also visited a modern potato sorting and storage facility in Chamdura, Akhlakalaki. With a matching grant from EU and FAO, under the ENPARD programme, LTD "Akhali Mosavali" headed by Tamaz Kurdadze, managed to purchase a receiving hopper, ventilation system, and wooden crates and set up a sorting and storage facility, where potatoes are stored with high standards. The storage facility supports up to 200 rural entrepreneurs and farmers in selling their harvest and minimising food loss. Watch a video

This was followed by a meeting with representatives of civil society organizations from Samtkhe-Javakheti region to discuss the work of these organizations in the region. Included in the meeting were representatives of some of the many NGOs working on youth engagement, human rights issues in Samtskhe-Javakheti, including the Democrat Women's organization, Akhaltsikhe Youth Center, Civil Initiatives Association,  and Samtskhe-Javakheti Development Centre. At the meeting, the main needs of regional NGOs were identified. The ideas discussed were relevant to the sectors of youth development, national minorities, child rights, etc. Their feedback on areas needing attention remains a valued source of information for the UN.