UN support to Georgia’s development in 2021

16 March 2022 –  The 2021 UN Country Annual Report on the progress achieved by Georgia in its first implementation year of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF) 2021-2025, has been presented to the Government of Georgia at a high-level virtual meeting today.

Signed in 2020 by the UN and Georgian Government, the UNSDCF is the roadmap towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Georgia. It links the UN’s work in the country to Georgia’s development priorities.

The meeting took stock of  the important developments in areas of inclusive economy and human capital development, effective, transparent and accountable institutions, equal and inclusive access to quality services, human security and resilience, the environment and climate change.

Opening statements were delivered by the Head of Administration of the Government of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili and the UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia Sabine Machl.

In his  speech, the Head of Administration of the Government of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili emphasized the importance of such annual reviews that help keep an eye on the dynamics and the progress of cooperation and assist  in moving to the right direction of the policy planning and implementation process.

 “All five outcomes proposed by the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) are in full compliance with the Governmental program and strategic priorities,” said  the Head of Administration.

Ilia Darchiashvili thanked the UN for its constant support both in political and financial matters through all these years. “UN agencies are stable partners of the Georgian institutions, non-governmental organizations, business and Georgian people, ” he said.

In her speech, Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia, thanked the Government for enhanced cooperation in taking forward an ambitious development agenda and national SDGs based on the Leave No One Behind principle. 

“In close partnership with the Government and other partners, the UN Country Team has continued to promote innovative, integrated and sustainable solutions to current development challenges with a focus on the most vulnerable groups, communities, and regions,” said Sabine Machl. “We witnessed transformative developments in human rights, gender, human security and resilience, climate change. The UN is committed to further contribute to a more resilient recovery from the pandemic and to the acceleration towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.”

Sabine Machl noted that, at USD 59 million for 2021, the UN financial contribution to development efforts in Georgia was significant, and that total UN annual spending was likely to exceed in 2022.

 The co-chairs of the UNSDCF results groups, Nick Beresford (UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia), Amy Clancy (UNICEF Deputy Representative in Georgia), Mamuka Meskhi (Assistant FAO Representative in Georgia) and Kemlin Furley (UNHCR Representative in Georgia) presented UN achievements in five results areas of the UNSDCF and outlined the strategic priorities for further action.

Organised by the United Nations Office in Georgia, the event brought together representatives of the Georgian Government, Parliament and other national stakeholders.

More information about the UNSDCF 2021-2025 as well as about the 2021 UN collective results can be found in the presentation accessible below.