KK Governor to Push Regional DRR Scaleup

For scaling up DRR facilitation of Local Self Governments by the programme the meeting was held with the Governor of Kvemo Kartli - Ramin Ismailov. In 2012-2014 the programme facilitated creation of Municipal Working Groups on Animal Disease Control and Disaster Risk Reduction in Dmanisi, Tetritskaro and Tsalka municipalities as a mechanism for reducing livestock related disaster risks at municipal level. In the phase II the programme intends to scale up its facilitation regarding DRR by extending this model in three other municipalities of Kvemo Kartli. The purpose of the meeting was to engage the Governor’s office in this process by transforming it into a regional model.

“The Governor’s office now is responsible for imposing the veterinarian quarantines but we don’t have any mechanism to monitor how it is carried out by the local self-governments and the NFA. I think that we could adopt the proposed model and create an Animal disease Control and Disaster Risk Reduction Regional Board which will coordinate the Municipal DRR working groups,” – the Governor stated.

Also at the end of the meeting the Governor raised an issue regarding an increased incidence of rabies cases in Kvemo Kartli.

“Currently we have the problem in regard to frequent cases of rabies in Kvemo Kartli and we will be grateful, if you help us to overcome this problem by providing proper expertise of situation and recommendations,” – he said.

As a result of the meeting the sides agreed that they will continue cooperation by making concrete plan for setting up the Regional Model for disease & disaster notification, control and reporting, which will push in the process of preparation & planning and mitigation at local self-government’s level. Furthermore with facilitation of the programme the Governor’s office will contact the local self-governments in the region for ensuring that above mentioned working groups were established and work properly.

18/04/2015

A new project “Closer to Nature” was launched by Batumi Botanical Garden facilitated by ALCP AJ to promote 165 school student’s involvement in biodiversity and environmental protection activities.

06/04/2015

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Minister of Agriculture, the National Food Agency and SDC funded, Mercy Corps Georgia implemented ALCP on March 31^st 2015. Within the framework of this memorandum ALCP will facilitate the building of two Bio-security yards with water points on the Animal Movement Route in Kvemo Kartli region, another three Bio-security yards will be financed from the State Budget.

30/03/2015

The advisors from 5 municipalities of Ajara were trained on how to increase women participation in community meetings. Following the training facilitated by ALCP AJ, they worked with the Village Representatives and as a result of their activities, the attendance of women in these meetings has increased by 10-15%. 

12/03/2015

Very soon the Kvemo Kartli Region will have a new regional mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction implemented by Local municipalities and the Kvemo Kartli Governor’s office.  The Governor of Kvemo Kartli Paata Khizanishvili discussed this topic with the Gamgebelies of the region, deputy governors, the Mayor of Rustavi City and representatives of Alliances Lesser Caucasus Programme (ALCP) on March 11, 2015. The importance of regional coordination and the necessity of creating working groups in all municipalities were highlighted during the meeting.

05/03/2015

The Advisory Committee was established in Ajara, which is supposed to be a forum for regional players representing national, local and regional government, civil society and the private sector to tackle key issues in agriculture sector. The participants discussed the role of the Self-governments in Disaster Risk Reduction, wildlife related issues in the region and also clarified the functions of the newly formed Municipal DRR Working Group in five municipalities of Ajara.

18/02/2015

A kindergarten was opened on February 17th in Boslebi Village, Dmanisi municipality as a result of facilitation by the Dmanisi Women’s Room. The Kindergarten will serve 30 children not only Georgians from Boslebi Village but also from neighbor Kakliani Village which is mainly inhabited by Azeris.  Four local women will be employed there.

30/08/2022

    The Rural Development Agency (RDA), representing Georgia at the 47th Apimondia Congress 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey, was awarded a Gold Medal for outstanding design of a trade stand in the 36 square meters category. Georgia was selected from among twelve other nominees. This year was distinguished by the strongest ever representation of Georgian beekeeping at the Apimondia Congress. Now it is the third time that Georgia has attended. Eight honey producing and exporting companies exhibited on the winning Georgia stand, showcasing honey, queen bees, and other beekeeping products including cosmetics. The congress proved highly profitable for the Georgian representatives in establishing linkages, potential partnerships and experience sharing with beekeeping associations the Beekeeping Association of Slovenia, the Slovak Beekeepers Association and the Turkey Beekeepers’ Association. The potential for Jara honey to apply for Fairtrade certification was discussed with Fairtrade International representatives. Representatives and judges of the London Honey Awards also visited the Georgian stand. A few Georgian companies have won silver and bronze at the award in 2022. A strong representation to the third London Honey Awards in 2023 by the Georgian Beekeepers Union members will be facilitated by the programme.

23/08/2022

    The 47th Apimondia Congress 2022, the most significant event in beekeeping worldwide, will take place from 24th to 28th August in Istanbul, Turkey. For the third time and with the strongest representation to date, the Georgian Beekeepers Union (GBU) and eight member companies will showcase the Georgian honey sector with the full financial sponsorship of the Rural Development Agency (RDA) under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA). The eight honey producing and exporting companies who will exhibit different types of Georgian honey, including, bio Jara honey are: KTW Agro Keda, Rukhi Queen, Geo Natural, Cooperative Racha Natural Products, Api Geo, Tapli Sakhlshi, Cooperative Ska, Ska-Kodala. A short movie on Georgian beekeeping produced for the event will be showing in the Georgian booth. An e-poster presentation in the Beekeeping Economy section in the academic conference side of the Expo entitled A Revival of Georgian Traditional Beekeeping – Jara Beekeeping will be showcased as well.  

16/06/2022

On June 16th the Journalism Resource Centre celebrated the opening of the first local TV media TOK TV in Tsalka municipality. Three local journalists attended journalism courses on reporting for one month. As Tsalka is a multiethnic municipality the journalists represent Georgian, Azerbaijani and Armenian communities. ‘We will report on the issues that are important in increasing transparency and accountability among the general population and local officials. Reports related to agricultural issues will be one of the main topics for our work. Local people will be engaged in the decision-making around ongoing local development. Especially, this is important after the newly opened tourist attraction in Dashbashi Canyon.’ - Local Journalist Nazi Meshveliani said.