Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the EU-supported ENPARD programme, implemented the second training module for the staff of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA). In the frame of this training plan, more than 100 staff members participated in training courses of Leadership and Public Speaking, Microsoft Office, Human Resource Management and Professional English Language, that were conducted over the last four months and were finalized with the certificate-awarding ceremonies for the successful attendees.

The training sessions were prepared and facilitated together with the Environmental Information and Education Centre of MEPA. The trainings covered several gaps identified by the MEPA staff in skills needed to increase their professional performance. The participants gave positive feedback and appreciation of the quality of the trainings.

Enhancing the capacities of MEPA’s staff is crucial to be able to adjust to the reforms in the policymaking within the agricultural sector to be able to comply with the requirements set forward in the Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia. The implementation of this training programme of MEPA staff is one of the objectives of the FAO project under ENPARD III, entitled “EU and FAO support to the Georgian Agriculture Sector”. The project provides technical assistance to the ministry and offers opportunities for the staff to improve their technical and professional knowledge and skills.

The EU is supporting agriculture and rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Implemented since 2013 with a total budget of EUR 179.5 million, the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty in Georgia. The first phase of ENPARD in Georgia focused on developing the potential of agriculture. The second and third phases of ENPARD focus on creating economic opportunities for rural population that go beyond agricultural activities. More information on ENPARD is available at: www.enpard.ge