Tbilisi, Georgia – Otar Shamugia, Minister for Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in Georgia signed a new project to support the low-emission and climate resilient development of agriculture sector.

The new project is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The project has a budget of up to USD500 000 and will last a little over two years. FAO will be working closely with the government agencies to introduce current knowledge and best international practices to improve the effectiveness of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA). The project will address policy gaps by developing an agriculture sector roadmap, policy recommendations, and financing action plan in consultation with key stakeholders, while recognizing the importance of data collection and informed decision-making for increasing Georgia’s climate ambition.   

“FAO recognizes the importance of supporting Georgia in its efforts to tackle climate change and accelerate nature-positive development. By supporting Georgia in achieving its climate goals, we aim to enhance the resilience of agricultural communities, ensure green growth, and foster an overall sustainable future for the country,” said Raimund Jehle at the signing ceremony of the project “Strategic Readiness to support the Updated NDC and its Climate Action for Georgia: Transforming Agriculture Sector through Low-Emissions and Climate-Resilient Pathways.”

“Cooperating with FAO is of great importance for developing climate-smart agriculture in the country. I believe we will achieve effective results with the new project,” said the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Otar Shamugia.

Growth of the agrifood sector is a priority for the Government of Georgia, however, that development is predicted to increase emissions by about 40 percent until 2030. Though Georgia has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), developed the 2030 Climate Change Strategy and its action plan, assistance to the country is necessary if it is to meet its 2015 Paris Agreement commitments to transition to a sustainable agrifood sector. The FAO−GCF project aims to support Georgia’s ambition to develop its agrifood system without the predicted negative climate effects.

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The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the largest global fund dedicated to help fight climate change. Set up by the 194 countries who are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010, its objective is to “make a significant and ambitious contribution to the global efforts towards attaining the goals set by the international community to combat climate change.” 

More information can be found at https://www.greenclimate.fund/about.