How networking can contribute to rural development and what are the gains of rural networks in the EU countries and in Georgia? This was discussed at an annual meeting of the Georgian Rural Development Network (GRDN) today attended by over fifty representatives of Georgia’s Government, civil society, rural businesses and international organizations.

The event was organised with assistance of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Civil Development Agency (CiDA), under the EU-funded ENPARD programme.

“Rural networks can make a valuable contribution to rural development,” said Giorgi Khanishvili, First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. “They bring together different actors to share information, increase awareness and improve implementation of rural policies.”

“Supporting rural development is one of the priorities of EU’s work in Georgia,” said Ketevan Khutsishvili, Programme Manager for Rural Development, Civil Protection and Crisis Management of the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia. “We believe in the benefits of a bottom-up approach in rural areas, empowering local people to participate in the development of their own communities. Establishing strong and sustainable rural networks facilitates cooperation among relevant key actors and further enhances this important process,”

The meeting participants discussed the prospects of public-private partnerships in promoting rural development in Georgia and the role of young people in growing successful rural businesses that can create income opportunities beyond agriculture. They also focused on how the national Rural Development Network (GRDN) can facilitate and enhance rural development by creating a coalition of protagonists and supporters.   

“Rural development networking is first and foremost about people,” said Ave Bremse, Representative of the Estonian Rural Network Department, invited to the GRDN meeting as a guest speaker. “It is about coming together, developing new ways of thinking and operating, and building something new together; something that is bigger than the sum of its individual parts; and something that benefits rural communities everywhere.”

The Georgian Rural Development Network (GRDN) follows successful examples of the similar networks operating in Estonia and Finland. It is an online platform, administered by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, to facilitate exchange and learning between partners and stakeholders involved in Rural Development policy implementation: public authorities, economic and social partners, civil society and community groups. By showing human stories behind numbers, GRDN aims to increase awareness on rural development policies and explain their impact on rural communities.

National Rural Networks (NRNs) operate in each EU Member State to support and enhance rural development objectives. They disseminate information on rural development, facilitate networking and innovative solutions, and work to strengthen the skills needed for the implementation of rural development programmes and policies.

The EU-funded ENPARD programme has been implemented since 2013 with a total budget of EUR 179.5 million. Its main goal is to provide economic opportunities in rural area and reduce poverty in Georgia. More information on ENPARD is available at: www.enpard.ge.

Media contact

• Nana Chinchilakashvili, Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, +995 599 502619, nana.chinchilakashvili@mepa.gov.ge
• Tamar Khuntsaria, Team Leader, ENPARD Communication Unit, Action Global Communications, +995 595 989916, tamar.k@actionprgroup.com
• Sophie Tchitchinadze, UNDP in Georgia, +995 599 196907, sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org