Project details

The project “EMBRACE Tsalka” aims to reduce rural poverty and improve living conditions in Tsalka municipality, Georgia, through the LEADER approach. It addresses economic, social, and environmental concerns by improving agricultural competitiveness, promoting sustainable management of natural resources, and building climate-resilient rural economies and communities.

Tsalka is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural municipality in the Kvemo Kartli region with 30 communities comprised of 43 villages and Tsalka town. Tsalka is a high mountainous municipality with a total area of 105,430 ha – covered mainly by meadows and plains. A major part of the territory is occupied by mountainous plains, and subalpine and alpine meadows. The primary economic activity in Tsalka municipality is agriculture. The unique natural resources and population diversity of the municipality creates a vibrant environment and makes Tsalka an inspiring place to work and travel.

The action provides support to smallholders, entrepreneurs, women, youth and other local actors by improving access to knowledge and innovation, demonstrating value chain development, introducing best practices, creating public-private partnerships (PPPs) and business linkages, and generating new employment by utilising the development potential of the area. The project will work intensively with youth (through schools, eco-clubs and an eco-hub), vulnerable groups (VGs): ethnic and religious minorities, eco-migrants, IDPs, people with disabilities (PwD), and rural women, who have limited access to decision-making processes, employment, opportunities for personal development, mobility, and economic rights.

The project is implemented under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) by EU’s partner organization CENN, in partnership with the Georgian Farmers’ Association (GFA) and IfLS. Our role is capacity building and backstopping on LEADER implementation through training, field visits, and organization of exchange visits with German LAGs.

Cooperating partners: Caucasia Environmental NGO Network (CENN), Georgian Farmers Association (GFA)

ENPARD Georgien: http://enpard.ge/en/

CENN: http://www.cenn.org/