Georgia
THE CURRENT SITUATION
Georgia is a country with a parliamentary-premier system. Democratic institutions, despite all their partial shortcomings, are now a functional part of the country's political environment. According to the Human Development Index 2021, Georgia ranks 61st out of 189 countries. The country is facing high unemployment, a reduction in remittances, foreign direct investment and devaluation of the national currency. The low quality and lack of access to health and social services most affect the elderly, children, the disabled, socially excluded groups, and people living in remote areas. Agriculture employs about half of the workforce, is characterised by low productivity and, despite Georgia's favourable natural conditions, imports 70% of its food. Valuable mountain ecosystems are facing the consequences of the impact of climate change, illegal logging is taking place and there is therefore a high risk of soil erosion, landslides and flooding. The transposition of EU legislation under the Association Agreement and DCFTA, as well as the transformation and capacity building of public administration, including local and regional government, is also a key challenge for the country.
Georgia is a net recipient of development assistance and an upper middle-income country. Georgia receives substantial development assistance from the World Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the EU, the US and other bilateral donors.
Georgia is one of the six Eastern Partnership countries (together with Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Armenia) and one of the countries of the Association Trio (together with Ukraine and Moldova) seeking to integrate into the EU. Under pressure from developments following the launch of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, Georgia, together with Moldova, applied for EU membership in March 2022 and submitted a completed pre-accession questionnaire in May 2022. In June 2022, the European Commission granted Georgia a European perspective and conditioned the granting of candidate status on the fulfilment of 12 recommendations in the political field.
On 27 June 2014, Georgia signed an Association Agreement with the EU in Brussels, which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which entered into force on 1 July 2016. From this date, Georgian exports to EU markets are free of tariffs and Georgian products must meet European standards. The process of setting appropriate standards for local companies is still ongoing. Although the volume of bilateral trade has been increasing since 2016, the EU share of Georgian exports and imports has been steadily decreasing since 2016. Meeting the strict conditions for honey and fish exports to the EU can be considered a success. In an effort to accelerate the Euro-integration reform processes, the Georgian government presented a comprehensive "Roadmap2EU" document in February 2019.
Georgia is one of the few countries that managed to capitalise on Russia's aggression against Ukraine and whose economy continued to grow at a double-digit rate in 2022. The main reason for this was the government's accommodative policies and the flexibility of the business sector. In 2022, GDP grew by 10.1%, foreign trade by 33.7%, foreign investment by 61% and tourism receipts by 182%. Remittances, which accounted for 14.2% of Georgia's GDP in 2021, grew by 86%. The average inflation rate in 2022 was 11.9%. The fastest growing sectors were transport and storage, information and communication, energy and construction. Economic growth was stimulated by domestic consumption, which grew due to the influx of Russian citizens and a gradual recovery in tourism. The inflow of Russian capital led to the strengthening of the local currency, the lari (GEL). The euro depreciated by 18% and the USD by 13%.
Since the last parliamentary elections, the government's tendency to limit the independence of state institutions and to strengthen its influence and power is visible. The authoritarian tendencies have further strengthened after the launch of the Russian aggression in Ukraine in February 2022. In anticipation of the next parliamentary elections in 2024, the ruling party tried to limit the space for NGOs and media by enforcing the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence (March 2023), which was only abandoned under pressure from mass demonstrations. However, efforts to control NGOs and the media continue in other forms.
CZDA ACTIVITIES
The CZDA has been active in Georgia since 2008, when emergency funds were made available for reconstruction and development assistance to the country in the aftermath of the conflict with Russia. In 2010-2017, Georgia was one of the priority countries of the Czech Foreign Development Cooperation without a cooperation programme. Since 2018, Georgia has been a programme country. In accordance with the Development Cooperation Programme with Georgia for 2018-2023, the projects of the CRA are implemented in the following sectors.
Development Cooperation Programme with Georgia:
Programme for the years 2018–2023
Projects
| Name | Sector | Country |
| Evaluation of Landslide Susceptibility in the Mountainous Parts of Georgia on the Example of Endangered Settlements, International Roads and Energy Conduits in Dusheti Municipality | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Meteorological Safety of the Rickoti Transport Section of TRACECA route | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Capacity Building in Prevention of Major Accidents in Georgia | Government and Civil Society , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Increased Efficiency of Management of Imereti Caves Protected Areas II | General Environmental Protection , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Implementation of Selected Measures of the Management Plan for the Protected Area Tusheti | General Environmental Protection , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Support of Public Administration Reform in Georgia | Government and Civil Society , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Development of Services for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Georgia | Other Social Infrastructure and Services , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Increasing quality of life of disabled people in Georgia | Other Social Infrastructure and Services , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Developing Sustainable Research and Dissemination Capacity in the Field of Addictology in Georgia | Other Social Infrastructure and Services , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Support of Early Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Oncological Diseases | Health , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Improvement of First Medical Aid Services in Omalo, Tusheti Region | Health , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Forest Inventory and Sustainable Forest Management in the Protected Areas in Tusheti | Agriculture and Forestry | Georgia |
| Support of the Traditional Livelihood Systems in Tusheti | Agriculture and Forestry | Georgia |
| Establishment of the Regional Development Center of Beekeeping | Agriculture and Forestry | Georgia |
| Formation of Phytosanitary Surveillance System | Government and Civil Society | Georgia |
| Support to the Effective Management of the Cooperatives in the Imereti region, Georgia | Agriculture and Forestry | Georgia |
| Feasibility study for optimisation of integrated public transport in Tbilisi | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Renewable Energy for Remote Areas of Georgia – Solar Energy in Thusheti | General Environmental Protection , Energy Generation and Supply | Georgia |
| Support of Home Care Services in Shida Kartli Region | Health | Georgia |
| Promotion of prevention and early detection of breast and cervical cancer among women in the regions of Samegrelo and Shida Kartli | Health | Georgia |
| Georgia Health Resort Development and Support by the Czech Republic | Health | Georgia |
| Promoting the availability of health care with an emphasis on the situation of IDPs and disabled people | Health | Georgia |
| Support of Cooperative Management Among Farmers in Imeriti Region | Agriculture and Forestry | Georgia |
| Support of Cooperation and Development of Small Farmers in Western Georgia | Agriculture and Forestry | Georgia |
| Support to the Agricultural Service Centers in Dioknisi and Diadachara, Ajara Autonomic Republic, Georgia | Agriculture and Forestry | Georgia |
| Establishment and Support of Rural Service Centre in Khulo region | Agriculture and Forestry | Georgia |
| Post Harvest Management Training | Agriculture and Forestry | Georgia |
| Strengthening capacity building and technical support Martvili Agro Service Centre | Agriculture and Forestry | Georgia |
| Electrification of Remote Areas - Tusheti | General Environmental Protection | Georgia |
| Strategic Development Plan of laboratory activities in field of monitoring the quality of drinking water in Georgia | General Environmental Protection | Georgia |
| Ensuring Safe Drinking Water in the Buffer Zone | General Environmental Protection | Georgia |
| Enhanced Preparedness of Georgia against Extreme Weather Events | General Environmental Protection | Georgia |
| Introducing Addictology in Educational Systems in Georgia | Government and Civil Society | Georgia |
| Introducing Addictology in Educational System of Georgia II. | Government and Civil Society | Georgia |
| Increased Efficiency of Management of Imereti Caves Protected Areas (ICPAs) | Government and Civil Society | Georgia |
| Support of vulnerable youth and multiple and incomplete families of selected regions of western Georgia | Other Social Infrastructure and Services | Georgia |
| Preparation of Management Plan for Tusheti Protected Landscape | Government and Civil Society | Georgia |
| Equipment for Kindergarten in Jaluarta | Government and Civil Society | Georgia |
| The Day Services Centre for Senior Citizens in the Khashuri Region | Other Social Infrastructure and Services | Georgia |
| People with Disabilities: Natural and Respectful Group of Society | Other Social Infrastructure and Services | Georgia |
| Ensuring follow-up financing for the project Day care center for the elderly in Khashuri (Georgia) | Other Social Infrastructure and Services | Georgia |
| Graduate Teaching Fellows | | Georgia |
| Enhancing capacities of academic and management staff at ATSU | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Improvement of education quality at State University Akaki Tsereteli | | Georgia |
| Transfer of czech know-how in elaboration and production of sewage treatment plant in Georgia | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Feasibility study on use of biofuels in Imereti region, Georgia | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Geoparcs - the new direction for sustainable regional development | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Minimization of the Impact of Mining Water on the Environment and Drinking Water Resources | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Marneuli – participating city | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Modernization of the Hydro-meteorological System in Georgia | | Georgia |
| Elaboration of the Development Concept for Imereti, Samegrelo and Racha Caves | | Georgia |
| Diakonia: Enhancing the Integration of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Georgia | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Enhancing small farmers’ cooperation and productivity in Imereti Region | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Planting of Fruit Species on Slopes and Terraces as a Measure against Landslide Processes in Khulo Municipality, Autonomous Republic of Adjara | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Consultation of the legal framework for innovation system in Georgia | | Georgia |
| Increasing Safety of Transport Corridors in Georgia through Development of Road Meteorology | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Strengthening of Tourist Potential in Mountain Areas in Georgia as a Development Instrument | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Enhancing Capacity of Georgian Customs Canine Service | Government and Civil Society , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Archives without borders: One more step forward | Government and Civil Society , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Improving Formal, Non-formal and Informal Vocational Education for the Agribusiness in Georgia | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Location Action Group (LAG) Kazbegi | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Launch of quality improvement for primary health care system in Georgia | Government and Civil Society , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Promoting the Forestry Education and Sharing Practical Experience by Czech Experts for Agricultural University of Georgia | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Capacity Building for Sound Management of Chemicals | Government and Civil Society , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Mtskheta-Mtianeti: Tourist friendly region | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Assistance with creating a classification of disaster indicators in Georgia | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Promotion of rural development and diversification in Khulo Municipality | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Strengthening rural development models in Georgia | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Regional civil society organisations as vectors of rural economic development | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Supporting bio-cultural diversity conservation research and education at Ilia State University, Georgia | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Exchange of experience in destination management, education and LAG management based on good practices of the Pardubice Region | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Increasing employment opportunities and improving the social situation of the population of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region by supporting regional products and increasing the tourist potential of the region | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Utilization of urban renewables in public buildings in the City of Tbilisi | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Business plan for a project development of tourism in mountain areas in Georgia – transfer of Czech know-how with the management of the tourist stable and with the proper care of horses | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Shared Tea Garden | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Implementation of sustainable forestry for the Aragvi protected area | Agriculture and Forestry , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Sustainable development of beekeeping in Georgia | Agriculture and Forestry , Not applicable | Georgia |
| The Way Home: Developing alternative social services for adults in Georgia | Health , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Improving and expanding services for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Georgia | Other Social Infrastructure and Services , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Programme for the sustainable development of the Aragvi Protected Landscape Area and its communities | Agriculture and Forestry , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Introduction of children's long-term and palliative care services in Georgia | Health , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Exchange of experience in tourism, education and social affairs on the basis of good practice of the Pardubice Region | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Supporting the Mtskheta - Mtianeti region - sharing Czech know-how in sustainable forest management, care and recreational use | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Increasing the prosperity and improving the living conditions of the inhabitants of the Mtzkheta-Mtianeti region by making better use of the region's tourism potential | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Identifying the needs of the Georgian municipalities of Vani and Tsageri for long-term cooperation with Czech municipalities | Not applicable , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Local Action Group Tskaltubo | Not applicable | Georgia |
| Quantifying health and environmental risks and supporting the rehabilitation of the former Batumi refinery site | General Environmental Protection , Not applicable | Georgia |
| Pilot project: Transfer of know-how to monitor environmental changes affecting forest vitality | Not applicable | Georgia |
